Gilt metal Greek cross with ring for ribbon suspension; the face with an upright sword, its hilt inscribed ‘ITALIA’, imposed on a circular oak wreath; the reverse inscribed ‘PER L’ONORE D’ITALIA’ (for the honour of Italy), dated ‘1943’ and ‘1945’ on the upper and lower arms; some age oxidisation and loss of gilding; on a black ribbon (posthumous award?) with a bronze citation in the form of a gladius (sword) wrapped in laurel, the hilt inscribed ‘FERT’. The Cross was awarded to veterans of the R.S.I., the rump state set up in northern Italy by Benito Mussolini under German protection on 23 September 1943 as Allied forces advanced up the Italian peninsula and the bulk of Italian forces surrendered. The soldiers of the R.S.I. fought with some success against Allied forces but the struggle was hopeless and on 25 April 1945 the Republic was dissolved. The Cross is not often found.
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