Inter-Allied Victory Medal (Greece) facts for kids

Obverse (left) and reverse (right) views of the medal

The Inter-Allied Victory Medal (Greek: Διασυμμαχικόν Μετάλλιον της Νίκης) is a special medal from Greece. It was created to remember the victory of the Allied nations in World War I, also known as the First World War. Many countries that fought together in the war created their own versions of this medal.

Greece's Victory Medal

This medal is Greece's unique version of a common design. The idea came from Marshal Ferdinand Foch, who was the top commander for the Allied forces during the war. In Greece, the medal was officially started on September 22, 1920.

Each medal is made of bronze and is 36 millimeters wide. It has a special ribbon with a double rainbow design. The Greek medal shows a winged figure of Victory, like in ancient Greek stories. A designer named Henry-Eugène Nocq created the Greek version.

On the front of the medal, you can see an ancient Greek-style Victory. On the back, there's a circle of words in Greek that say, Ο ΜΕΓΑΣ ΥΠΕΡ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ 1914—1918. This means 'The Great War for Civilisation, 1914–1918'. In the middle, it lists the Allied nations under the title ΣΥΜΜΑΧΟΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΤΑΙΡΟΙ, which means 'Allies and Partners'.

Many Greek soldiers received this medal. They earned it if they fought for at least three months or were hurt in battle. This included fighting in the First World War, the Allies' actions in Southern Russia intervention, and the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922.

Victory Medals Around the World

The Inter-Allied Victory Medal was a shared symbol among many countries that won World War I. Each country created its own medal, but they all had the same size and rainbow ribbon. The main difference was the design of the winged Victory on the front. Here's a look at some of the countries that issued their own Victory Medals:

(Main source : The interallied victory medals of world war I by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 Edition )