Issue: 1/2019

THE PARTITIPATION OF OCHRID DETACHMENT OF THE SERBIAN ARMY DURING THE ATTACK TO ALBANIA (29 MAY–9 JUNЕ 1915)

Authors:
Aleksandar S. Dinčić

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Serbian‐Albanian relations in the period between the Austro‐Hungarian announcement of the war and the temporary collapse of Serbia in late 1915 ‐ were conditioned by Serbia's political interests, the unresolved issue of definitive demarcation, and the existence of a strong anti‐Serb coalition in Albania. The increasingly frequent incursions of the Arnaut rebels into Serbian territory triggered a major military campaign with the goal of deeply ‐ penetrating into Albanian territory, the deployment of military troops(Albanian detachment), and dictating military and political opportunities. In the subsequent campaign, the main burden of the battle fell on the units of the Ohrid Detachment, which contained two cadres regiments and one battalion that was in reserve. The Serbian military intervention in Albania, with less misunderstanding with the Greeks, had insignificant losses (120 dead, wounded, and missing) and lasted a total of ten days. Serbia was harshly criticized by the Allied powers, especially Italy, Great Britain, and Russia. The Russian supreme command even threatened to halt any further military assistance to Serbia. This action succeeded in breaking Arnaut's uprising, strategically providing the Serbian background against the German‐Austro‐Hungarian‐‐ Bulgarian offensive, and for some time securing the positions of the Serbian ally of the Esad‐pasha, which by August completely suppressed the uprising and eliminated its culprits. Serbia attacked deeply into the Albanian territory in this operation, and also achieved strategic superiority. Only a month later, the Serbian Army's main element retreated in front of the superior enemy through the Albanian territory and many liberated areas. With the withdrawal of the Serbian Army towards the Albanian coast, the provisional Albanian troops were gradually dispersed, when most of the personnel from the cadre regiments joined their divisions.