Stepa Stepanović
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (March 2020) |
Minister of Army | |
---|---|
In office 24 February 1911 – 22 May 1912 | |
Prime Minister | Nikola Pašić Milovan Milovanović |
Preceded by | Ilija Gojković |
Succeeded by | Radomir Putnik |
In office 30 March 1908 – 23 December 1908 | |
Prime Minister | Nikola Pašić Petar Velimirović |
Preceded by | Radomir Putnik |
Succeeded by | Mihailo Živković |
Personal details | |
Born | Stepan Stepanović 11 March 1856 |
Stepan "Stepa" Stepanović
Stepanović commanded Serbian forces during the two
Early childhood and education
Stepan "Stepa" Stepanović was born on 28 February 1856
Due to housework, Stepanović's mother had little time for him and often left him in the care of her mother-in-law. Prior to attending
At the time, the Belgrade artillery school possessed a technical character and paid much attention to knowledge of mathematics, a subject in which Stepanović always performed poorly. Stepanović was also not very good in foreign languages, although he read
Serbo-Turkish Wars
Stepanović arrived in Kragujevac on 14 May 1876. Here, he was assigned to orderly officer duty in the headquarters of the Šumadija Division, commanded by Colonel Ljubomir Uzun-Mirković, whose orders were carried by Stepanović. The Šumadija division was the main part of the Moravian Army, but after a change of battle plans, it was divided in several squadrons.[8] Stepanović was assigned to Uzun-Mirković’s squadron, which had orders to help the Knjaževac Army take Babina Glava and Bela Palanka in order to stop the arrival of Ottoman reinforcements to Niš.[9] Eventually, Babina Glava was taken and Stepanović was noted by Uzun-Mirković for "being very agile and for good riding."[10] Soon after, the Ottomans launched a counter-offensive against Uzun-Mirković’s squadron, which retreated to Pandrilo. The Ottomans attacked Pandrilo on 19 July, beginning a battle in which Stepanović actively participated. Stepanović's participation alongside regular Serbian soldiers raised moral and helped turn the tide of the battle.[11] This experience affected Stepanović greatly and he often resorted to fighting alongside other Serbian soldiers to raise their moral.[12]
After the fall of
The IV Army Corps marched across
An armistice between Serb and Ottoman Turkish forces was declared 1 November 1876. On 1 December, Stepanović was awarded the Gold Medal for Bravery and was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. On 13 February 1877, he was appointed commander of the 3rd Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Serbian Army.[15] Later, Stepanović participated in the capture of Pirot.[16] Under the overall command of General Jovan Belimarković, Stepanović and his 300-strong force attacked the left flank of Nišor, one of two locations that the Ottomans had fortified in the town.[16] Between 26 and 27 September, Stepanović’s unit passed unnoticed around Nišor and took Mali vrh. On the morning of 27 September, when the main Serbian attack began, his squad opened fire on Nišor, confusing the Ottomans stationed there.[16] Afterwards, Pirot was captured. One soldier from Stepanović’s unit said: "I find that, if I’m not wrong, our action struck the main blow to the Turkish position on Nišor and had resolved the fate of Pirot."[17] Stepanović was later awarded the Order of St. Svetislav III Class with Swords and Ribbon, his favourite of all awards he had received throughout his career because he considered himself "[the] first to have entered the Turkish trench."[17]
On 3 December, the Šumadija Corps began its march from Pirot to Niš in two echelon formations. During this march, Stepanović commanded a half-battalion of infantry and some cavalry that moved across the difficult terrain of Suva Planina. Nevertheless, all of his men survived the trek and appeared ready for battle. Stepanović later stated that the march across the mountain was his toughest assignment in the war.[18]
On 23 January 1878, the Serbian high command ordered the Šumadija division to capture the town of Vranje. The Šumadija division then drove the Ottomans from Poljanica and defeated Grdelička klisura. On 25 January, Stepanović became commander of a volunteer squad which armed local Serbs in Poljanica. At the battle for Vranje several days later, Stepanović attacked the Ottomans from the north of the town at Devotin.[19]
Peacetime
Once the war ended, Stepanović took additional classes at the Belgrade Military Academy to finish his schooling, completing them all by 1880. In September of that year, he requested a transfer to Kragujevac. There, he gained command of the 2nd Company of 3rd Battalion of the Serbian Army. In October, he became commander of the 1st Company in the same battalion.[20]
