Stepa Stepanović
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Stepa Stepanović (Serbian: Степа Степановић) (born March 12, 1856, died April 29, 1929) was a field marshal (vojvoda) of the Serbian Army who distinguished himself in Serbia's wars from 1876 to 1918.
Stepa Stepanović was born in the village of Kumodraž outside of Belgrade on March 2, 1856. He joined the Serbian army in 1874, as a cadet in the artillery school.
Stepanović obtained significant achievements in the war against the Turks, especially in the Battle of Jedren in March 1913 during the First Balkan War .In the Second Balkan War his forces were deployed in the Niš region with an encampment in Pirot
At the beginning of World War I he acted as the representative of then absent chief of staff Radomir Putnik. He was responsible for mobilization and some war preparations. After Putnik's return he took command of the Second Army. In World War I, he led the Serbian army in a great victory in the Battle of Cer, where his Second Army completely defeated the Austrian Fifth Army, arriving to the scene after a forced march. This was the first allied victory of the war, and he was promoted to Vojvoda (Field-Marshal). His army achieved successes in the Battle of the Drina and Battle of Kolubara , in addition to the defence of Serbia in 1915.
In 1918 he was again in command of the Second Army which was a part of the large Allied offensive in Macedonia, they achieved a breakthrough on September 17. This Vojvoda's army forced Bulgaria to surrender on September 29, 1919. He is considered the final liberator of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He was an active officer until the end of 1919, when he retired from service as the commander in chief of the Serbian army. During his career he was also serving as the minister of the army on two occasions.
He was decorated with the "Takovski krst sa ukrštenim mačevima" medal for bravery during the 1876-1878 wars against the Turks. He died in the town of Čačak on April 29, 1929.
