Salonica campaigns
Salonica campaigns.
In the summer of 1915, Bulgaria entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers; in September, Bulgaria attacked Serbia. An Allied expeditionary force that landed at Salonica in an effort to aid Serbia attempted to join forces with the Serbians but was thwarted by the Bulgarian victory at Babuna pass. The Allies retreated to the vicinity of Salonica. Meanwhile the Greek government under VenizelosVenizelos, Eleutherios, 1864–1936, Greek statesman, b. Crete. After studying at the Univ. of Athens, he returned to Crete and played a prominent part in the Cretan insurrection of 1896–97.
..... Click the link for more information. , which had decided to support the Allies, fell when it was repudiated by King Constantine IConstantine I,
1868–1923, king of the Hellenes, eldest son of George I, whom he succeeded in 1913. Married to Sophia, sister of the German emperor William II, he opposed the pro-Allied policy of the Greek premier, Eleutherios Venizelos, and was forced to abdicate in 1917
..... Click the link for more information. . The Allies fostered the establishment at Salonica of a rival Greek government, under Venizelos, which declared war on the Central Powers. After the Allies began an invasion of Greece, Constantine abdicated (June, 1917) and Greece formally joined the Allies. A number of unsuccessful Allied campaigns were launched against the German and Bulgarian forces. Finally, in Sept., 1918, a new offensive was launched, and the Allies advanced northward along the entire front. Bulgaria capitulated on Sept. 30, Serbia was recovered by Nov. 1, and on Nov. 10 Romania was captured. The armistice of Nov. 11, 1918, ended the campaign.