Serbia
Serbia in the First World War →Tag
(155)1908
1913
1914
June
July
- 25
- Austria-Hungary breaks off diplomatic relations with SerbiaOn 25 July 1914 the Austro-Hungarian minister, Baron Giesl, judged Serbia's reply inadequate, broke off diplomatic relations and left Belgrade.
- Serbian government orders mobilisationOn 25 July 1914, before replying to the ultimatum, Serbia announced general mobilisation, and the authorities began to leave Belgrade.
- Serbian government moves from Belgrade to NišOn 25 July 1914 Regent Alexander decided to move Serbia's government, parliament and administration to Niš, which became the country's wartime capital.
August
September
- 08
- Second 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.
- Battle 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.
- 17
- Serbs evacuate SemlinFor 17 September 1914 the British chronology records the Serbs leaving Syrmia and Semlin. The Austro-Hungarians returned, and with them reprisals.
- Austro-Hungarian offensive on the Drina runs out of steamAround 17 September 1914 the force of Potiorek's second offensive on the Drina was spent. Heavy fighting for the heights, however, went on for weeks.
October
November
December
- 05
- Entente démarche in Athens, Sofia and BucharestAccording to the British chronology, on 5 December 1914 the Entente took steps in Athens, Sofia and Bucharest to secure help for embattled Serbia.
- Serbia will not conclude a separate peaceOn 5 December 1914 Nikola Pašić formed a coalition government in Niš. On 7 December it declared that Serbia, loyal to its allies, would fight to victory.
1915
January
February
May
June
July
August
September
- 21
- Bulgaria decides to mobiliseOn 21 September 1915 Radoslavov's government decided to mobilise the army. The British chronology speaks of partial mobilisation, but the decree was general.
- Venizelos asks for 150,000 Entente troopsOn 21 September 1915 Venizelos asked France and Britain for 150,000 troops. They were to replace the Serbs, who could not field them against Bulgaria.
- 25
- Bulgaria begins mobilisationIn late September 1915 hundreds of thousands of reservists poured into Bulgarian barracks. Rifles and uniforms were short, and zeal was lower than in 1912.
- Serbia promises Dojran and Gevgelija to GreeceUnder 25 September 1915 the British chronology records that Serbia promised Greece the Dojran and Gevgelija area. Pašić hoped to win Greek help this way.
October
- 11
- Fighting between Bulgaria and Serbia beginsOn 11 October 1915 the first shots were fired on the Bulgarian-Serbian frontier. Bulgaria had not yet declared war, but its armies were ready to attack.
- Capture of SmederevoOn 11 October 1915 the German 25th Reserve Division took Smederevo on the Danube. The British chronology credits the Austrians, but the Germans took the town.
- 13
- Britain breaks off relations with BulgariaIn mid-October 1915 Britain broke off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. The Bulgarian minister left London, and the Bulgarian army moved against Serbia.
- First clashes between the French and the BulgariansIn mid-October 1915 the French moved from Salonika up the Vardar into Serbia. They first fought the Bulgarians on 21 October near Strumica station.
- Théophile Delcassé resignsOn 13 October 1915 the French foreign minister Théophile Delcassé finally stepped down. He left ill, after the failure of Entente diplomacy in Bulgaria.
- 15
- Romania refuses to help SerbiaAccording to the British chronology, on 15 October 1915 Romania refused to help Serbia. Brătianu would not fight without a large Entente army in the Balkans.
- Bulgarians take VranjeIn mid-October 1915 the Bulgarian Second Army reached Vranje on the South Morava and cut the Niš–Salonika railway, Serbia's main route to the Allies.
- 22
- Bulgarians take Kumanovo and SkopjeOn 22 October 1915 the Bulgarian 3rd Division entered Skopje, two days after taking Kumanovo. Serbia lost the most important road junction in its south.
- Austro-Hungarians take ŠabacThe British chronology records the capture of Šabac under 22 October 1915. Austro-Hungarian Landsturm had entered the town unopposed on 20 October.
- 24
- Bulgarians take NegotinOn 24 October 1915 the Bulgarians took Negotin on the lower Timok. Two days later they met the Austrians on the Danube, opening the river route to Turkey.
- Fighting begins at KrivolakIn late October 1915 the French 57th Division reached Krivolak on the Vardar, 30 km from Veles. It met the Bulgarians there but never reached the Serbs.
November
- 05
- Bulgarians take NišOn 5 November 1915 the Bulgarian First Army entered Niš, Serbia's wartime capital. The Central Powers won the railway to Sofia and Constantinople.
- Battle of Kačanik beginsIn early November 1915 the Bulgarians advanced through the Kačanik gorge towards the Field of Kosovo to cut the Serbs' last road south. The Serbs resisted.
- 23
- Capture of Mitrovica and PristinaOn 23 November 1915 Germans entered Pristina and Austro-Hungarians Mitrovica. Trapped on the Field of Kosovo, the Serbs began retreating to the Adriatic.
- Serbian government leaves PrizrenIn late November 1915 the Serbian government, king and high command left Prizren, the last seat of power in the country, and set out across Albania to Scutari.
December
- 01
- Bulgarians take PrizrenIn late November 1915 the Bulgarian 3rd Division took Prizren, the last seat of Serbian authority at home, with thousands of prisoners and vast booty.
- Italy announces its accession to the Pact of LondonOn 1 December 1915 Sonnino told the Chamber of Deputies, reopened after six months, that Italy had joined the Pact of London, and pledged help for Serbia.
- 02
- Bulgarians take BitolaIn early December 1915 Bulgarian cavalry entered Bitola, the second city of Serbian Macedonia. Its defenders fell back not to Salonika but to Albania.
- French abandon KrivolakIn early December 1915 the French withdrew from Krivolak and the loop of the Vardar and Crna Reka before the Bulgarians could strike at them.
1916
January
- 15
- First Serbian soldiers on CorfuIn mid-January 1916 the first Serbian soldiers from Albania began to arrive on Corfu. Many were so exhausted that they died soon after coming ashore.
- Serbian government moves to BrindisiIn mid-January 1916 Pašić's government left threatened Scutari and sailed to Brindisi in Italy. A few days later it moved on from there to Corfu.
- King Peter leaves SalonikaOn 15 January 1916 King Peter I of Serbia sailed from Salonika on a French warship. He went to take a cure at the spa of Edipsos on the Greek island of Euboea.
February
April
May
July
August
September
October
November
December
1917
1918
April
June
August
September
- 25
- Serbs retake Štip and VelesOn 25 September 1918 Serbian cavalry entered Štip, abandoned by the Bulgarians, and on 26 September the Serbian First Army took Veles on the Vardar.
- Italy and the Yugoslav stateAt the end of September 1918 Italy declared that the Yugoslavs' striving for independence and a state of their own accorded with Allied principles.
October
- 05
- Serbs retake VranjeIn early October 1918 the Serbian First Army threw back the Austro-Hungarian 9th Division and regained Vranje, the first large town in the Morava valley.
- National Council in ZagrebOn 5 October 1918 representatives of the Slovenes, Croats and Serbs of Austria-Hungary met in Zagreb to form a joint National Council.