Gold Medal of Military Valor

Gold Medal of Military Valor
*Medaglia d'oro al valor militare*
Gold Medal of Military Valor; Medaglia d'oro al valor militare
	Gold Medal of Military Valor; (Royal version & Republican version)
Type	Military decoration
Awarded for	Deeds of outstanding gallantry in war
Country	Italy
Eligibility	Junior officers and soldiers
Established	21 May 1793
	Ribbon bar of the medal
Precedence
Next (higher)	Military Order of Italy
Next (lower)	Gold Medal for Army Valor

Last updated November 09, 2024

The Gold Medal of Military Valor (Italian : Medaglia d'oro al valor militare) is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia for deeds of outstanding gallantry in war by junior officers and soldiers.

Charles Albert of Sardinia revived it on 26 March 1833, and added to it the Silver and bronze medals. These had, on their faces, the coat of arms of Savoy with laurel branches, the royal crown, and the words "for military Valor". On the reverse were two laurel branches enclosing the name of the decorated soldier, and the place and date of the action.

With the proclamation of the Republic on 2 June 1946, the coat of arms of the House of Savoy was replaced with the emblem of the Italian Republic.^[2]

For actions performed by individuals during World War I, the Gold Medal was awarded some 368 times, as well as 37 times to military units, and once to the Unknown Soldier. Only four of the individual awards went to foreigners, one of these being Czar Nicholas II of Russia. The other three were for acts of gallantry in which the recipient was killed in action or died from his injuries (the Frenchmen John O'Byrne and Roland Morillot, and the American Coleman deWitt).^[3] The Gold Medal of Military Valor was one of the most parsimoniously awarded medals of World War I, granted less frequently than even the Victoria Cross which was awarded 628 times.^[4]

During World War II the medal was awarded to soldiers of the Royal Italian Army; after these forces were reorganized following the Armistice with Italy in 1943, it was awarded to members of the Allies-supporting Italian Co-Belligerent forces. The Axis-affiliated Italian Social Republic created another design of the medal, with a Gladius replacing the arms of Savoy, for members of the Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano from 1943 to 1945. This version of the award was not given recognition by the postwar Italian government.^[5]

The Gold Medal for Military Valor is still awarded by the Italian state, and it, along with Silver and bronze medals for Military Valor as well as the War Cross of Military Valor (which can only be awarded in time of war) was established by the Royal Decree of 4 November 1932, in which the purpose of these medals is defined as, "to distinguish and publicly honour the authors of heroic military acts, even ones performed in time of peace, provided that the exploit is closely connected with the purposes for which the Armed Forces are constituted, whatever may be the condition or quality of the author."^[6]

Notable recipients

The first recipient was Domenico Millelire ^[7] of the Royal Sardinian Navy on 6 April 1793 and the latest recipient was in 2014 Chief Corporal-Major Andrea Adorno ^[8] of the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment for combat operations in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan in 2010.

Individuals

Military units

The first military unit awarded a Gold Medal was His Majesty's Dragoons Regiment (Reggimento Dragoni di Sua Maestà) on 21 April 1796 for the unit's conduct during the Battle of Mondovì. Although at the time the Medal was exclusively awarded for personal bravery, King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia ordered the regiment's standard to be decorated with two medals for saving his army from Napoleon's attack. Until 1859, when the rules for awarding the Gold Medal were expanded to include cities and military units, only the "Cuneo" Brigade was awarded a Special Gold Medal of Military Valor by King Charles Felix of Sardinia for suppressing the Revolution of 1821. The first unit to be awarded the Gold Medal after 1859 was the French Imperial 3rd Zouaves Regiment ^[9] for its conduct in the Battle of Palestro. The latest unit awarded the Gold Medal was the Jewish Brigade in 2017 for the brigade's service during the Italian Campaign of World War II.^[10]

The following list contains only the military units, which were awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor twice. In total 112 gold medals were awarded to units of the Italian army: 105 to regiments and 7 to battalions.

