June 30, 1913 · Macedonia Theater
June 30, 1913
The Battle of Bregalnica, fought June 30 – July 9, 1913, was the decisive engagement of the Second Balkan War. Bulgaria had launched surprise night attacks on Serbian and Greek positions on June 29–30 without a formal declaration of war, following months of escalating tension over the division of Macedonia. The Bulgarian attack initially achieved tactical surprise but rapidly stalled against a Serbian counteroffensive. Field Marshal Putnik coordinated a devastating Serbian response that shattered Bulgarian First Army along the Bregalnica River valley. Greek forces simultaneously attacked from the south, creating a two-front catastrophe for Bulgaria. Within ten days, Bulgarian forces had been driven back along the entire front, suffering enormous casualties from combat and from a devastating cholera epidemic.
Commanders