Romania declares war
The Bulgarian Fourth Division, recognizing that their surprise attack had been detected, hastened their advance towards Serbia's first-line defenses. By the time the Serbian reinforcements arrived, the Bulgarians were already within fifty meters of the position. Despite suffering initial casualties, the Fourth Division swiftly entered the trenches, engaging in close combat with the Serbian Sixth Division. Concurrently, the Bulgarian artillery, comprising 453 cannons, began a relentless bombardment, effectively stalling the Serbian reinforcements.
Amid the chaos, the commander of the Serbian Sixth Division, Major General Podonovich, was fraught with anxiety as he witnessed his reinforcements being decimated by the artillery fire. Colonel Dewanat, the brigade commander of the Sixth Division's Third Brigade, who had only arrived that day, saw the desperation in Podonovich's eyes and suggested, "General, the enemy's artillery fire is too intense. Our reinforcements cannot advance, and it looks like we will soon lose the first-line position. It might be better to consolidate our defenses at the second line."
Taking heed of Colonel Dewanat's advice, Major General Podonovich, realizing his initial impatience, dispatched a messenger with new orders: "Call back the Twelfth Brigade to reinforce the second-line defense." Watching the messenger depart, Podonovich felt a deep pang of regret for his Eleventh Brigade, still trapped on the front line without reinforcements. The situation was dire, and it was uncertain how many would survive to retreat.
The Eleventh Brigade's dire position was exacerbated by the Bulgarian Fourth Division's deployment of numerous Madsen machine guns. Under the relentless fire of these guns, many Serbian soldiers fell before they could retreat, their situation made even worse by the intense shelling.
In Ohrid, Marshal Putnik, recently promoted for his achievements against the Ottomans, was abruptly awakened by a telegram reporting the attack on the Sixth Division. Clad only in his shirt, he reviewed the desperate message from the Sixth Division, which reported severe attacks by the Bulgarian forces and a dire need for reinforcements. Marshal Putnik immediately ordered, "Send the Third and First Divisions stationed outside the city to reinforce the Sixth Division's line immediately. Prepare the Seventh and Tenth Divisions to join at dawn. Also, ready the Second Division in the city to fortify and prepare for a simultaneous counterattack."
After issuing these commands, Marshal Putnik paced his room, restless and deep in thought about the adequacy of his strategies. He had anticipated a Bulgarian offensive and had a plan prepared, yet the rapid developments at the front prompted him to reassess his approach.
Unable to sleep, Marshal Putnik proceeded to the command headquarters' lobby, where the tense atmosphere of impending conflict was palpable. Staff officers busied themselves under the bright lights, and the marshal stood before a large military map, contemplating the unfolding situation. The staff spoke in hushed tones, not wishing to disturb his concentration.
After about fifteen minutes, a staff officer approached him with a new telegram from the Sixth Division, stating that the first-line position had been overrun and that they were now desperately holding the second line. Shocked, Marshal Putnik examined the telegram, which detailed how the Bulgarian forces had concentrated their heavy firepower on the vanguard, catching the Sixth Division off-guard and inflicting heavy losses.
Determined to stabilize the front, Marshal Putnik ordered, "Send the Seventh and Tenth Divisions to reinforce the Sixth Division immediately." His decision to escalate the reinforcements underscored the severity of the situation.
Meanwhile, at the front, the Serbian Sixth Division's second line of defense came under intense artillery fire. The remnants of the Eleventh Brigade, reduced to less than 3,000 men from an original strength of over 8,000, were now barely holding the line. General Podonovich, witnessing the decimation of his forces, felt a profound sense of loss.
The Bulgarian artillery barrage ceased after fifteen minutes, and the Fourth Division infantry advanced. The beleaguered Serbs, reinforced by the Sixth Brigade of the Third Division, mounted a fierce counterattack. The battle intensified as Bulgarian small artillery units joined the fray, employing bayonet charges that gradually overwhelmed the Serbian defenses. Under the cover of darkness, the Bulgarian Fourth Division finally breached the Serbian positions, forcing the defenders into a steady retreat.
As the situation deteriorated, the Bulgarian Third Army sent two additional divisions to press the attack, overwhelming the Serbian Sixth Division and forcing a withdrawal from the second and third lines of defense. The Serbian reinforcements from the Third and First Divisions, caught off guard, were routed by the advancing Bulgarian forces. This unexpected defeat also impacted the subsequent reinforcements from the Seventh and Tenth Divisions, which were similarly overcome.
By morning, the extent of the Serbian defeat became clear to Marshal Putnik, who had not anticipated such a rapid collapse. To avoid encirclement, he ordered a retreat to Miako, 30 kilometers away, to regroup and plan a counteroffensive. The battle had been costly: the Serbian army suffered approximately 30,000 casualties, including 6,158 killed, 4,315 wounded, and 18,417 captured, many after being overrun on the battlefield. Bulgarian losses totaled 11,000, with 5,719 killed and 5,134 wounded. The intense battle had depleted the Bulgarian Fourth Division's ammunition, leaving an average of just over 50 bullets per Madsen machine gun, barely enough for two magazines.
Elsewhere, the Serbian forces in Bitola were also defeated by a Bulgarian raid, resulting in the surrender of the occupied area to the Bulgarian First Army. Over 70,000 Serbian troops were involved, with only about 50,000 managing to retreat, leaving 20,000 behind. The First Army also suffered significant losses but retained control of the area.
