Italy – Kingdom: Medal of Mothers and Widows of the Fallen of the Great War made by Sacchini of Milan.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
The award criteria for the Medal of Mothers and Widows of the Fallen (Medaglia di Gratitudine Nazionale) were strictly defined by Italian law to honor the ultimate sacrifice of family members.
Primary Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for the official state-issued medal, the following conditions typically had to be met:
Proof of Loss: It was awarded to mothers of military personnel who were killed in combat or died as a result of wounds received in action.
Official Status: Mothers of both legitimate and legally recognized natural children were eligible, provided there was "indubitable proof" of the death occurring in service.
Widows' Inclusion: While the 1919 decree originally focused on mothers, later regulations and the 1943 re-institution formally included widows as eligible recipients.
Conflict Specifics: The criteria expanded over time to include families of those who fell in:
World War I (Original 1919 mandate). African and Spanish Campaigns (Added in 1938).
World War II (Added in 1943).
The Resistance: In 1956, the Ministry of Defence extended the award to mothers of Partisans who died in action or due to imprisonment by Nazi-Fascist forces.
