King Victor Emanuel III instituted the Croce al merito di Guerra on 19th January 1918, for war merit in land, sea, or air operations either for at least a year's service in the trenches or elsewhere in contact with the enemy, to those who were wounded in action and who had earned the award of the Medal for Wounded, to those who had performed acts of bravery but not warranting the award of the Medaglia al valore militare (Medal for Military Valor) or for those who had received promotion for a mention for war merit.