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Vardar Offensive

Vardar Offensive
Doiran Front.jpg
A Bulgarian telephone station at Lake Doiran, March 1917
Date 15–29 September 1918
Location Vardar Macedonia (present day Republic of Macedonia)
Result Decisive Entente victory
Belligerents
Central Powers:
 Bulgaria
 Germany
Allied Powers:
 Serbia
 France
 United Kingdom
 Greece
 Italy
Commanders and leaders
German Empire Friedrich von Scholtz
German Empire Kuno von Steuben
Kingdom of Bulgaria Georgi Todorov
Kingdom of Bulgaria Hristo Burmov
Kingdom of Bulgaria Stefan Nerezov
Kingdom of Bulgaria Vladimir Vazov
France Louis Franchet d'Esperey
France Paul Prosper Henrys
Kingdom of Serbia Živojin Mišić
Kingdom of Serbia Petar Bojović
Kingdom of Serbia Stepa Stepanović
United Kingdom George Milne
United Kingdom Henry Wilson
Kingdom of Greece Panagiotis Danglis
Kingdom of Greece Panagiotis Gargalidis
Kingdom of Italy Ernesto Mombelli
Units involved
Army Group Scholtz
11th German Army
1st Bulgarian Army
61st German Corps
2nd Bulgarian Division
3rd Bulgarian Division
302nd German Division
9th Bulgarian Division
Allied Army of the Orient
Armée d'Orient
11th Colonial Infantry Division
1st Serbian Army
2nd Serbian Army
British Salonika Army
Serres Division
Cretan Division
35th Italian Division
Strength
Kingdom of Bulgaria 2 Armies
500 Artillery Pieces
France 3 Divisions
822 Artillery Pieces
Kingdom of Serbia 2 Armies
Kingdom of Greece 6 Divisions
United Kingdom 4 Divisions
Kingdom of Italy 1 Division
Casualties and losses
Kingdom of Bulgaria +3,207  
+998  (WIA)
77,000  (POW)
500 Artillery Pieces
France 3,449
Kingdom of Serbia 3,215
United Kingdom 4,589
Kingdom of Greece 5,295
Kingdom of Italy 747
Total:17,295 killed, missing and wounded

The Vardar Offensive (Bulgarian: Офанзива при Вардар) was a World War I military operation, fought between 15 and 29 September 1918. The operation took place during the final stage of the Balkans Campaign. On September 15, a combined force of Serbian, French and Greek troops attacked the Bulgarian-held trenches in Dobro Pole ("Good Field"), at the time part of the Kingdom of Serbia (present day Republic of Macedonia). The assault and the preceding artillery preparation had devastating effects on Bulgarian morale, eventually leading to mass desertions.

On September 18, a second Entente formation assaulted the Bulgarian positions in the vicinity of Lake Doiran. Effectively employing machine gun and artillery fire the Bulgarians managed to stall the Allied advance on the Doiran sector. However the collapse of the front at Dobro Pole forced the Bulgarians to withdraw from Doiran. The Allies pursued the German 11th Army and the Bulgarian 1st Army, while pushing deeper into Vardar Macedonia. By 29 September, the Allies had captured the former HQ of Uskub, thus endangering the remnants of the 11th Army.

The parallel development of the anti-monarchist Radomir Rebellion, forced Bulgaria to sign the Armistice of Salonica and withdraw from the war. The treaty included the full capitulation of the 11th Army, bringing the final tally of German and Bulgarian prisoners to 77,000 and granting the Allies 500 artillery pieces. The Bulgarian downfall turned the strategic and operational balance of the war against the Central Powers. The Macedonian Front was brought to an end at noon on 30 September, when the ceasefire came into effect.


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