Battle of Cer
From Freepedia
| Battle of Cer | |
|---|---|
| Conflict: World War I | |
| Date: August 16 to August 19, 1914 | |
| Place: Near Cer | |
| Outcome: Serbian Victory | |
| Combatants | |
| Austria-Hungary | Serbia |
| Commanders | |
| Oskar Potiorek | Stepa Stepanović Pavel Jurišić Šturm |
| Strength | |
| 200,000 | 180,000 |
| Casualties | |
| 25,000 killed or wounded 4,500 captured | 4,785 killed or missing 11,215 wounded |
The Battle of Cer was one of the first battles of the First World War. The battle was fought between the Austro-Hungarian army and Serbian forces; it marked the first Allied victory in the war. The battle improved Allied-Serbian relations because western faith in the competence of the Serbian army was much improved. Austro-Hungarian troops fought under the command of General Oskar Potiorek and Serbian troops under the command of General Stepa Stepanovic.
The battle is also known as Battle for Jadar, because the main operations were held near the estuary of the river Jadar.
Battle Summary
When the First World War started the Austro-Hungarian army under the command of General Pochorek pushed into Serbia across the Sava and the Drina. Šabac fell. The Serb Second Army under the command of General Stepa Stepanović advanced towards Cer, the Sumadija Division towards Sabac and the Cavalry Division towards Mačva. On the left flank the Third Army under the command of General Pavel Jurišić Šturm entered the battle.
During August 1914 a great battle was waged in the area of Cer, in which around 200,000 men with a great number of artillery pieces of ordnance took part on the Austro-Hungarian side, and around 180,000 men on the Serb side. The main battle at Cer lasted from August 16 to 19. The Serb Army won a great victory, pushed the Austro-Hungarian Army back across the Drina and completely thwarted their war plan.
Outcome
Around 25,000 Austro-Hungarian officers and soldiers were killed and wounded, and around 4,500 were captured. The Serb army lost around 16,000. As a result of the battle Austria-Hungary withdrew from Sandzak, delaying their offensive into Serbia. Austria-Hungary continued offensives into Serbia for the rest of the autumn of 1914 but were repulsed several times until 1915.
Legacy
Historical artifacts can be found in a museum located in the town of Šabac.
