Medal of Military Merit (Greece)

TheMedal of Military Merit(Greek:Μετάλλιο Στρατιωτικής Αξίας) is a military decoration ofGreece.It was originally created in 1916 for wartime meritorious service, but post-World War IIbecame a peace-time medal reserved for officers. After theabolitionof theGreek monarchyin 1974, its design was slightly altered.

Medal of Military Merit
Medal of Military Merit, 1974 version. L-R: 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes
Type	Three grademilitary decoration
Awarded for	Outstanding acts of ongoing service, or outstanding ability in management and organization of a unit or office.
Presented by	Greece
Eligibility	Officers of theHellenic Armed Forces
Motto	ΓΙΑ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΙΚΗ ΑΞΙΑ (For Military Merit)
Status	Currently awarded
Established	28 February 1917
Ribbon circa 1917
Precedence
Next (higher)	Medal for Exceptional Acts
Next (lower)	Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for Warrant Officers & NCOs

History

Medal of Military Merit, 1917.

The medal was created as theMilitary Medal(Στρατιωτικόν Μετάλλιον) by theNational Defence Governmenton 28 October 1916, during theNational Schism,and was adopted as theMedal of Military Meritnationwide by Royal Decree on 30 June 1917. Originally the medal had four classes, with the third, second and first classes distinguished respectively by a bronze, silver and gilded laurel wreath on the ribbon, while the fourth class was plain.

Appearance

Its design, by the French sculptor André Rivaud who also designed the 1916War Cross,was similar to the current version, a coppercross pattéeconcave with the arms filled, enclosed in a laurel wreath and with two crossed short swords superimposed. The cross's arms bear the legend ΑΜΥΝΕΣΘΑΙ ΠΕΡΙ ΠΑΤΡΗΣ ( "Defending the fatherland", a quote ofHectorfrom theIliad). The 1916 version had aphoenixrising from its ashes in the center, while the post-1974 version substitutes thenational emblem of Greece.The 1916 version bore the legend ΕΛΛΑΣ 1916–1917 ( "Greece 1916–1917" ) on the reverse (although some medals omit the date or the inscription altogether), while the current version bears the legend ΓΙΑ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΙΚΗ ΑΞΙΑ ( "For Military Merit" ). The 1916 version was suspended by a yellow ribbon with two black stripes, while the current version's ribbon has three equal blue-white-blue stripes, edged with yellow. When worn as aribbon bar,the circular wreaths were substituted by branches. Due to the scarcity of officially sanctioned devices in the period 1916–1922, awardees often made use of similar devices from other medals, especially the FrenchCroix de Guerre.The 1974 version has only three classes, distinguished by a bronze, silver and gilded laurel branches. The 3rd class is reserved for lower officers, the second class for mid-level officers, and the first class forflag ranks.

External links

• 1916/17 version atMedals of the World
• 1974 version atMedals of the World
• George J. Beldecos,Hellenic Orders, Decorations and Medals,pub. Hellenic War Museum, Athens 1991,ISBN960-85054-0-2