The Kingdom of Italy and Ottoman Empire fought the Italo-Turkish War from 29 September 1911 to 18 October 1912.

[2] Italian and colonial military personnel and civilians were eligible for the medal if they served in the Italo-Turkish War between 29 September 1911, when Italy declared war on the Ottoman Empire, and 18 October 1912, when Italy and the Ottoman Empire signed the First Treaty of Lausanne, often called the Treaty of Ouchy, which ended the conflict.

The medal consisted of a silver disc 32 millimetres (1¼ inches) in diameter bearing on the obverse the face of King Victor Emmanuel III facing right, encircled by the inscription "VITTORIO • EMANUELE • III • RE • D' • ITALIA" (English: VICTOR • EMMANUEL • III • KING • OF • ITALY).

On the reverse was the inscription "GUERRA ITALO-TURCA 1911-1912" (English: ITALIAN-TURKISH WAR 1911-1912) surrounded by two laurel branches in the form of a crown.

Bronze clasps were authorized for the ribbon to represent the years of the campaign in which the recipient of the medal served.