The World War I Victory Medal (known prior to establishment of the World War II Victory Medal in 1945 simply as the Victory Medal) was a United States service medal designed by James Earle Fraser of New York City under the direction of the Commission of Fine Arts.
Award of a common allied service medal was recommended by an inter-allied committee in March 1919. Each allied nation would design a 'Victory Medal' for award to their military personnel, all issues having certain common features, including a winged figure of victory on the obverse and the same ribbon.
The Victory Medal was originally intended to be established by an act of Congress. The bill authorizing the medal never passed, however, thus leaving the military departments to establish it through general orders. The War Department published orders in April 1919, and the Navy in June of the same year.
Design
The front of the bronze medal features a winged Victory holding a shield and sword on the front. The back of the bronze medal features "The Great War For Civilization" in all capital letters curved along the top of the medal. Curved along the bottom of the back of the medal are six stars, three on either side of the center column of seven staffs wrapped in a cord. The top of the staff has a round ball on top and is winged on the side. The staff is on top of a shield that says "U" on the left side of the staff and "S" on the right side of the staff. On left side of the staff it lists one World War I Allied country per line: France, Italy, Serbia, Japan, Montenegro, Russia, and Greece. On the right side of the staff the Allied country names read: Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, Rumania (spelled with a U instead of an O as it is spelled now), and China.
thumb|Back of the medal
Devices
To denote battle participation and campaign credit, the World War I Victory Medal was authorized with a large variety of devices to denote specific accomplishments. In order of seniority, the devices authorized to the World War I Victory Medal were as follows:
Citation Star
The Citation Star to the World War I Victory Medal was authorized by the United States Congress on February 4, 1919.
Army Battle Clasps
The following battle clasps, inscribed with a battle's name, were worn on the medal to denote participation in major ground conflicts.
Navy Battle Clasps
Navy battle clasps were issued for naval service in support of Army operations and had identical names to the Army battle clasps. There was a slight variation of the criteria dates for the Navy battle clasps, as listed below. The Victory Button was designed by the sculptor, Adolph Alexander Weinman of New York City under the supervision of the Commission of Fine Arts. It was adopted by the National Executive Committee of the American Legion on July 9, 1919, as the official insignia of the national organization of American veterans.
Distribution
The World War I Victory Medals were awarded after the end of World War I, so they were mailed to the servicemen instead of awarded in person. For example, the boxes containing the Victory Medals for United States Army World War I veterans were mailed out by the depot officer at the General Supply Depot, U.S. Army, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in April 1921. An outer light brown box with an address label glued to it and its postage area marked "OFFICIAL BUSINESS, Penalty for private use $300" contained an inner white box stamped with the bars the serviceman was supposed to receive on his medal. The inner white box contained the medal, which was wrapped in tissue paper.
Only after filling out the application form A.G.O. No. 740 with the help of an authorized officer could it be officially forwarded to the Philadelphia Quartermaster Intermediate Depot for the veteran then to receive his medal by mail. The Army started issuing Victory Medals on June 21, 1920, not April 1921 as listed above. The Navy had a late start due to production issues and started in August 1920.
Allied and associated nations
Not only did the United States establish a World War I Victory Medal, but so did a significant number of allied and associated nations involved in the conflict against the Dual Alliance between Austria and Germany. The proposition of such a common award was first made by French Maréchal Ferdinand Foch who was supreme commander of the Allied Forces during the First World War. Each bronze Victory Medal has the same diameter (36 mm) and ribbon (double rainbow), but with a national design representing a winged victory.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Designer
! Manufacturer
! Number issued
|-
| Belgium
| Paul Du Bois (1859–1938)
| —
| 300,000–350,000
|-
| Brazil
| (1890–1934)
|
- Casa da Moeda Rio
| approximately 2,500
|-
| Cuba
| Charles Charles
|
- Etablissements Chobillon
| 6,000–7,000
|-
| Czechoslovakia
| Otakar Španiel (1881–1955)
|
- Kremnice Mint
| approximately 89,500
|-
| France
| (1878–1951)
|
- Monnaie de Paris
| approximately 2,000,000
|-
| France
| Charles Charles
|
- Etablissements Chobillon
| —
|-
| France
| William McMillan (1887–1977)
|
- Woolwich Arsenal
- Wright & Son
| 6,334,522 plus
|-
|Greece
| Henry-Eugène Nocq (1868–1944)
|
- V. Canale
| approximately 200,000
|-
| Italy
| Gaetano Orsolini (1884–1954)
|
- Sacchini-Milano
- S. Johnson-Milano
- F. M. Lorioli & Castelli-Milano
| approximately 2,000,000
|-
| Japan
| Shoukichi Hata
|
- Osaka Mint
| 193,300
|-
| Poland
| .... Vlaitov
|
- Mint Kremnica
| —
|-
| Portugal
| João Da Silva (1880–1960)
|
- Da Costa
| approximately 100,000
|-
| Romania
| .... Kristesko
| —
| approximately 300,000
|-
| Siam (Thailand)
| (1890–1935)
| —
| approximately 1,500
|-
| South Africa
| William McMillan (1887–1977)
|
- Woolwich Arsenal
| approximately 75,000
|-
| United States
| James Earle Fraser (1876–1953)
|
- Arts Metal Works Inc.
- S. G. Adams Stamp & Stationary Co.
- Jos. Mayer Inc.
| approximately 2,500,000
|}
Main source:
See also
- Awards and decorations of the United States military
- Silver Citation Star
- World War II Victory Medal (United States)
- United States military award devices