The Austrians cross the Sava and take Šabac
- Category:
- Military operations
- Front:
- Balkan Front
- Date:
- 12 August 1914
- Author:
- Natalia
- Battle:
- Serbian campaign of 1914
- Tags:
- Serbia, Austria-Hungary, Šabac
On 12 August 1914, two weeks after declaring war on Serbia, the forces of Austria-Hungary began the invasion of its territory. One of the first operations was the crossing of the Sava river north of the town of Šabac, which the Austrians soon occupied.
A blow from the north and west
The Austro-Hungarian plan called for an attack on Serbia from two directions. From the west, across the border river Drina, the Fifth Army advanced, and from the north, across the Sava, part of the Second Army. Command of the whole operation was assumed by General Oskar Potiorek, governor of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was in his presence that Archduke Franz Ferdinand had been killed in Sarajevo in June, and Potiorek was eager to punish Serbia quickly.
The crossing of the Sava at Šabac met no strong resistance. The main Serbian forces were deeper inside the country, and the commander-in-chief, Vojvoda Radomir Putnik, was waiting to learn the direction of the enemy’s main thrust. Šabac, an important centre in the fertile Mačva valley, fell into Austro-Hungarian hands.
Crimes against civilians
The occupation of Šabac and the surrounding area left a tragic mark on the history of this war. Austro-Hungarian troops, convinced that they were fighting partisans, carried out executions of civilians, including women and children, and destroyed villages. These crimes, later documented by international investigators, became one of the first examples of the war’s brutality towards the civilian population.
The invasion fails
The first invasion of Serbia ended in defeat for Austria-Hungary. The Serbs, though less well armed, knew the terrain well and had experience from the Balkan Wars. On 15–24 August they won the Battle of Cer, the first Allied victory of this war, and drove the invaders back across the rivers. The Serbs recaptured Šabac at the end of August.
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Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
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Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 25 August 1914 · Balkan FrontEnd of the first invasion of SerbiaAt the end of August 1914 the Serbs recaptured Šabac and the last Austro-Hungarian units withdrew across the Drina and Sava. The first invasion ended in defeat.
- 21 August 1914 · Balkan FrontEnd of the Battle of Cer. Austrians withdraw from SerbiaAt the end of August 1914 the beaten Austro-Hungarian armies withdrew from Serbia across the Drina and the Sava. The first invasion of Serbia had failed.
- 8 September 1914 · Balkan FrontSecond Austro-Hungarian invasion of SerbiaDuring the night of 7/8 September 1914 Potiorek's armies crossed the Drina again. Austria-Hungary meant to draw the Serbs out of Syrmia and avenge Cer.
- 8 September 1914 · Balkan FrontBattle of the Drina beginsOn 8 September 1914 Austro-Hungarian troops crossed the Drina. In the mountains of western Serbia a battle began that turned into trench warfare.