In Kragujevac, Stepanović met his future wife Jelena, the daughter of the city's chief, Velislav Milanović. The two married on 25 July 1881.[21] Their first child, Milica, was born on 21 April 1882. The following year Jelena gave birth to the couple's second daughter, Danica.[22] Both of Stepanović's daughters went on to marry officers, Milica marrying second lieutenant Krsta Dragomirović and Danica marrying 1st Class captain Jovica Jovičić,[23] who later became a division general in the Serbian Army.[24]
In his first official evaluation in the last quarter of 1880, a special military commission wrote described Stepanović as:
Apprehensive. He shows talent in general, and is special in the history of the Serbian people. He has a determined and bold character and has temper. He understands easily and is fast to act with good results. Healthy, strong, agile and, for practical service, able. He is a very good marksman, rider and swimmer. If there is a need, he can command a company, he has knowledge and he can transfer it to his subordinates. In the rest of the official rules he is also good; useful for administration and monetary service. He works ardently. To the younger he is strict and righteous, to the equals he is gregarious, and to the elders very kind and thoughtful.[25]
On 1 September 1882, Stepanović was promoted to the rank of infantry lieutenant and he became a commander in Užice, where he remained until 13 February 1883, when he returned to Kragujevac. Upon his arrival in Kragujevac, he was appointed as military adjutant in the Šumadija Infantry Regiment.[25] That same year, Serbia listed made military exercises mandatory in gymnasium programs. Stepanović subsequently became a teacher of military exercises in the First Kragujevac Gymnasium. He remained in this position until 1886.[26]
Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885)
During the Battle of Slivnitsa, Stepanović commanded the 1st Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Šumadija division. His unit attacked the village of Vrapče and forced Bulgarian forces to retreat. In a report that Stepanović sent to the commander of the 12th Regiment a lack of coordination between divisions, regiments and battalions of the Serbian Army is perceptible.[27]
Several days later, Stepanović became commander of the 1st Battalion in the 12th Regiment and together with troops from another unit attacked the weakened Bulgarian center on Slivnitsa. The Bulgarians began retreating, allowing Serb forces to take over region around the village of Aldomirovtsi. In his report, Stepanović wrote about his soldiers: "The behavior of the soldiers in this battles was excellent because they showed great curability despite moving over the open field during crossfire. The behavior of the officers was satisfactory in regard of courage and good command of the troops."[28]
With Serbian forces being pushed out of Bulgaria,
Rise
With the end of the Serbo-Bulgarian war, Stepanović returned to Kragujevac, where he stayed until November 1886. In Kragujevac, he commanded a company of the 10th regiment. At the end of 1886, he was promoted to the rank of II class infantry
In March 1889, Stepanović reported for this exam, and the commission gave him permission on 2 April to start. From 2–6 April, Stepanović completed the theoretic part of his exam in twelve subjects. He was released of doing practical part of exam, because he received very good grade on headquarters’ journeys and missions. Shortly before the exam, he became the executive of Drina divisional area. After his exams he moved to Valjevo. On 17 April 1889, he became I Class captain.[30]
From 29 March to 15 April 1892, Stepanović wrote and successfully passed an exam for the rank major in the same time as Milutin Milanović and Živojin Mišić. Stepanović became commander of the 5th Battalion in Požega on 13 September 1892. He was promoted to the rank of major on 8 May of the following year. On 14 August, he was moved to Valjevo to once again serve as the executive of the Drina divisional area. He stayed in Valjevo until 20 October 1895, when he was moved to Belgrade.[31] Stepanović stayed in Belgrade for five months, where he was commander of the 7th Battalion. He also became a part-time professor of military history at the Belgrade Military Academy. On 30 March 1897, he became acting commander of the 6th Infantry Regiment in Belgrade. On 11 May, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and two days later he became commander of the 6th Infantry Regiment. Stepanović became Chief of the General Staff in the Ministry of Defense on 27 October 1898.[32] He served in this position until 15 March 1899, when he became an executive of the general military department of the Ministry of Defense. Although he didn't like to work indoors, he made an excellent impression on members of the ministry and was remembered as being very strict and punctual. He was transferred again to Valjevo on 17 October 1900, where he became commander of an infantry brigade in the Drina Division. Because of a misunderstanding on 11 November, he was transferred to Zaječar and assigned as commander of an infantry brigade in the Timok Division. He liked this position and said: ″Troop for an officer is the same as water to a fish, and especially a headquarters officer. There he can show what he knows and he can show results. The office kills the spirit, drains the strength and changes man into mechanism.″[33]
