Serbia and the Balkan Front, 1914: The Outbreak of the Great War

Congratulations to Dr. Lyon on producing an outstanding, thorough and meticulously researched text on both the background and outbreak of the First World War in Serbia in 1914. In this highly readable account, the author exceptionally intertwines the Balkan and Central European geopolitics of the period and region with consequent military actions of both the Serbian & Austro-Habsburg sides. At the same time, interwoven is the general life of the civilian people prior to and during hostilities at the time.Dr. Lyon describes in detail how the people/army of Serbia was ill prepared and equipped at the time for war after having – victoriously – participated in the 1st and 2nd Balkan Wars of 1912-13. The Balkan Wars had just cost the army a massive one quarter of its then mobilised fighting men – this being approximately 91,000 men. This aside from the war materiel losses which had still not yet been replenished by the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. Thus, once again, the people of Serbia had to fight a much larger force for their survival and independence from an already weakened position.The author then goes forward to describe how a nation of essentially laid back agrarian people – farmers and tradesman – rallied together under the brilliant military leadership of Field Marshall Radomir Putnik and his four main generals: Zivojin Misic, Stepa Stepanovic, Pavle Jurisic-Sturm and Petar Bojovic to fight the much larger sized Austro-Habsburg force possessing quantitative and qualitative materiel superiority over the Serbian Army. For instance, the Austro- Habsburg soldiers had full and proper uniforms, heavy leather weather proof boots and the latest Mauser Bolt-Action rifles. In addition, they were equipped with substantial Krupp and Skoda artillery and munitions. The Serbians, in making up the numbers for mobilisation, had no boots, no proper uniforms nor the latest firearms. They were just not fully equipped in the latest gear nor in weapons to fight the Austro-Hungarians. Sadly, the nation was still recovering financially, materially, psychologically and from the serious man power losses of the recent 1912-13 Balkan Wars. They could almost have been described as a ‘rag-tag’ motley-crew or as the author referred to them, a “peasant mob” who had to fight ready or not.Moving forward, the author continues on to describe in excellent lucid detail with the assistance of seven excellent maps contained within the book the ensuing battles which took place in Serbia in 1914 – which in effect, set the precedent for an ultimate allied victory over the Central Powers in 1918. These key battles for Serbian survival included the Battle of Mount Cer – this being the first allied victory of WW1, The Battle on the Drina – which ended in a bloody stalemate (the description of the Battle at Mackov Kamen is truly epic) and finally the remarkable Battle of the Kolubara where the Serbian Army was virtually gone – beaten – but was then able to snatch victory at the 11th hour when French artillery shells – which were the wrong size and had to be reconfigured - finally arrived at the front for the Serbian artillery. It turned into being a game changer for the battle. These extraordinary victories by Serbia over Austria-Hungary could really be described as something akin to David vanquishing Goliath in biblical times.The book concludes with an excellent chapter on the military and political aftermath following these battles between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. Dr. Lyon proves to be a master logician in analysing and piecing together previously misunderstood items of this historiography.I hope that the book – which was quite riveting to read – will explain once and for all to both modern historians and laymen alike how a small and largely agrarian based country unprepared for war such as Serbia, was able to successfully defeat the more industrially advanced Austro-Habsburg empire (which clamoured for war and which had a population ten times that of Serbia’s) without any other advantage other than fine military leadership and the shear determination of its own people to defend their nation from those who wanted to take it away from them.(For an excellent historical perspective of the Serbian people, obtain Professor R.G.D. Laffan’s 1917 book, “The Serbs – The Guardians of the Gate” published by Dorset Press)

This is a meticulously researched and solidly authoritative account of the subject matter identified in the title. If you are of the requisite bent of mind, which I am, this book is a very enjoyable read. The author strikes a good balance between the grand sweep of armies, the high level diplomatic and military discussions, and the experience of soldiers, civilians and various quasi-bystanders. He is clearly on top of the material and has accessed sources that offer definitive albeit often subjective 'local' perspectives. My only criticism - and it is a mild one - is that for readers who are not familiar with the geography of the region, a sprinkling of suitable maps or sketches would have been useful. As well, although not a criticism, I must say that I am now awaiting the next volume(s) that will take me through the remainder of Serbia's "War to end all wars".

