Battle of Mojkovac

Battle near Mojkovac

Battle of Mojkovac
Part of Serbian Campaign (World War I)
Date 6–7 January 1916 Location Mojkovac Result Montenegrin victory
Belligerents
Montenegro	Austria-Hungary
Commanders and leaders
Janko Vukotić	Wilhelm von Reiner Conrad von Hötzendorf
Strength
6,500	20,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Several Hundred Killed

The Battle of Mojkovac (Serbian: Бој на Мојковцу, Boj na Mojkovcu) was a famous World War I battle fought between 6 January and 7 January 1916 near Mojkovac, Montenegro, between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Montenegro. It ended with a Montenegrin victory.

Prelude

In winter of 1915, the Army of Montenegro had been fighting Austro-Hungary for three months, resisting the invasion of their territory. The Montenegrin Army was weakened by the harsh weather and lack of supplies. On 5 January 1916, they received a command to protect the retreat of the Serbian army to Corfu via Albania.

Battle

The fighting culminated on 6 and 7 January 1916 (on Orthodox Christmas; also known as 'Bloody Christmas'). Although outnumbered, led by Serdar Janko Vukotić (and with Krsto Zrnov Popović as second in command) the Montenegrin army defeated a numerically superior enemy. The Montenegrins inflicted heavy casualties on the Austro-Hungarian forces and temporarily halted their advancement, giving the Serbian Army enough time to reach the Albanian mountains and retreat.

The victory didn't last very long. The Austrians continued their offensive and by January 25, the army of Montenegro laid down its weapons.

See also

• Serbian Campaign (World War I)

References

• Cyril Falls, The Great War, p. 140