Central Powers Overrun Serbia

A combined Austro-German force under Mackensen invaded Serbia from the north on October 6, while Bulgaria attacked from the east on October 11. Anglo-French forces landing at Salonika arrived too late to help. The Serbian army, outnumbered and outflanked, retreated southward through Kosovo and across the Albanian mountains in winter. Of roughly 450,000 who began the retreat, about 155,000 died from exposure, disease, and enemy action.