This is an original WW2 era Italian Ethiopian Campaign Medal, instituted by Benito Mussolini in 1936 to commemorate participation in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Struck in zinc and featuring the distinctive Fascist imagery of the period, the medal was awarded to Italian soldiers, colonial troops, and civilians who took part in the brutal campaign that culminated in the occupation of Addis Ababa and the declaration of the Italian Empire in East Africa.

The obverse depicts the allegorical figure of Victory, wearing a winged helmet and driving a Roman chariot pulled by lions—a direct reference to Roman imperial symbolism and Mussolini’s ambitions for a revived empire. The reverse bears the words “Africa Italiana 1936” surrounded by a laurel wreath, reinforcing the imperialist narrative of conquest and expansion.

The campaign, conducted between 1935 and 1936, saw the Kingdom of Italy invade the sovereign nation of Ethiopia in a conflict that was widely condemned by the League of Nations. Italy’s use of chemical weapons and overwhelming military force against poorly equipped Ethiopian defenders shocked the world, but also served as a testing ground for tactics and logistics later used in World War II. The medal was issued with different ribbon variations; this example retains its original ribbon with the characteristic black and white stripes, symbolic of mourning and sacrifice.

As a military decoration, the Ethiopian Campaign Medal holds significant historical weight—not only as a symbol of Italian Fascist military exploits but also as a reminder of the aggressive expansionism that foreshadowed the global conflict to come. This example shows typical age-related patina and wear consistent with authentic WW2-period manufacture.

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