The Silver Medal of Military Valor ( it, Medaglia d'argento al valor militare) is an Italian medal for gallantry. Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on 21 May 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal. These were intended for junior officers or common soldiers who had distinguished themselves in combat. These medals fell into disuse during the period of Napoleonic domination. They were reinstated on 1 April 1815, by Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia, who, however, abolished them only a few months later, on 4 August 1815, replacing them with the Military Order of Savoy (l'Ordine militare di Savoia), now known as the Military Order of Italy. However, in 1833,

Charles Albert of Sardinia Charles Albert (; 2 October 1798 – 28 July 1849) was the King of Sardinia from 27 April 1831 until 23 March 1849. His name is bound up with the first Italian constitution, the Albertine Statute, and with the First Italian War of Independence ...

, recognizing that the Military Order was too exclusive in that it could only be awarded to persons of high rank, re-instituted the medals for valor (gold and silver) as awards for noble acts performed by soldiers in both war and peace. According to royal decree no. 753 of 24 May 1915, the number of times one individual could receive a medal for valor (both silver and gold) was limited to three, after which a promotion was foreseen. This limit was abolished with royal decree no. 975 of 15 June 1922. During World War I, the medal was awarded to military personnel, units above the level of

company A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of people, whether Natural person, natural, Legal person, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common p ...

and civilians for exceptional valor in the face of the enemy. During World War I, the medal was given out some 38,614 times for individual acts of heroism (compared to 368 Gold Medals and 60,244 Bronze medals). Thus, the Italian Silver Medal for Military Valor is equivalent in frequency and prestige to the British Military Cross, which was awarded some 40,253 times during World War I. The Silver Medal for Military Valor is still awarded by the Italian state, and it, along with the Gold and Bronze medals for Military Valor as well as the "Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare" (War Cross of Military Valor - which can only be awarded in time of war) is established by the Royal Decree of 4 November 1932, in which the purpose of these medals is defined as "To distinguish and publicly honor 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."official website of the Italian Presidency http://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/onorificenze/cennistorici/medagliacrocevm.htm

Notable recipients

Ernest Hemingway in Milan 1918 retouched 3

* Italo Balbo *

William George Barker VC William George Barker, (3 November 1894 – 12 March 1930) was a Canadian First World War fighter ace and Victoria Cross recipient. He is the most decorated serviceman in the history of Canada. Early life Born on a family farm in Dauphin, Man ...

* Nicola Bellomo (twice) * Alfred-Ingemar Berndt *

Aaron Bradshaw Jr. Aaron Bradshaw Jr. CBE (July 1, 1894 – November 8, 1976) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of major general. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he is most noted as Anti-Aircraft Artillery ...

Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia (22 September 1915 – 24 August 1944) was an Italian aviator, and one of the most famous Italian pilots of World War II. Buscaglia was born in Novara, Piedmont, in 1915 and entered the Italian '' Accademia Aeronauti ...

* Federico Cafiero * Mark W. Clark * Gino De Giorgi (twice) * Ludovico De Filippi * George Dey * Arturo Ferrarin * Alfred Gause * Joachim Helbig * Ernest Hemingway * Sir William Holmes *

Hans Kroh __NOTOC__ Hans Kroh (13 May 1907 – 18 July 1967) was a German paratroop general in the Wehrmacht and Bundeswehr and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany. Kroh started his military caree ...

* * Hans-Joachim Marseille *

Mario Masciulli Mario Elbano Masciulli Manelli, Baron Miglianico (Livorno, Italy September 15, 1909 – Caracas, Venezuela October 16, 1991) was a prominent military engineer of the Italian Regia Marina, Major of Genio Navale and belonging to the recognized Deci ...

* Walther Nehring *

Erwin Rommel Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel () (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) was a German field marshal during World War II. Popularly known as the Desert Fox (, ), he served in the ''Wehrmacht'' (armed forces) of Nazi Germany, as well as servi ...

* Hans-Ulrich Rudel *

Hippolyte De La Rue Air Commodore Hippolyte Ferdinand (Frank) De La Rue, CBE, DFC (13 March 1891 – 18 May 1977) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Joining the Mercantile Marine as a youth, he became a pilot in Brita ...

* Emanuele Ruspoli * Nazario Sauro * Achille Starace *

Johannes Streich Johannes Streich (16 April 1891 – 20 August 1977) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 5th Light Division during the early stages of the North African Campaign. Sacked for his poor performance during the ...

Walkiria Terradura Walkiria Terradura (born 9 January 1924) is an Italian anti-fascist partisan who was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valour. Biography One of five children of committed antifascist lawyer Gustavo Terradura and his wife Laura, Terradura ...

* Attilio Teruzzi * Edmond Thieffry *

Cervi Brothers The Cervi Brothers (Italian: ''Fratelli Cervi'') were the seven sons of Alcide Cervi (1875-1970) and Genoeffa Cocconi (1876-1944), born in Campegine, Emilia-Romagna. The brothers and their father became renowned for their activities in the organi ...

* Hans von Luck * Guido Jung * Vincenzo Maturo *

Ada Gobetti Ada Gobetti (1902 – 1968) was an Italian teacher, journalist and anti-fascist leader. She was born Ada Prospero and later remarried to become Ada Marchesini. Biography With her husband Piero Gobetti she contributed to several antifascist m ...

* Armando Diaz * Alfonso Dato

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Silver Medal Of Military Valor Military awards and decorations of Italy Courage awards * ca:Medalla al Valor Militar (Itàlia) fr:Médaille de la valeur militaire (Italie) it:Valor militare zh:银制勇敢勋章

Notable recipients

See also

References