On 18 August 1901, Stepanović was promoted to headquarters colonel, and on 11 November he became deputy executive of the active military command of the Serbian Army. He was served in this position until 15 December 1902, when he became an executive of the General Staff. Later, King Alexander I decorated him with Order of the Cross of Takovo II class. Stepanović continued in his role as a professor of military history, lecturing Napoleonic warfare from the period 1796–1805. He was also the editor of military magazine known as Warrior (Serbian: Ratnik).[33]
The
In the spring of 1906 in Kragujevac, where Stepanović was garrisoned as commander of the Šumadija Division, a so-called corporal counter conspiracy occurred. Some historians believe that the conspiracy was triggered by Stepanović’s strict regime. The conspiracy involved about thirty officers of the Kragujevac garrison who had planned to take several important public buildings in the town and then to arrest Stepanović. When the plot was uncovered on 30 April, Stepanović had 31 officers arrested. When expressed a desire to have more arrested, he was stopped by Minister of Defense Radomir Putnik.[34]
Stepanović was deeply shook by the conspiracy and later declared:
"It is a sore point of my whole career. I had many tough things in my life, I swallowed injustice and derecognition, they offended me and neglected me, but nothing touched me more like that thing. I feel sorrow for those young people who were misled by faithless and elevated speculators because of their army career, where they could have been of great benefit to the people and fatherland. But, I could not do anything to help."[34]
Ministry and preparations for the Balkan Wars
Stepa Stepanović was elevated to the rank of general on 29 June 1907, but stayed as commander of the Šumadija divisional area. Nikola Pašić formed a new government on 12 April 1908 and Stepanović became the Minister of Army. During his mandate, he tried to modernize the military and to remodel old Mauser rifles.[35] He also had new artillery be bought from France and supplied to the Serbian Army.[24] When the army attempted to order machine guns, Stepanović took a different, more conservative approach, as Colonel Vlajić, who worked in Stepanović’s cabinet, wrote:
"I've had hassle acquiring machine guns. This new weapon, which all armies were armed with, needed to be introduced in the army and I was trying to get certain amount for each regiment, but the minister Stepa said to me one day: I, myself, love more one platoon of shooters rather than your machine guns. Please do not patronize me that one machine gun can replace one platoon of infantry."[35]
In October 1908, after the
At the beginning of March 1911, Stepanović became Minister of Army again. Soon after, Prince
When Stepanović became Minister of Army for the second time, the government of Serbia realized that the
First Balkan War
First operations
With the start of the First Balkan War, Stepa Stepanović became commander of the 60,000-strong Second Army, which possessed 84 cannons. Concentrated in the Kyustendil–Dupnitsa area, it contained the 1st Timok Infantry Division and the Bulgarian Seventh Rila infantry Division. Its mission was to attack the Turkish rear before the First Army. Informing the Serbian troops that the Seventh Rila Division became part of the Army, Stepanović said: ″I look with confidence at our future work and strongly believe in success, because for centuries separated and now fraternized and embraced, closest brothers, Serbs and Bulgarians represent an irresistible force that will crush all hurdles and liberate downtrodden brothers.″[37]
On 17 October 1912, Putnik informed Stepanović of Serbia's declaration of war against the Ottoman Empire. He ordered his army to move closer to the Ottoman border, but not to cross it until further notice. However, the Bulgarian high command ordered the commander of the Rila Division, Georgi Todorov, to cross the Ottoman border and attack Carevo selo and Gornja Džumaja, which he managed to capture. Stepanović congratulated them with the words: ″Hurray heroes of the Seventh division.″[38]
On 18 October, Timok Division started to attack Ottoman positions in direction
Battle of Kumanovo