This is an excellent book about the very beginning of World War I. It all started with Austria's invasion of Serbia. Ironically, Though the Austro-Hungarian Empire had about 10 times the population of Serbia, and much more military equipment, the Serbs fought tenaciously, bloodying the Austrians so badly that troops had to be pulled from the Eastern front, troops intended to repel a Russian invasion. The lack of these troops allowed the Russians to invade the Empire, which started World War I. This book describes the military and diplomatic action in Serbia as it tried desperately to defend itself against impossible odds...impossible, but the tenacity of the Serbian forces and the strategic brilliance of Putnick, their commanding general, achieved the impossible and drove the invaders out, at great loss to both sides.If you like military history, this book is a must. If you want to understand how World War I started, and why, this is a worthwhile addition to your library. (I also recommend The End Of Tsarist Russia by Dominic Lieven, which complements this book superbly). Unless you are willing to get down into the nitty-gritty details of how our world was changed forever, this is probably not the book for you.

Can't wait to read the second volume!

It's not always clearly written, for a history of what was, at least for me, a little known but important part of WW1. For example, when the narrative jumps from what was happening on one side to the response of the other, there's often no indication of whose "Fifth Army" was doing something to some "Third Army" and the reader has to look for secondary clues, like geography. Given that probably not many readers will know where rivers run in Serbia, that can be a challenge!Nevertheless, as an examination of a conflict which ignited one of the most terrible wars in history and has continued, with little respite, down to the present day, this is essential reading. It corrected many of my assumptions about the performance of the Serbian Army in WW1.

Wonderful, informative book covering the 1914 campaigns in Serbia. A story that should be better known. I purchased this to help me learn about a topic I little understood before playing the board game Serbia Muß Sterbien.

A very good review of the early days of the First World War in the Balkans basically between the Austrian Hungarian Empire and Serbia. While Serbia was responsible for the death of the Austrian Archduke and his wife. The Austrian Empire was very badly lead by it army leaders. Serbia was on the other hand excellently lead. Not every battle went the Serbs way and caused problems in later years.One major problem was where the Austrian tried to attack and the Austrian habit of using massive columns some thing that should have been abandon in the machine gun, rifle, and modern artillery era. The Serbs had target ptactice.

Ottimo libro scritto su un fronte poco conosciuto ma affascinante.

A very worthwhile acount of the Serbian front in the first months of the war and the see-saw nature of who would emerge 'victorious', the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire or tiny, unstable, ill-prepared Serbia. That it was the latter that 'won' the fighting in 1914, was due to some good military command by Serbia and less effective command in the Empire leading to over-stretching of logistical capabilities.Lyons deftly handles one problem that faces many military historians when writing about battles - the need to use lots of military unit designations without constantly repeating which side they are on and also without dumping the reader into an impenetrable morass. Keeping hold of who is who is fairly straightforward. More problematic is the litany of place names, but I guess that's inevitable. The campaigns of 1914 in Serbia were relatively limited and this book provides the reader with a fascinating overview of this neglected aspect of the opening months of world war one.I use quotation marks around terms like victorious and won because, over the whole war, Serbia suffered enormously and the author does touch on this issue. However, that brings me to my two criticisms. First, the author does not offer any account of what happened after 1914 (though perhaps there is another book to come describing how victory in 1914 and the expelling of Austro-Hungarian forces, eventually led to the Serbian army evacuating its homeland in its entirety). Second, it would have been nice to have had more material on Austro-Hungary to balance the insights in Serbia. But these are minor points and do not really detract from a valuable addition to the massive literature on the dreadful war that broke out in 1914.

Quite interesting on a neglected area (although several books have recently been published wholly or in part on the serb front in world war two). While in fairness trying to be even handed the book comes across as the case for the defense for Serbia and in particular its politicians - party I suspect because his interest is in Serbia and he is far less sure footed dealing with other nations and makes some terrible mistakes. The worst bias is he listsa summary of the austria ultimatum but not the serb response claiming it accepted 9 out of 10 points - but criticizes writers who claim it was a brilliant rejection of them all. The Serb answer was to agree to points that were amended versions of those in the ultimatum not actually to accept them. His views on Austo Hungarian policies seems to owe much to the Serb view of them rather than Austrias actual policies (Samuel Williamson brilliant Austira - Hungary and the origins of the first world war should be read by anyone trying to understand the July crisis)He is much better on military operations and deployments and gives more credit to the Austrian difficulties than most authors. I found the military situation maps very clear and informativeUnfortunately it is poorly checked and proofed ie Ferdinand of Bulgarian is twice described as of the Battenburg dynasty which fell in 1886, and once as a coburg, Conrad is a Field Marshall (sic) before the war

Truly excellent addition to the World War 1 Canon. Unparalleled examination of this little-reported, but incredibly significant, area of the conflict.

Foreign Minister Boris Johnston ; attended the remembrance ceremony in Serbia November 11 last year; The two battles that Serbia fought and won in 1914 is vividly displayed in James Lyon 's book . To my mind the book came alive through the authors obvious knowledge of the terrain on which the battles were fought.. Well written easy to follow yet detailed up to the point of explaining the national composition of the opposing Austro Hungarian regiments :