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The Battle of Cer was one of the first battles of the World War I. The battle is also known as Battle of Jadar, because the main operations were held near the estuary of the river Jadar. The battle was fought between the Austro-Hungarian army and Serbian forces; it marked the first Allied victory in the war. The battle improved Allied-Serbian relations because western faith in the competence of the Serbian army was much improved. Austro-Hungarian troops fought under the command of General Oskar Potiorek and Serbian troops under the command of General Stepa Stepanović.
Battle Summary
When the First World War started the Austro-Hungarian army under the command of General Oskar Potiorek pushed into Serbia across the Sava and the Drina. Šabac fell. The Serb Second Army under the command of General Stepa Stepanović advanced towards Cer, the Šumadija Division towards Šabac and the Cavalry Division towards Mačva. On the left flank the Third Army under the command of General Pavle Jurišić Šturm entered the battle.The Austro-Hungarian Army walked right into the area where Serbia's artillery trained many of their gunners and thus Serbians could use their artillery with great accuracy and effectivness,while in the same time Austro-Hungarian Army had no bearing or coordiantes for the general area where the battle was fought,thus they couldnt bring to bear their advantage in artillery pieces.
During August 1914 a battle was waged in the area of Cer mountain, in which around 200,000 Austrians fought against 180,000 Serbs. The main battle at Cer lasted from August 16 to 19. The Serb Army won the victory, pushed the Austro-Hungarian Army back across the Drina, and completely thwarted their war plan.
Outcome
Around 25,000 Austro-Hungarian officers and soldiers were killed and wounded, and around 4,500 were captured. The Serb army lost around 16,000 and 250 officers. As a result of the battle Austria-Hungary withdrew from Sandzak, delaying their offensive into Serbia. Austria-Hungary continued offensives into Serbia for the rest of the autumn of 1914 without much success. Cer also gave the Entante their first victory of the war against the Central Powers.
Legacy
Historical artifacts can be found in a museum located in the town of Šabac.
Battles of World War I | History of Serbia | Battles of Serbia
"Battle of Cer"