His Majesty's Dragoons Regiment (1796 Battle of Mondovì, the only cavalry unit to be awarded twice)
1st Regiment "Granatieri di Sardegna" (1860 Siege of Gaeta, 1917 Tenth Battle of the Isonzo)
5th Infantry Regiment "Aosta" (1859 Battle of San Martino, 1917-18 Italian Front)
6th Infantry Regiment "Aosta" (1859 Battle of San Martino, 1917-18 Italian Front)
9th Infantry Regiment "Regina" (1859 Battle of Palestro, 1915-16 Italian Front)
10th Infantry Regiment "Regina" (1860 Battle of Castelfidardo, 1915-16 Italian Front)
13th Infantry Regiment "Pinerolo" (1915-18 Italian Front, 1941 Greco-Italian War)
47th Infantry Regiment "Ferrara" (1915-17 Italian Front, 1940-41 Greco-Italian War)
48th Infantry Regiment "Ferrara" (1915-17 Italian Front, 1940-41 Greco-Italian War)
80th Infantry Regiment "Roma" (1941–42, 1942-43 Eastern Front)
84th Infantry Regiment "Venezia" (1911 Italo-Turkish War, 1943 Resistance to German forces in Yugoslavia)
151st Infantry Regiment "Sassari" (1915–16, 1918 Italian Front)
152nd Infantry Regiment "Sassari" (1915–16, 1918 Italian Front)
3rd Bersaglieri Regiment (1941–42, 1942 Eastern Front; the unit is also the custodian of the medal awarded to the III Bersaglieri Cyclists Battalion in 1915–18 on the Italian Front)
6th Bersaglieri Regiment (1942, 1942-43 Eastern Front)
8th Bersaglieri Regiment (1941-42 Western Desert Campaign, 1943 Tunisian Campaign)
5th Alpini Regiment (1940-41 Greco-Italian War, 1942-43 Eastern Front)
8th Alpini Regiment (1940-41 Greco-Italian War, 1942-43 Eastern Front)
9th Alpini Regiment (1940-41 Greco-Italian War, 1942-43 Eastern Front)
3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment (1940-41 Greco-Italian War, 1942-43 Eastern Front, the only artillery unit to be awarded twice)

The 4th Alpini Regiment currently also displays two Gold Medals of Military Valor on its flag, however the two medals were awarded to the regiment's Alpini Battalion "Aosta", and the Alpini Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino".

Locations

The first geographic entity to be awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor was the city of Vicenza in 1866 for its five days long resistance to Austrian assaults during the First Italian War of Independence. Vicenza is also the only city to be awarded the medal twice: the second time for its participation in the Italian resistance movement during World War II.

The latest city to be awarded was Varzi for the creation and defence of the Partisan Republic of Alto Tortonese between September and December 1944.

Examples:

A full list of regions, provinces and cities, which were awarded for their bravery can be found at it:Città decorate al valor militare per la guerra di liberazione.

University of Padua

The University of Padua is the only educational institution which was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor. The university received it on 2 November 1945 for its furious resistance to German occupation in 1943–1945.^[11]

Related Research Articles

The Silver Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.

The 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment is a special operations forces regiment of the Italian Army based in Montorio Veronese in Veneto. Originally the regiment belonged to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry specialty, but since 14 July 1996 its personnel also belongs to the Paratroopers infantry specialty. On 1 November 1882, the Royal Italian Army formed the 4th Alpini Regiment, which had its recruiting area in the Graian Alps and Pennine Alps. Since 2013 the regiment is assigned to the Army Special Forces Command. The regiment is one of the most often and one of the highest decorated regiments of the Italian Army, although its two Gold Medals of Military Valor were awarded to the regiment's currently inactive Alpini Battalion "Aosta", respectively the currently active Battalion "Monte Cervino".