In the Thessaloniki region, the Greek army faced a surprise attack from the Second Bulgarian Army. Despite fierce resistance, the Greeks were ultimately defeated, with only about 60,000 of the defending 70,000 troops managing to fall back to Dambia, a small town on the border. The Bulgarian Second Army incurred nearly 10,000 casualties in the process.
The outcomes of these battles stunned the European powers, and for a time, Bulgaria's military prowess was highly regarded, drawing comparisons to Prussia in its heyday.
The morning after Bulgaria launched its unexpected attack, it officially declared war on Serbia and Greece, leaving leaders Seich and Sisi both furious and quick to reciprocate the declaration. The surprise offensive had inflicted heavy casualties on their forces, compelling both nations to scramble for reinforcements. Serbia bolstered Marshal Putnik's forces, which had retreated to the Miakko area, by adding 30,000 troops, and mobilized an additional 70,000 within the country. Greece, similarly affected, reinforced King Constantine I's troops near Dambia with 40,000 soldiers and mobilized another 60,000 domestically.
Bulgaria, confident after its initial success against the Serbian and Greek armies, recruited an additional 100,000 soldiers. However, the urgency of the situation meant that these new recruits would take time to become battle-ready. Meanwhile, in Macedonia, as Marshal Putnik led the Serbian retreat towards the domestic territory of Myakko, the Bulgarian forces continued their pursuit, relentlessly chasing the Serbian Third Army that had withdrawn from Bitola. Having lost a significant portion of their heavy weaponry, the Third Army's numbers dwindled from 50,000 to 30,000 as they fell back to Skopje, rendering them nearly combat ineffective. Over three days, Bulgarian forces captured key locations in Serbian Macedonia such as Kocani, Štip, and Kavadarci, inching closer to Skopje, Macedonia's pivotal city.
The loss of Serbian Macedonia forced Greece to deploy troops to defend its southern Macedonian region. Bulgaria's aggressive advances caught the attention of other European nations, marking a period where its military prowess was held in high regard. Desperate for support, Serbia and Greece turned their hopes to Romania, a potential ally capable of providing substantial assistance.
In the Royal Palace of Romania, Crown Prince Edel discussed the volatile situation with his Chief of Staff, General Prieshan. "Serbia has lost many troops; they must be feeling desperate now," Edel remarked casually.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness, the performance of their armies is starkly different from the first Balkan War. It's disheartening," Prieshan responded, sharing in the disappointment over the Serbian and Greek military efforts.
Concerned primarily with the readiness of his own forces, Edel inquired, "How is our army positioned?"
General Prieshan confidently replied, "Our divisions are already in place, and the headquarters for each army unit have been established. We're merely awaiting the commanders to initiate the operations. Additionally, we've formed six transportation regiments to ensure adequate supply lines and meet combat needs."
Their discussion was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in," Edel called out, visibly annoyed by the interruption.
A guard entered, lowering his head slightly, "Russian Ambassador Ferralovsky, Serbian Ambassador Riksnoch, and Greek Ambassador Adrien request an audience."
"Let them in," Edel commanded, realizing that the ambassadors sought to discuss Romania's involvement in the war. The timing was critical; it was the third day since Bulgaria's declaration, and the urgency for Romania to join the fray was palpable.
After formal greetings, Edel, masking his awareness of their intentions, greeted them with a smile, "What brings the three ambassadors to me today?"
Ambassador Riksnoch took the lead, "Your Royal Highness, according to our treaty obligations, Romania should declare war on Bulgaria by tomorrow at the latest. We are here to confirm your readiness."
Edel, aware of the treaty's stipulations, reassured them, "Thank you for your concern. We are indeed prepared to declare war on Bulgaria tomorrow. You may put your worries to rest."
The ambassadors, accustomed to diplomatic negotiations, accepted Edel's response without visible frustration. Riksnoch expressed gratitude, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness. Bulgaria's disregard for international norms must be addressed by a powerful response."
Edel then turned to the Russian ambassador, seeking Russia's stance, "Ambassador Ferralovsky, what is Russia's view on Bulgaria's recent actions?"
"Bulgaria's violation of civilized conduct is unacceptable. Romania's decision to act is fully supported by Russia," Ferralovsky affirmed, aligning his government's position with Romania's impending declaration of war.
Satisfied with the discussions, the ambassadors departed, having achieved their objective of securing Romania's commitment to the conflict.
The following morning, Romanian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Angel, prepared for a significant diplomatic engagement. As he adjusted his attire meticulously, his counselor inquired about the handling of other documents. "Keep what's not important; we'll return for them," Angel directed, focusing on the task ahead.
His sole duty that day was to deliver Romania's declaration of war to the Bulgarian government. Arriving at the Bulgarian Prime Minister's office, he was met with inquiries from a staff member, to which he gravely responded, "I need to meet with Prime Minister Geschoff for a very important matter."
Led to the Prime Minister, Angel was greeted with cordiality, but the atmosphere quickly shifted as he presented the declaration of war. The document stunned Prime Minister Geschoff, who momentarily lost his composure, pleading, "You can't do this."
Angel, maintaining his diplomatic poise, responded, "This is the decision of our government. I am merely conveying the message. Please, Prime Minister, keep your composure."
Apologizing for his initial reaction, Geschoff accepted the declaration, though his tone was icy as he dismissed the ambassador, "I have received your declaration, and there's nothing more to discuss."
As Angel departed, the Prime Minister slumped, overwhelmed by the gravity of Romania's declaration, instructing his staff to urgently inform King Ferdinand I of the development.
The news of Romania's declaration of war on Bulgaria quickly spread, signaling a new phase in the Balkan conflict.