Blue enamel and gilt bronze Greek cross with a crown at the end of each arm, with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central stippled gilt medallion bearing the small arms of Italy, being a crowned black enamel eagle, an oval red enamel shield with a white enamel cross on its breast, inscribed in gilt letters ‘PRIMA’ ‘ARMATA’ on the left and right arms respectively; the reverse inscribed ‘GUERRA 1915-1918’; a small crack in the blue enamel above the first ‘A’ in ‘Armata’ and some slight contact marks; diameter 46.11mm (1.81 inches); on original ribbon, the face deeply age-faded. The Cross was instituted in 1924, one of a number of Army Crosses to commemorate participation in World War I. It was produced commercially by a number of different makers in differing designs and those entitled who wished to receive the Cross were required to buy it. The current example was designed and manufactured by M. Pozzi of Turin. The First Army fought Austro-Hungarian forces on a long Alpine front from the Stelvio Pass, the highest paved pass in the Eastern Alps at 2,757 metres, to the Asiago Plateau in the Veneto, scene of fierce battles from late 1917 to late 1918 in very difficult conditions. This version of the Cross is quite rare.
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