Battle of Ovche Pole
Encyclopedia
The Ovche Pole
Offensive Operation was an operation of the Bulgarian Army that occurred between 14 October 1915 and 15 November 1915 as part of the Serbian Campaign (World War I)
. Its aim was to seize the valley of the river Vardar
and cut the vital railway linking Skopje
with Thesaloniki and thus prevent the Serbian Army from being resupplied and reinforced by the Allied Expeditionary Force. The Bulgarian forces consisted of the Second Army (3rd Balkan Infantry Division, 7th Rila Division and the Cavalry Division with 182 guns) under the command of Lieutenant General
Georgi Todorov.
The main blow was at Kumanovo
where the Bulgarian 3rd and 7th divisions easily defeated the Serbian army. On the third day the Bulgarian Cavalry Division also advanced, defeating the Serbia counter-attack and reaching Veles
and the Vardar
. With this success the aim was achieved. While fighting against the Serbs, the Bulgarians defeated two French
divisions in the battle of Krivolak and conclusively cut the way between the Serbs and the Allies, which resulted in the fall of Serbia after the Kosovo Offensive Operation (1915).
Ovce Pole
Ovče Pole is a plain situated around the flow of Sveti Nikole's River, which is a tributary to the Bregalnica river, in the east-central part of Republic of Macedonia. The climate of the plain is characterized by hot and dry summers and temperately cold winters, with occasional sharp lows...
Offensive Operation was an operation of the Bulgarian Army that occurred between 14 October 1915 and 15 November 1915 as part of the Serbian Campaign (World War I)
Serbian Campaign (World War I)
The Serbian Campaign was fought from late July 1914, when Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia at the outset of the First World War, until late 1915, when the Macedonian Front was formed...
. Its aim was to seize the valley of the river Vardar
Vardar
The Vardar or Axios is the longest and major river in the Republic of Macedonia and also a major river of Greece. It is long, and drains an area of around . The maximum depth of river is ....
and cut the vital railway linking Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
with Thesaloniki and thus prevent the Serbian Army from being resupplied and reinforced by the Allied Expeditionary Force. The Bulgarian forces consisted of the Second Army (3rd Balkan Infantry Division, 7th Rila Division and the Cavalry Division with 182 guns) under the command of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Georgi Todorov.
The main blow was at Kumanovo
Kumanovo
Kumanovo is a city in the Republic of Macedonia and is the seat of Kumanovo Municipality which is the largest municipality in the country. Municipal institutions include a city council, mayor and other administrative bodies.-Name:...
where the Bulgarian 3rd and 7th divisions easily defeated the Serbian army. On the third day the Bulgarian Cavalry Division also advanced, defeating the Serbia counter-attack and reaching Veles
Veles (city)
Veles is a city in the center of the Republic of Macedonia on the Vardar river. The city of Veles is the seat of Veles Municipality.-Name:The city's name was Vylosa in Ancient Greek and before the Balkan Wars, it was a township with the name Köprülü in the Üsküp sandjak, Ottoman empire for 600...
and the Vardar
Vardar
The Vardar or Axios is the longest and major river in the Republic of Macedonia and also a major river of Greece. It is long, and drains an area of around . The maximum depth of river is ....
. With this success the aim was achieved. While fighting against the Serbs, the Bulgarians defeated two French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
divisions in the battle of Krivolak and conclusively cut the way between the Serbs and the Allies, which resulted in the fall of Serbia after the Kosovo Offensive Operation (1915).