The 8th Alpini Regiment is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Venzone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". On 1 October 1909, the Royal Italian Army formed the 8th Alpini Regiment by splitting the 7th Alpini Regiment. The new regiment's recruiting area consisted of the Carnic Alps, Carnic Prealps, and the Western side of the Julian Alps. During World War I the regiment expanded to ten battalions, which fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front.

The 9th Alpini Regiment is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in L'Aquila in Abruzzo. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". The regiment was formed by the Royal Italian Army on 1 July 1921. In 1935 the regiment was assigned to the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia", with which it served during World War II in the Greco-Italian War, during which the division suffered heavy losses. For its service and sacrifice on the Greek Front the 9th Alpini Regiment was awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor. In summer 1942 the division was transferred to the Eastern Front in the Soviet Union, where it was destroyed in winter 1942-43 during the Soviet Operation Little Saturn. The remnants of the division were repatriated in spring 1943. For its service and sacrifice on the Eastern Front the 9th Alpini Regiment was awarded a second Gold Medal of Military Valor. On 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile was announced and invading German forces disbanded the 9th Alpini Regiment.

The 12th Alpini Regiment is an inactive mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army last based in Pieve di Cadore in Veneto. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Cadore". The regiment was formed in 1992 and consisted of the Alpini Battalion "Pieve di Cadore", whose flag and traditions it inherited.

The 18th Regiment "Edolo" is an inactive mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army last based in Meran in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was a training unit last assigned to the Alpine Troops Command. The regiment was formed in 1997 and consisted of the Alpini Battalion "Edolo", whose flag and traditions it inherited.

The 15th Alpini Regiment is an inactive mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army last based in Chiusaforte in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". The regiment was formed in 1992 and consisted of the Alpini Battalion "Cividale", whose flag and traditions it inherited. The regiment's anniversary falls on 5 January 1943, the day of the Battle of Novaya Kalitva in the Soviet Union.

The 14th Alpini Regiment in a mountain warfare unit of the Italian Army based in Udine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality. The regiment was formed in 1993 and consisted of the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo", whose flag and traditions it inherited. The regiment was disbanded in 2005. On 1 October 2022, the flag and traditions of the 14th Alpini Regiment were assigned to the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Julia" of the Alpine Brigade "Julia", which on the same day was renamed 14th Alpini Command and Tactical Supports Unit.

The Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army, based in Rome and central Italy. The brigade fields one of the oldest regiments of the Army and is one of the guard regiments of the President of Italy. The name of the unit dates back to the Kingdom of Sardinia and not the eponymous Mediterranean island of Sardinia. The brigade is part of the Division "Acqui".

The 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment is an active unit of the Italian Army based in Teulada in Sardinia. The regiment is part of the army's infantry corps' Bersaglieri speciality and operationally assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Sassari". The regiment is the highest decorated unit of the Italian Army with three Gold Medals of Military Valor. The regiment was formed in 1861 by the Royal Italian Army with preexisting battalions. During World War I the regiment served on the Italian front.

The 12th Bersaglieri Regiment is an inactive unit of the Italian Army last based in Trapani in Sicily. The regiment is part of the Italian Army's infantry corps' Bersaglieri speciality and was last operationally assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Aosta". The regiment was formed in 1883 by the Royal Italian Army with preexisting battalions. During World War I the regiment served on the Italian front. After the war the regiment was disbanded for short time, before it was reformed in August 1919.

The 4th Bersaglieri Regiment is an active unit of the Italian Army. The regiment is part of the army's infantry corps' Bersaglieri speciality. The regiment was formed in 1861 by the Royal Italian Army with preexisting battalions. During World War I the regiment served on the Italian front. During World War II the regiment fought in the Greco–Italian War and then served on occupation duty in Yugoslavia until it was disbanded by German forces after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943. The regiment was reformed by the Italian Co-belligerent Army on 1 February 1944 and fought on the allied side in the Italian Campaign until it was once more disbanded on 24 September 1944.

