Battle of Doiran (1913)

(Redirected from Battle of Dojran (1913))

The Battle of Doiran was a battle of the Second Balkan War, fought between the Bulgaria and Greece. The battle took place in June 1913.

Battle of Doiran
Part of Second Balkan War

Houses destroyed by the Bulgarians at Doiran c. 1913
Date22–23 June 1913
Location
Result Greek victory[1]
Belligerents
Bulgaria Kingdom of Greece Greece
Commanders and leaders
Pravoslav Tenev
Konstantin Kavarnaliev 
Hristo Pakov
Leonidas Paraskevopoulos
(10th division)
Konstantinos Damianos[2][n 1]
(3rd division)
Units involved
2nd Army 3rd Division
10th Division[3]
Strength
2 infantry brigades 2 divisions
Casualties and losses
Half of forces killed, wounded, or captured (~2,000-4,000) 252 killed
755 wounded[4]

The Hellenic Army, after the victory at Kilkis-Lachanas, continued their advance north and successfully engaged the Bulgarians at Lake Doiran. The Bulgarian army had retreated to the lake, after having destroyed the bridges of Strymon River and burned the town of Serres.[5] As a result of their subsequent defeat, the Bulgarian forces retreated further north.

Battle

edit

The Doiran Lake was at the right wing of the Bulgarian line of defense. The 2nd Bulgarian Army was responsible for the defense of this sector.[6] The Bulgarian artillery was for some time successful against the Greek attack. When the Evzones captured the train station of Doiran, fearing that they would be encircled, retreated further north.[1] Following orders by King Constantine, the Greek army captured Gevgelija, Meleniko, Petrich and advanced in the Bulgarian territory aiming to capture Sofia.

Another part of the Greek army marched eastern to capture Drama and Western Thrace, while ships of the Greek navy with an amphibious operation were landed at Kavala.

 
Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos at Doiran station (1913).

References

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Commands and Headquarters of the Large Units (Formations) during the Balkan Wars, 1912–13.

Citations

edit
  1. ^ a b "Μάχη της Δοϊράνης: Η συντριπτική και θριαμβευτική ελληνική νίκη κατά των Βουλγάρων". 23 June 2021.
  2. ^ Hellenic Army 1998, Table 6.
  3. ^ Hellenic Army 1998, paragraph 290.
  4. ^ Hellenic Army 1998, paragraph 291.
  5. ^ "Η μάχη της Δοιράνης". Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  6. ^ W. H. Crawfurd Price 2008, pages 307–309.

Sources

edit

41°10′49″N 22°43′24″E / 41.18018°N 22.72332°E / 41.18018; 22.72332