Battle of Kaymakchalan

Battle of Kajmakcalan
Part of the Macedonian Front of the Balkans Theatre (World War I)
A commemoration Serbian chapel at Kajmakčalan
Date September 12 to September 30, 1916 Location Kajmakčalan Result Tactical Serbian victory[1]
Belligerents
Serbia	Bulgaria
Commanders and leaders
Živojin Mišić	Kliment Boyadzhiev
Strength
1st Army with main effort by Drina Division	11th Macedonian Division with main effort by 11th Sliven Regiment
Casualties and losses
4,643 killed[2][3][4] of which 3/4 belonging to the Drina Division	Dead Soldiers/Officers 1876,51 Wounded Soldiers/Officers 5941,126 including 11th Sliven Regiment's losses of Dead Soldier/Officers 529, 29 Wounded 2000

The Battle of Kaymakchalan was a battle that was fought between Serbian and Bulgarian troops on the Macedonian Front during World War I.

The battle was fought between 12 and 30 September 1916, when the Serbian army managed to capture the peak of Prophet Ilia while pushing the Bulgarians towards the town of Mariovo, where the latter formed new defensive lines. Between 26 and 30 September, the peak changed hands several times until it was decisively captured by the Serbian army on the latter date.

The battle proved to be very costly for both sides. Serbian losses had reached around 10,000 killed and wounded by 23 September.^[5] The Bulgarian companies had been reduced to 90 men each and one regiment, the 11th Sliven Regiment, had 73 officers and 3,000 men hors de combat.^[6]

By strategic aspect, the battle was not a huge success for the Allies due to the upcoming winter that rendered further military engagements almost impossible.

Today, there is a small church on the peak of Prophet Ilia where the skulls of dead Serbian soldiers are stored, and it is regarded as a cultural site and is a tourist attraction.

Notes

References

• Alan Palmer "The Gardeners of Salonika"
• Gordon-Smith, Gordon (1920). "From Serbia to Jugoslavia; Serbia’s victories, reverses and final triumph, 1914-1918,". G.P. Putnam’s Sons – New York. 
• Balkan Breakthrough: The Battle of Dobro Pole 1918

by Richard C. Hall

Coordinates: 40°56′32″N 21°48′17″E / 40.94222°N 21.80472°E / 40.94222; 21.80472

External links

• , The battle of Kajmakchalan, Η μάχη του Καϊμακτσαλάν