Italian Medal

[lonewolf523]

Gentlemen,
I think this is a medal for the 33rd Infantry Division Artillery but not sure.
Let me know what you think.
LW

[GlennAgain]

33rd Mountain Infantry division "Acqui"....

[lonewolf523]

Glenn, why was this awarded? Unit award for what reason?
LW

[OldSteel]

Morning to all,
this is not an award, but a commemorative medal for the birth of the 33rd "Acqui" Mountain Infantry Division.
The years are indicated on the front:
1938 - year of establishment of the Acqui Division.
1703 - year of establishment of the "Desportes Regiment", a unit of foreign soldiers, serving the Kingdom of Sardinia, from which the Acqui Division originated.
This Division remains sadly known in Italian military history, for the fact that following the armistice of 8 September 1943, they tried to resist the German troops on the island of Kefalonia, but after days of fighting and forced to surrender, they were almost all executed by firing squad.

Regards
Roberto

[lonewolf523]

Thanks again Roberto! So they were given out in 1938 to the guys that were there! Very interesting!