Serbia and Republika Srpska are celebrating the Day of Serb Unity, Freedom, and National Flag today, a holiday established in memory of the breakthrough on the Salonika front on September 15, 1918.
By the decree of the Government of Serbia on September 11, 2020, the breakthrough of the Salonika front on September 15 is marked as the Day of Serb Unity, Freedom, and National Flag. A similar decision was made a day earlier by the Government of Republika Srpska, emphasizing the shared values and historical ties between the two entities.
The holiday was first celebrated in 2021 in Belgrade, near the monument to Stefan Nemanja, with officials from Serbia and Republika Srpska, as well as the Patriarch and a large number of citizens in attendance. Last year, the celebration took place in Niš, which was a war capital during World War I and one of the first major cities liberated after the breakthrough on the Salonika front.
Austria-Hungary and Germany soon capitulated
The Serb army began the breakthrough on the Salonika front on September 15, 1918, leading to a decisive shift in World War I. The Serb First and Second Armies breached the front by September 17, dealing a critical blow to the Central Powers. A month and a half later, Austria-Hungary capitulated, followed soon by Germany.
The world was initially astonished by Serbian victories at Cer and Kolubara, later showed solidarity with the Serbs during the retreat through Albania, was surprised by the army’s recovery on Corfu, and finally was thrilled by the victory and breakthrough of the Salonika front.
More than half of the Serbian army’s composition during the final operations on the Salonika front consisted of volunteers. Among them were approximately 30,200 Serb volunteers from overseas countries, 25,700 volunteers arriving from captivity in Russia, and at least 1,300 Herzegovinian volunteers from the Montenegrin army.
Serbs and other nations liberated
By the time Bitola was liberated, the Serb army had lost nearly 29,000 men since the beginning of operations on the Salonika front.
With the breakthrough, the Serb army not only liberated Serbia but also the Serbs in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, as well as other South Slavic peoples. Among them were Croats in Dalmatia and Zagreb and Slovenes, who sought unification with Serbia and the creation of a new state— the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, later renamed Yugoslavia.
Celebration in Novi Sad, reception in Banja Luka
A ceremonial academy for the Day of Serb Unity, Freedom, and National Flag will be held today in Novi Sad, at the Serb National Theatre at 6:00 PM, as announced by the Government of Serbia.
In Banja Luka, President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik is hosting a formal reception to mark the occasion.
The celebrations are organized by the committees of the governments of Serbia and Republika Srpska for the preservation of traditions from liberation wars.
Source: RTRS
