The Serbian army at the beginning of World War I

The Serbian army at the beginning of World War I

The events of the summer of 1914 left the Serbian army off guard for war. According to Nikola Pašić (Serbian Prime Minister), Serbia and its army would need at least three years for the rearmament and development of new military formations in the south. The influx of the new contingent of southern recruits did not begin until April 1914. Serbia needed a much longer period for the development of a new railway network in the southern and western parts of the country, as well as for the construction of a bridge over the Danube to establish a railway connection with Romania.

These views were shared by the Major General Staff and Prince Alexander. The Serbian army lacked at least 120,000 rifles, heavy and mountain artillery, ammunition, means of transport, camping equipment, about 300,000 complete sets of uniforms, medical equipment, medical personnel, newly trained men to replace about 50,000 dead and disabled from the Balkan Wars and some 6,000 horsepower.

Prime Minister Pašić, fully aware of these weaknesses and threats to the security of neighboring areas, sought loans in France and Russia to buy weapons on time. He first headed to Russia (in January 1914) and demanded 120,000 rifles, twenty-four 105 mm barrels, thirty-six mountain cannons and equipment for 250,000 men. Their demand was reduced in January, again in April and once again at the peak of the “July crisis”. The primary reason for the Russian government to reject this find was an attempt to minimize a possible pretext for Austrians to blame Serbia and Russia for their alleged intentions.

Pašić had the best welcome in France. There he managed to get a loan of 130 million francs, but not before May 1914. However, only a small amount of artillery ammunition, black powder and a few other materials arrived in Serbia through the port of Thessaloniki before the outbreak of the war. The rifles and shells, which the army needed so much, couldn't be transported in time. Finally, when the export ban was lifted in September, Russia shipped 119,980 rifles, 90 million rounds, 1,280 120mm projectiles and 1,140 horses.

Despite their weaknesses, Serbia was determined to defend itself in case of attack. The Russian businessman hesitated to deliver a message from St. Petersburg suggesting that Serbs should not oppose resistance but retreat to the south and appeal to the big powers in search of mediation. A general mobilization was declared on the night of July 25, shortly after the Austro-Hungarian Plenipotentiary in Belgrade declared the break of diplomatic relations.

The movement began on July 26. Everyone obeyed the government's call, so it only took three days to achieve the mobilization goals. Over 400,000 reservists have joined the ranks. The Serbian operational army had some 250,000 fighters distributed across eleven infantrys, a cavalry division and several detachments. In total he had 213 battalions, fifty cavalry squads and was equipped with 200 machine guns and 528 cannons. The rest of the men, including recruits, cadets or non-combatants (nearly 250,000), performed a variety of roles including logistic support, post office, surveillance, working in the railway or in the war industry. The full protest was held on August 10.

The First Army (three divisions) was located in the Morava Valley; the Second (four divisions) in Central Serbia; the third (2.5 divisions) along the Drina and Sava Rivers; the Army of Užice (one division) in the Upper Drina; and a Braničevo detachment was distributed to along the shores of the Danube (1.5 divisions).