Battle of Dobro Pole
Dobro Pole ridge, on the border of Greece and North Macedonia
What happened
Serbian, French and Greek forces under French General Louis Franchet d'Espèrey and Serbian commanders including Živojin Mišić fought Bulgarian and German forces. On the Macedonian front of the First World War, the Allies attacked the Bulgarian lines on the mountain ridge of Dobro Pole ('Good Field'). After a huge artillery barrage, French troops took the ridge on the first day. Many Bulgarian soldiers deserted, and in three days the Allies broke through the front.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It knocked Bulgaria out of the war. Within weeks the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary also signed armistices.
What came next
Bulgaria signed the Armistice of Salonica on 29 September 1918. Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria gave up his throne on 1 October.
Did you know?
Kaiser Wilhelm II reportedly said that '62,000 Serbs decided the war!'
Timeline
- 15 September 1918The Allied attack on Dobro Pole begins.
- 29 September 1918Bulgaria signs the Armistice of Salonica.
- 1 October 1918Tsar Ferdinand abdicates.
- 26 October 1918The Ottoman Empire signs an armistice.
- 11 November 1918The Armistice ends the war.