Battle of Doiran (1916)

Summary

First Battle of Doiran
Part of Macedonian front (World War I)
Date9 August 1916 - 18 August 1916
Location
Result Bulgarian victory
Belligerents
 Bulgaria
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Bulgaria Dimitar Geshov French Third Republic Maurice Sarrail
Strength
2nd Thracian Infantry Division
  • French Third Republic 3 divisions
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1 division
  • 45,000 men
  • 400 guns
Casualties and losses
851 3,200

At the beginning of August 1916, three French and one British division with 45,000 men and 400 guns launched an offensive against the Bulgarian positions at Lake Dojran, defended by the 2nd Thracian Infantry Division. The attack began on 9 August with heavy artillery fire on the positions of the 27th Chepino Regiment and 9th Plovdiv Regiment. All four attacks that followed on 10, 15, 16 and 18 August were repulsed by the Second Division, and the Allies were forced to retreat to their original positions with heavy casualties.

Other sources state that the French took Tortoise Hill (Tortue) and Doldzeli, an area of 30 km2, but at a very high cost.[1][2] The British 7th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry took Horseshoe Hill.[3][4]

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Historique". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  2. ^ "G. Ward Price. The Story of the Salonica Army. 1918. Chapters X-XIII". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Worcestershire Regiment (29th/36th of Foot)". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  4. ^ "2nd Lieut. JTS Hoey - Croix de Guerre". Retrieved 30 November 2014.

41°12′00″N 22°45′00″E / 41.2000°N 22.7500°E / 41.2000; 22.7500