Medalla de la Campaña (Spain)

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Obverse and reverse of the medal

The Medalla de la Campaña Española (1936-1939) was a Spanish military award (officially: Vanguardia; Eng . Merit Medal ) and was awarded from January 26, 1937 to members of the Falangist forces fighting the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War . The award was also given to the members of the Condor Legion under the command of Major General Hugo Sperrle and the Italian volunteer corps CTV . The number of awards can no longer be determined with certainty, as the honorary badge itself was produced in an unknown number in Spain.

Appearance

The bronze medal, kept in matt black, is circularly gold-plated and has a ball suspension drilled through to the side. The front itself is framed by an oak and laurel wreath . The date 17 JVLIO 1936 (July 17, 1936) in the medal marks the beginning of the armed uprising against the Republicans. The stylized Spanish lion holds a dragon in its paws, above which the symbol of communism can be seen in the form of a hammer and sickle . Four gold-plated swords are depicted in the background, each of which crosses the medal vertically and horizontally.

The words ARRIBA ESPAÑA (Live high Spain) can be read on the top of the lapel . The chosen lettering is a parody of the song of the Spanish republicans who fought against Franco with the song “Viva España” (the national anthem of Spain). The main part of the medal is taken by an eagle, which holds the Spanish national coat of arms from the time of the Franco regime in its claws. To the right of this are the symbols yoke and arrow, the sign of the Falange . Below is a stylized Spanish steel helmet , which is supposed to represent the military. All three symbols shown (state, military and party) are intended to symbolize their togetherness. The circular inscription reads ARRIBA ESPAÑA - GENESSMO. FRANCO VICTOR. - UNA GRANDE, LIBRE, IMPERIAL, M HISP. GLOR.

Carrying method

The medal was worn on a ribbon on the service uniform over the left breast pocket. The tape differs according to the type of recipient. If it was a combatant , the band is yellow with red side stripes and a narrow black border. The tape for non-combatants has a green border instead of the black one.

Entrusted German soldiers of the Condor Legion were given permission to wear a strap by a decree of the Army High Command.

See also

literature

  • Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann , Ottfried Neubecker : For bravery and merit; an almanac of the medals and decorations awarded by Germany and its allies in World War I and II . Schild-Verlag, Munich undated [1954], p. 59. (Right-wing extremist publisher, not very suitable as literature.)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Willi Geile: German volume book - manual for order collectors. PHV Phaleristischer Verlag Autengruber & Hrdina GbR, Offenbach 2001, ISBN 3-932543-04-1 , pp. 104-105.