Having not received any order about amassing of the enemy at Kumanovo, general Stepanović ordered Timok Division to take a march towards Kumonovo on 23 October at 6 a.m. At the same time he ordered he commanded the Seventh Division to take over Kočani on 23 October and then to spare some of its forces and send it toward Štip. On 23 October, in the morning, Timok Division attacked Kratovo and thus began the Battle of Kumanovo. [39]
However, general Todorov obeyed the orders from his High Command, so he only sent one battalion of ten batteries to take over Kočani, which was defended by an entire division. Stepanović, while the Timok Division was on the march, received the note that from
Stepanović did not like the work of both divisions and reported this to Supreme Command. He received answer that 7th Division should unconditionally take over Kočani and Timok Division Crni Vrh. Meanwhile, Stepanović found out that during 23 October, there was battle at Kumanovo. He was surprised by this and was worried about the position of Timok Division, but still looked for a way to help the First army. He ordered Timok Division to take over Crni vrh on 24 October, but this was done tomorrow on 25 October.[40]
The next day, High Command informed Stepanović that at the request of the Bulgarian government it was decided that Timok Division should be putt at their disposal, provided that ″he still manage both divisions.″ He immediately gave 14th Serbian Regiment to the 7th Rila Division and ordered general Todorov to steer his forces towards the mouth of the Bregalnica river in order to stop Ottoman retreat towards Prilep, and then he asked for permission to move from Kriva Palanka to Štip in order to command more easily operation.[40]
However, after he arrived in Kratovo he received a dispatch from general Todorov in which he informed that he received the orders from his own High Command to move his forces towards Serez and Demir Hisar, which he already ordered. After reading this, Stepanović moved back to Kriva Palanka to prepare certain forces to aid Bulgarians.[40]
Siege of Adrianople
General Stepa Stepanović arrived with his headquarters in place called
The armistice was signed on 3.December 1912. However, Stepanović didn’t want his army to lose concentration. He demanded maximum discipline and readiness, even on Christmas Eve. During armistice, Stepanović managed to improve the supply of his army. Bulgarian Supreme Command accepted to supply Serbian Second army, but Stepanović wasn’t satisfied with quality. so he demanded that the quality of bread, meat and other articles improve. Because he didn’t come to agreement with Bulgarian command, he asked Serbian Supreme Command to send supply in order to ″preserve the health and morale of soldiers.″ After the two months of preparation, on 24 March 1913 begun 3-day battle for capturing Adrianople. His Timok Division captured whole northern sector of the battlefield in only 45 minutes without artillery backup and pulle the bulk of Adrianople fortress artillery fire.[42]
At the end of the day, it was decided that tomorrow at night, attack should be launched in order to capture antipersonnel obstacles. When attack commenced, on the front of Timok Division, Ottomans tried to recapture their positions, but they were unsuccessful. General Stepanović looked attack live from high ground behind Danube Division. Nikola Aranđelović, who was in charge of army telegraph, described the atmosphere:
Standing alone, like statue, General Stepanović transferred himself in the trenches of his countrymen and peasants from 7th company: people from
At 5.30 am, Stepanović ordered Serbian troops to move in decisive attack on the front line, in order to help Bulgarian push on eastern sector, which fell around 8 am. At 8.30 am, two Ottoman officers came to Serbian 20th regiment to negotiate the surrender on the account of Shukri Pasha. Having not receiving any response, Pasha sent his adjutant to 20th regiment with message that
After Adrianople fell, Stepanović formed combined detachment on 27 March and marched solemnly into the conquered city. Few days later, he ordered that on
First World War
At the beginning of World War I he acted as the representative of the 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
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 15 September. The Second Army advanced to the Bulgarian border and from there, after Bulgarian capitulation on 29 September 1918 turned West towards Bosnia and the Adriatic Sea.
He was an active officer until the end of 1919, when he retired from service as the
He was decorated with the "Takovski krst sa ukrštenim mačevima" medal for bravery during the 1876-1878 wars against the Turks. He was also awarded the Knight Grand Cross (
Legacy
He is included in The 100 most prominent Serbs. His birth house in Kumodraž (Belgrade) is converted into a small museum dedicated to his life and legacy. Reconstruction and conservation of the house was done in 2014 when house was finally reopened to visitors.
