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Medal for the Italian Contingent in Upper Silesia (Medaglia per il Contingente Italiano in Alta Silesia), 1920-1921
[IT156]
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Medal for the Italian Contingent in Upper Silesia (Medaglia per il Contingente Italiano in Alta Silesia), 1920-1921
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Circular bronze medal with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with an industrial Silesian town, a dove with an olive branch in its beak above, inscribed at the top ‘PLEBISCITO PER L’ALTA SILESIA’ (Plebiscite for Upper Silesia), an escutcheon bearing the Italian eagle below imposed on laurel branches, dated ‘1920’ and ‘1921’ to either side; the reverse inscribed ‘CONTINGENTE ITALIANO DELLE TRUPPE INTERALLEATE’ (Italian Contingent of the Inter-Allied Forces) followed by the names of the participating units – ‘458° PLOTONE CARABINIERI REALI, 135° REGGIMENTO FANTERIA, 32° REGG° FANTERIA SPECIALE, GRUPPO SPEC. ARTIGL.8° REGG° CAMP., PLOT. AVT. 3° BATT. GENIO TELEGR., 1° DRAPPELLO AUTOMOBILISTICO, OSPEDALETTO DA CAMPO N° 40, 45 SEZIONE SUSSISTENZA’, a radiant five-pointed star above, a knot below, all within a laurel leaf border; on original ribbon. A clause in the Treaty of Versailles between the victorious allies and Germany at the end of World War I demanded self-determination for Upper Silesia. The plebiscite (popular referendum) was held on 20 March 1921 and resulted in a majority for Germany but the Poles held the result was unfair and the third Silesian uprising broke out on 2 May 1921, the Poles rapidly occupying two-thirds of the territory. The dispute was referred to the Council of the League of Nations which awarded about half the population and a third of the land, including most of the valuable coal and iron deposits, to Poland. Medals were instituted in late 1921 for the British, French and Italian troops stationed there during this period. This example is a rare one for the small Italian contingent.

 
Medal for the Italian Contingent in Upper Silesia (Medaglia per il Contingente Italiano in Alta Silesia), 1920-1921
Click to enlarge
Medal for the Italian Contingent in Upper Silesia (Medaglia per il Contingente Italiano in Alta Silesia), 1920-1921
Click to enlarge
Medal for the Italian Contingent in Upper Silesia (Medaglia per il Contingente Italiano in Alta Silesia), 1920-1921
Click to enlarge
     
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