The heroic struggle of small Serbia in World War I: from brilliant victories to the tragic retreat through Albania, and the ultimate triumph in 1918.
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By the early 20th century, Serbia had become an independent kingdom with growing ambitions. After the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, the country significantly expanded its territory, liberating Kosovo and Macedonia from Ottoman rule. However, this provoked hostility from Austria-Hungary, which saw Serbia's strengthening as a threat to its interests in the Balkans.
The Belgrade Fortress at had already become a symbol of Serbian resilience by this time — it had withstood dozens of sieges over the centuries and continued to embody the unyielding spirit of the people.
On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia with deliberately unacceptable demands. Despite Serbia accepting nearly all of the points, Austria-Hungary declared war on July 28, 1914. Thus began World War I.
The small Serbian army, commanded by Voivode Radomir Putnik, achieved a series of remarkable victories. In the Battle of Cer (August 1914), the Serbs inflicted the first defeat of the war on Austria-Hungary. This was followed by the Battle of Kolubara (November-December 1914), in which the Serbian army, despite a shortage of ammunition and a typhus epidemic, liberated Belgrade and drove the enemy back.
These victories stunned the world: a small country with a population of about 4.5 million successfully stood up to one of the great European powers.
In October 1915, the combined forces of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Bulgaria launched a massive offensive. The Serbian army was forced to retreat. The Great Retreat began — one of the most tragic episodes of the war. During the winter of 1915-1916, approximately 400,000 soldiers and civilians retreated through the mountains of Albania toward the Adriatic Sea.
Thousands perished from cold, hunger, and disease on the mountain passes. The survivors were evacuated to the Greek island of Corfu. This tragedy became deeply embedded in Serbian national memory.
Rebuilt on Corfu, the Serbian army returned to the front and in September 1918 broke through the Salonika Front. This became one of the decisive victories that led to the end of the war. On November 1, 1918, Belgrade was liberated.
The cost of victory was enormous. Serbia lost approximately 1.2 million people — nearly 28% of its population, the highest percentage of losses among all participants in the war. The Monument to the Unknown Hero was erected on Mount near Belgrade — a tribute to all the fallen.
On December 1, 1918, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was proclaimed (later renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). Serbia became the core of the new state, uniting the South Slavic peoples.
World War I holds a central place in Serbian historical memory. The bravery of the Serbian army and the suffering of the people became symbols of the national character. Today, many streets in Serbia are named after heroes of this war. Among the famous Serbs of that period was , who, while living in America, publicly supported his homeland and called for aid to Serbia.
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