mountain, where the battle and breakthrough took place The 28 June 1914,
assassination of Austro-Hungarian
heir presumptive Archduke Franz Ferdinand precipitated
Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against
Serbia. The conflict quickly attracted the involvement of all major European countries, pitting the
Central Powers against the
Entente coalition, and starting
World War I. Serbia was ultimately defeated during the autumn 1915 phase of the
Serbian Campaign, prompting France and Britain to transfer troops from the
Gallipoli Campaign to
Greek Macedonia. The
Macedonian front was thus established to support the remnants of the Serbian army in their effort to conquer Vardar Macedonia. On 17 August 1916, Bulgaria
invaded Greece, easily conquering all Greek territory east of the
Struma, since the Greek Army was ordered not to resist by the pro-German
King Constantine. The surrender of territory recently won with difficulty in the
Second Balkan War of 1913 was the last straw for many supporters of
Liberal Party politician
Eleftherios Venizelos. With Allied assistance, they launched a coup which secured Thessaloniki and most of Greek Macedonia, causing the
National Schism. In June 1917, the
Venizelists gained full control of the country, immediately declaring war on the Central Powers and joining the
Allied Army of the Orient operating on the Balkan Front. The Greek entry into the war, along with the 24 division reinforcements that the army had received in the spring of the same year, created a strategic advantage for the Entente. In late July 1918, Bulgarian
commander-in-chief Nikola Zhekov sent German field marshal general
Paul von Hindenburg a message regarding a rumored Entente offensive, and detailed Bulgaria's inability to adequately defend the Vardar portion of the front. Zhekov requested that Germany immediately reinforce the Balkan Front, hinting that Austria-Hungary would also be required to strengthen its positions in Albania. On 17 August, Hindenburg pledged to provide Bulgaria with support only once the situation on other fronts permitted it. Hindenburg's reluctance to support Bulgaria was also manifested by the early September redeployment of the last German
Jäger battalion stationed in Macedonia back into Germany. The Bulgarians, using information from escaped prisoners of war, determined that Entente forces would engage in hostile actions west of lake
Ohrid, in
Monastir, Dobro Pole or Human. On 27 August, the 2nd and 3rd Bulgarian divisions stationed at Dobro Pole were ordered to make emergency preparations, as new evidence indicated a frontal assault on Dobro Pole along with a secondary attack on Human. By 7 September, Dobro Pole was reinforced by one machine gun company, six battalions and ten heavy
howitzers. General
Friedrich von Scholtz then stated that these measures made the defense of the front feasible. Von Scholtz had, however, failed to take into account the departure of Bulgarian chief of staff Nikola Zhekov and his subsequent replacement by
Georgi Todorov. Widespread
insubordination and
desertions also plagued the Bulgarian troops, who refused to participate in fortification works. Poor rations and fatigue contributed to the low morale. A day prior to the Entente offensive, General
Louis Franchet d'Espèrey laid out the final plan for the operation. The first phase consisted of a combined Franco-Serbian attack on the positions of the 2nd and 3rd Bulgarian Divisions, which was expected to create a breach of the frontline in the area of Dobro Pole, while also posing a danger to the Bulgarian supply lines on the river
Vardar. The Dobro Pole ("Good Field") peak dominated the region, providing excellent observation points for the defenders. Dobro Pole was surrounded by a well-developed system of trenches which, in combination with the rough terrain, made the area impassable for wheeled transport. Dobro Pole was, however, lower and less steep than the mountains on other parts of the front that averaged . A second Anglo-Franco-
Hellenic force would then attack the
1st Bulgarian Army between
Kožuf and
Lake Doiran, preventing it from forming new defensive positions in the area. The initial advance would allow the
Armée d'Orient to progress in support of other units first to
Prilep, Disma and Borran. In the meantime, an Anglo-Hellenic force would strike Mount
Belasica, occupying the
Rupel Pass. D'Espèrey expected to march the Allied Army of the Orient through the towns of
Demir Hisar, Rupel, Petrici, Blagusa, Gradec,
Štip and Belessa, finally seizing Skopje. Units stationed at Katsania and
Tetovo would prevent a Bulgarian
flanking maneuver, while the main body of the force would widen the breach both in Štip and Prilep. In case of a collapse of the front between Dobro Pole and Tzena, the 1st Bulgarian Army and
11th German Army would either be annihilated or, in less favorable circumstances, perform an organised retreat to a new defensive line on the river
Crna. The prevention of such a retreat was to be achieved by a rapid, penetrating attack on
Gradsko,
Dren Planina and Visoka. ==Battle==