The Alpini Battalion "Tirano" is an inactive mountain warfare battalion of the Italian Army based last in Mals in South Tyrol. The battalion belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Orobica". The battalion was formed in 1886 and assigned to the 5th Alpini Regiment. During World War I the battalion fought in the alpine areas of the Italian front. In World War II the battalion fought in the invasion of France, the Greco-Italian War, and on the Eastern Front, where the battalion was almost completely destroyed during the Red Army's Operation Little Saturn in winter 1942–43. On 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile was announced and two days later, on 10 September 1943, invading German forces disbanded the 5th Alpini Regiment and its battalions.

The Alpini Battalion "Val Chiese" is an inactive mountain warfare battalion of the Italian Army based last in Sterzing in South Tyrol. The battalion belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Orobica". In 1915, the Royal Italian Army's 5th Alpini Regiment formed the Alpini Battalion "Val Chiese", which fought in World War I in the alpine areas of the Italian front. The battalion was disbanded in 1919.

The Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in L'Aquila in Abruzzo. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the 9th Alpini Regiment. In 1935, the Royal Italian Army's 9th Alpini Regiment formed the battalion in the city of Gorizia.

The 182nd Armored Infantry Regiment "Garibaldi" is an inactive unit of the Italian Army last based in Sacile in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment was part of the Italian Army's infantry arm and was last assigned to the Infantry Division "Folgore".

The 91st Infantry Regiment "Basilicata" is an inactive unit of the Italian Army last based in Potenza. The regiment is named for the region of Basilicata and part of the Italian Army's infantry arm.

The 89th Infantry Regiment "Salerno" is an inactive unit of the Italian Army last based in Salerno. The regiment is named for the city of Salerno and part of the Italian Army's infantry arm.

The 84th Infantry Regiment "Venezia" is an inactive unit of the Italian Army last based in Falconara Marittima. The regiment is named for the city of Venice and part of the Italian Army's infantry arm.

The 67th Infantry Regiment "Legnano" is an inactive unit of the Italian Army last based in Solbiate Olona. Formed in 1862 and originally named for the city of Palermo the regiment is part of the Italian Army's infantry arm. Since 1939 the regiment is named for the medieval Battle of Legnano.

References

1 2 "Esercito Italiano- Nastrini delle decorazioni in uso" (in Italian). Esercito.difesa.it. Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
↑ Preceding paragraphs translated and adapted from "CCM - Consorzio Culturale del Monfalconese :: View.DocDetail". Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011. which describes the book "Le medaglie d'oro al valor militare: volume primo, Roma, [Gruppo Medaglie d'Oro al Valor Militare d'Italia], 1965, 804 p.; 22 cm"
↑ The website of the Italian Presidency: List of all recipients can be obtained by going to http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/onorificenze.aspx, going to "onorificenza" (under "Maschera di recerca"), selecting "Medaglia d'oro al valor militare" and pressing "avvia". Also see "Nel 1° Centenario della istituzione della Medaglia al Valor Militare" edizione del 1933 dell' Ufficio storico dell' esercito
↑ P E Abbott & J M A Tamplin. British Gallantry Awards. pp. 293. Nimrod Dix & Co, London, 1981. ISBN 0-902633-74-0
↑ "Italy's WW2 Medals". Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
↑ "le Onorificenze - Medaglia e Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare" (in Italian). Quirinale.it. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
↑ "Millelire Domenico". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
↑ "Adorno Andrea". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
↑ "3° Reggimento Zuavi". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
↑ "Brigata Ebraica". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
↑ "Università di Padova". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 18 December 2018.

Ceva, Bianca (1964). Cinque anni di storia italiana 1940-1945: da lettere e diari di caduti [Five Years of Italian History 1940 - 1945: Letters and diaries of the fallen]. Edizioni di comunità. pp. 143–144. OCLC 3658871.

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[precedence-1] 1 2 "Esercito Italiano- Nastrini delle decorazioni in uso" (in Italian). Esercito.difesa.it. Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.

