October 23, 1912 · Macedonia Theater
October 23, 1912
The Battle of Kumanovo on October 23–24, 1912, was the decisive Serbian engagement of the First Balkan War. The Serbian First Army, commanded in the field by Crown Prince Alexander under the overall direction of Chief of Staff Radomir Putnik, collided with Zeki Pasha's Vardar Army at the town of Kumanovo in northern Macedonia. What was expected to be a major set-piece battle turned into a rout for the Ottomans — Serbian infantry and artillery coordination overwhelmed the Ottoman defensive line within two days. The battle secured Serbian control of Macedonia's Vardar valley and opened the road to Skopje, which fell days later.
Commanders