First Battle of Caribrod
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| First Battle of Caribrod | |||||||||
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| Part of Serbo–Bulgarian War | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Serbia |
 Principality of Bulgaria | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| General Milutin Jovanović | Captain Hristo Popov | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
Danube Division |
Caribrod detachment | ||||||||
The First Battle of Caribrod (
Background
The
Battle
The Serbian attack started on November 2, when the Royal Serbian Army launched an attack within 3–4 hours of late in for directions towards Sofia, and in every direction, there was a single division. The forces ratio before the battle was 7:1 in Serbian favor.
Plan of the battle
The Danube Division was tasked to enter Bulgarian territory, capture Caribrod, come to line Kalotina – Vishan, and to take the Dragoman pass. In that way, the Danube Division will be able to support the Šumadija Division on the right side.
Forces of the Danube Division, commanded by General Milutin Jovanović, were divided into two columns. The division's right column was composed of the 7th Serbian Infantry Regiment that attacked from Srećkovac to Željuša and continued to Caribrod and the left column was composed of the 9th Infantry Regiment, which had to pass the village of Činiglavci and continue to Caribrod. Cavalry Brigade, commanded by Colonel Jovan Praporčetović, and the 19th Guard Battalion with one artillery battery were positioned near Tepoš village. They had the task to pass the state border, reach villages Odorovci and attack finish on line Stanyantsi – Izvor. Drina Division, commanded by Colonel Jovan Mišković, was left in reserve until the main forces passed Sukovo Bridge. Šumadija Division, commanded by Colonel Stevan Binički, was in the valley of Jerma river, which was also the direction of progressing towards Bulgaria. Morava Division, commanded by Colonel Petar Topalović, had task to control road Pirot – Tran and take the final town on that road.
Captain Hristo Popov commanded the Caribrod Detachment. His detachment comprised one infantry battalion, three opalchentsi companies, and one cavalry squadron.[3][4]
Realisation of the plan
All Serbian divisions very soon after the start of the attack made contact with Bulgarians and had great fire resistance. Morava Division was stopped for about two hours by
The battle was concluded without any major Bulgarian casualties and also without great territorial success as the Royal Serbian Army was only able to advance 5 kilometres into Bulgarian territory.[2][5][6]
See also
References
- ^ "Българско военно чудо: Битката при Сливница" (in Bulgarian). YouTube, channel Българска история. 2017-11-01.
- ^ a b "Строителите на съвременна България, том 1, Книга шеста – Войната и мирът, I. Настъплението на сърбите" (in Bulgarian). slovo.bg.
- ^ "Moje uspomene, Živojin Mišić" (in Serbian). academia.edu.
- ^ "Съединението на Княжество България и Източна Румелия 1885 година, 4. Изпитанията на войната, Е. Стателова, А. Пантев" (in Bulgarian). macedonia.kroraina.com.
- ^ Съединението 1885 - енциклопедичен справочник. София, Държавно издателство „д-р Петър Берон“, 1985.
- ^ "Военно-исторически очерк на Сръбско-българската война през 1885 г." (PDF) (in Bulgarian). Държавна агенция "Архиви".