[2] Preceding paragraphs translated and adapted from "CCM - Consorzio Culturale del Monfalconese :: View.DocDetail". Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011. which describes the book "Le medaglie d'oro al valor militare: volume primo, Roma, [Gruppo Medaglie d'Oro al Valor Militare d'Italia], 1965, 804 p.; 22 cm"

[3] The website of the Italian Presidency: List of all recipients can be obtained by going to http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/onorificenze.aspx, going to "onorificenza" (under "Maschera di recerca"), selecting "Medaglia d'oro al valor militare" and pressing "avvia". Also see "Nel 1° Centenario della istituzione della Medaglia al Valor Militare" edizione del 1933 dell' Ufficio storico dell' esercito

[4] P E Abbott & J M A Tamplin. British Gallantry Awards. pp. 293. Nimrod Dix & Co, London, 1981. ISBN 0-902633-74-0

[5] "Italy's WW2 Medals". Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.

[6] "le Onorificenze - Medaglia e Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare" (in Italian). Quirinale.it. Retrieved 30 May 2012.

[7] "Millelire Domenico". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 17 December 2018.

[8] "Adorno Andrea". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 17 December 2018.

[9] "3° Reggimento Zuavi". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 17 December 2018.

[10] "Brigata Ebraica". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 17 December 2018.

[11] "Università di Padova". Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 18 December 2018.

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v t e Highest military awards for gallantry
List of highest military decorations by country
Current	Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross (Argentina) National Hero of Armenia (Armenia) National Hero of Azerbaijan title(Azerbaijan) Bir Sreshtho (Bangladesh) Hero of Belarus title(Belarus) Order of Bravery (Bulgaria) Order of August First (China) Order of Duke Domagoj (Croatia) Valour Cross (Denmark) Cross of Liberty (Estonia) Mannerheim Cross (Finland) Légion d'honneur (France) Cross of Honour for Valour (Germany) Cross of Valour (Greece) Param Vir Chakra (wartime) / Ashoka Chakra (peacetime) (India) Order of Fat'h (Iran) Military Medal for Gallantry (Ireland) Medal of Valor (Israel) Gold Medal of Military Valor (Italy) Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (Malaysia) Military Order of William (Netherlands) War Cross (Norway) Nishan-e-Haider (Pakistan) Medal of Valor (Philippines) War Order Virtuti Militari (wartime) / Order Krzyża Wojskowego (peacetime) (Poland) Order of the Tower and Sword (Portugal) Order of Michael the Brave (Romania) Hero of the Russian Federation title(Russian Federation) Order of the White Eagle with swords (Serbia) Order of the Somali Star (Somalia) Nkwe ya Gauta (South Africa) Laureate Cross of St. Ferdinand (Spain) Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (Sri Lanka) Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword (Sweden) Order of Rama (Thailand) Medal of Honor (Turkey) Order of Katonga (Uganda) Order of the Gold Star (Ukraine) Victoria Cross (United Kingdom Australia Canada New Zealand) Medal of Honor (United States)
Obsolete	Order of Saint Louis (Kingdom of France) Military Order of Maria Theresa (Austria-Hungary) Medal of Bravery (Kingdom of Hungary) Pour le Mérite (Kingdom of Prussia) Military Order of Max Joseph (Kingdom of Bavaria) Military Order of St. Henry (Kingdom of Saxony) Military Merit Order (Kingdom of Württemberg) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Nazi Germany) Order of the Golden Kite (Empire of Japan) Order of Lāčplēsis (Latvia) Grand Cross of Valour (Rhodesia) Laureate Plate of Madrid (Second Spanish Republic) Castle of Good Hope Decoration (South Africa) Vietnam Military Merit Medal (South Vietnam) Hero of the Soviet Union (Soviet Union) Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords (Kingdom of Yugoslavia) Order of Freedom (SFR Yugoslavia) Grass Crown (Ancient Rome) Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (Afghanistan)