Battle of Mojkovac

Battle of Mojkovac
Part of Montenegrin Campaign
Date 6–7 January 1916 Location Mojkovac Result Montenegrin victory Serbian Army allowed more time to escape Austrians conquered the whole of Montenegro 3 weeks later
Belligerents
Montenegro	Austria-Hungary
Commanders and leaders
Janko Vukotić Krsto Popović	Wilhelm von Reiner Hermann Kövess
Strength
6,500	20,000
Casualties and losses
2,500	Heavy
Location of Mojkovac

Montenegrin victory

The Battle of Mojkovac (Serbian: Бој на Мојковцу, Boj na Mojkovcu or Мојковачка битка, Mojkovačka bitka) was a World War I battle fought between 6 January and 7 January 1916 near Mojkovac, Montenegro, between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Montenegro. It ended with a Montenegrin victory.

In the winter of 1915, the Army of Montenegro had been fighting Austro-Hungary for three months in Serbia. In January 1916 they had to resist the invasion of their own territory. The Montenegrin Army was weakened by the harsh weather and lack of supplies. On 5 January 1916, they received a command to protect the retreat of the Serbian army to Corfu via Albania.

The fighting culminated on 6 and 7 January 1916 (on Orthodox Christmas; also known as 'Bloody Christmas'). Led by Serdar (Count) Janko Vukotić with Krsto Zrnov Popović as second in command, the Montenegrin army inflicted heavy casualties on the Austro-Hungarian forces and temporarily halted their advancement.

The Montenegrin army had entrenched themselves around the village of Mojkovac. Austro-Hungarian forces attacked the army's positions early that day along with a heavy artillery bombardment on Mojkovac itself. By noon, the Austro-Hungarian attack was repulsed, suffering heavy casualties. Fighting resumed from then on, until the Austro-Hungarian forces left the battlefield, leaving more than 2,000 of their soldiers dead. By the end of the day, Montenegrin forces were able to push back multiple attacks made by Austro-Hungarian forces, taking back control of Mojkovac and its surroundings. Much of the fighting was done hand-to-hand with fixed bayonets and knives, in knee-deep snow.