Battle of Doiran (1918)

Battle of Doiran
Part of World War I
1914–1918 British Military Cemetery in Polykastron (formerly Karasouli) near Doiran
Date 18–19 September 1918 Location Dojran Lake, Kingdom of Serbia (present-day Republic of Macedonia) Result Bulgarian victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom Greece  France	Kingdom of Bulgaria
Commanders and leaders
Henry Wilson George Milne	Vladimir Vazov Stefan Nerezov
Strength
- United Kingdom: the 22nd division reinforced - Greece: Serres and Crete divisions (29,328 men Total:75,000)	- 9th (Pleven) Infantry division, with parts of 11th Infantry division's 1st Macedonian Brigade and the Mountain Division (Total: 35 000)[1]
Casualties and losses
3,155 - c.3,420 - 3,871 3,404 (official)–3,948 Total: 6,559 - 7,819.	unknown total 9th Division: 2,726 total

The third Battle of Doiran was fought from 18–19 September 1918, with the Greeks and the British assaulting the positions of the Bulgarian First Army near Dojran Lake. The battle was part of World War I and took place in the Balkan Theatre. The battle ended with the Bulgarians repulsing all attacks.

The Greeks and the British set off from their base at Thessaloniki at the same time as the Serbs and the French. The Greeks and the British, under the command of George Milne set off the attack on the Bulgarian positions at Dojran while the Serbs and the French under the command of Franchet d'Esperey went to penetrate the Bulgarian defences in the Vardar Valley. The Greeks and the British were aiming to capture the Bulgarian positions in the hills above Dojran Lake.

This was not the first time the Allies had attacked Dojran - in 1916, an Anglo-French attempt was repulsed by the Second Thracian Infantry Division; the British had twice failed to capture it in 1917. The fortifications were well built (by Bulgarian engineers), the Bulgarians having spent the first months of 1916 and early 1917 strengthening the positions. The terrain around the area was rough, the fortifications being surrounded with three miles of scrub and rocks. Part of the defences were the dangerous Pip Ridge and the Grand Couronné.

On the left flank, the British XII Corps with the 22nd and 26th divisions, reinforced by the Greek Serres Division was to attack the difficult Pip Ridge. The British concentrated 231 pieces of artillery, including heavy 8-inch howitzers. The bombardment took place over two days, included gas shells and concluded with a rolling barrage, behind which the infantry was to advance. The British spent the time before the battle practising for the assault. Facing them was the Bulgarian 9th Pleven Division with 122 guns, in very well prepared defences, commanded by General Vladimir Vazov.

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