WW2 German Italian Africa Campaign Medal

The WW2 German Italian Africa Campaign Medal, formally known as the “Afrika” Medal, was instituted by the German military in 1942 to recognize military personnel who served in the North African campaign alongside Italian forces. The medal was awarded to members of the German Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe who took part in operations in the African theater between March 1941 and May 1943. The medal is oval-shaped, struck in zinc with a bronze wash, and features a reclining sphinx and the inscription “AFRIKA” on the obverse, symbolizing the North African campaign. The reverse is plain. The medal is suspended from a ribbon with pale blue, white, and yellow stripes, reflecting the desert sands and the Mediterranean. Recipients included those who served for a minimum required duration or participated in at least one major engagement. The Afrika Medal represents the cooperation between Axis forces in North Africa during the Second World War.