First Army (Serbia)
The Serbian First Army was a Serbian field army that fought during the Balkan Wars and World War I. The First Army was the largest in the Serbian Armed Forces. For some time, it was commanded by the heir to the throne, Alexander Karađorđević.
Order of battle
August 1914
- First Army - staff in the village Rača
- *I Timok Infantry Division - Smederevska Palanka
- *II Timok Infantry Division - Rača
- *II Morava Infantry Division
- * Branicevo detachment - Požarevac
History
Early World War I
Following the Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia, the First Army was put under the command of General Petar Bojović. It acted as a strategic reserve in the area of Aranđelovac during the Battle of Cer, but most of its divisions were sent to support the Second and Third armies actively engaged in the battle. The army conducted a successful crossing of Sava and performed an offensive into Syrmia but was recalled when Second invasion of Serbia began. The army had the decisive role in the battle conducting a strong counterattack against the Austro- Hungarian 6th army. It was engaged in some of the fiercest fights of the whole Serbian theatre at Mackov kamen, which ended in a bloody stalemate. After a month-long period of trench warfare, in November 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Army began the third invasion of Serbia. During the defensive part of this battle this army was in the most difficult situation due to heavy casualties from the Battle of Drina and acute lack of artillery ammunition. It was at this point that general Živojin Mišić, who was previously the Aide of Commander in Chief of Serbian Army,, was made commander of this army, as Bojović was wounded. He restored morale and discipline in the army, by insisting on a deeper withdrawal before the Austro-Hungarians, all the way to Gornji Milanovac.In December 1914, after receiving a badly needed supply of 75mm artillery ammunition, the whole Serbian army launched a counterattack. The First Army played the decisive role in this having affected the breakthrough against the 16. corps of Austro-Hungarian 6th army. It subsequently pursued that army all the way to the Drina, while the other two armies were engaged in expulsing the Austro-Hungarian 5th army. After the battle, Mišić promoted to Vojvoda.
When the fourth, combined German, Austro-Hungarian, and Bulgarian invasion force attacked Serbia in 1915, the First Army was tasked with defence of the western border of Serbia. It faced mostly units of Austro-Hungarian Third Army and was mostly under less pressure then other Serbian units facing Germans or Bulgarians. Perhaps as a consequence of this Mišić was in favor of halting and making a final stand against the Central Powers forces when the High Command ordered retreat across Montenegro and Albania to Italian-held Durrës and Vlorë. However, he was overruled by other army commanders at their meetings at Peć, who decided to carry on the order of High Command.