See also
- Petar Bojović
- Radomir Putnik
- Živojin Mišić
- Božidar Janković
- Ilija Gojković
- Pavle Jurišić Šturm
- Ivan S. Pavlović
Notes
- ^ Birth date: Stepanović's birthdate is often misinterpreted as 12 March 1856. Yet, since he was born 28 February 1856 (Old Style), and the difference between the calendars was twelve days at the time, 1856 being a leap year, it can be calculated that Stepanović was actually born 11 March 1856 (New Style).
Decorations
Serbian military decorations | |
Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords , Knight Grand Cross
| |
Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords, Grand Officer | |
Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords, Commander | |
Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords, Officer | |
Order of the Karađorđe's Star , Commander
| |
Order of the Karađorđe's Star , Officer
| |
Order of the White Eagle with Swords, Commander | |
Order of the White Eagle, Commander | |
Order of the White Eagle, Officer | |
Order of the Cross of Takovo, Grand Officer | |
Order of the Cross of Takovo, Commander | |
Order of the Cross of Takovo, Officer | |
Order of the Cross of Takovo with swords, Cavalier; | |
Serbian Service Medals | |
Medal for Bravery, Gold | |
Medal for Bravery, Silver | |
Commemorative medal of the King Petar I | |
Commemorative medal of the wars with Turkey 1876-1878 | |
Commemorative medal of the war with Bulgaria 1885 | |
Medal for Military Merit | |
Commemorative Medal of the First Balkan War | |
Commemorative Medal of the Second Balkan War | |
Commemorative Medal of the First World War | |
Albanian Commemorative Medal
| |
International and Foreign Awards | |
Legion of Honour, Officer (France) | |
Greece )
| |
Order of the Crown of Italy, Knight Grand Cross (Italy) | |
Order of Prince Danilo I, Knight Grand Cross (Montenegro) | |
Order of Saint Stanislaus, Knight Grand Cross (Russian Empire )
| |
Order of Saint Stanislaus with Swords, Commander (Russian Empire) | |
Order of St. George, IV class (Russian Empire) | |
Order of the Bath, Knight Commander (United Kingdom) | |
Order of the Bath, Companion (United Kingdom) | |
Medal of Obilić (Kingdom of Montenegro) | |
Distinguished Service Order (United Kingdom) |
Notes
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 11.
- ^ a b Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 12.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 13.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 14.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 25.
- ^ a b c Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 25–26.
- ^ Pavlowitch 2002, p. 68.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 37.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 38.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 40.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 41.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 42.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 47.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 53–56.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 58–59.
- ^ a b c Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 72–73.
- ^ a b Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 74.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 75.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 81.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 93.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 94.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 95.
- ^ Popović & Milićević 2003, pp. 222–229.
- ^ a b Bjelajac 2004, p. 281.
- ^ a b Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 97.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 99.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 121–122.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 128–130.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 132–133.
- ^ a b Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 143–144.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 149–151.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 156–160.
- ^ a b Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 165–166.
- ^ a b c d Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 182–190.
- ^ a b c d Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 190–197.
- ^ a b c d Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 197–205.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 212.
- ^ a b c Skoko & Opačić 1990, pp. 216–221.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 221.
- ^ a b c d Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 231—246.
- ^ Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 247-262.
- ^ a b c d Skoko & Opačić 1990, p. 282-296.
References
- Bjelajac, Mile S. (2004). Generali i admirali Kraljevine Jugoslavije, 1918–1941: studija o vojnoj eliti i biografski leksikon [Generals and Admirals of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 1918–1941: A Study of the Military Elite and a Military Lexicon]. ISBN 86-7005-039-0.
- DiNardo, Richard L. (2015). Invasion: The Conquest of Serbia, 1915. Santa Barbara: Praeger. ISBN 9781440800924.
- ISBN 9781850654773.
- Popović, Ljubodrag; Milićević, Milić (2003). Generali vojske Kneževine i Kraljevine Srbije [Generals of the Army of the Principality and Kingdom of Serbia] (in Serbian). ISBN 86-335-0142-2.
- Skoko, Savo; Opačić, Petar (1990). Vojvoda Stepa Stepanović u Ratovima Srbije, 1876–1918 [Vojvoda Stepa Stepanović in the Wars of Serbia, 1876–1918] (6 ed.). Belgrade: BIGZ. ISBN 86-13-00453-9.
External links
- Srpsko Nasleđe, no. 10, October 1998