World War One: Salonika
The Salonikan Front in World War 1 has been regarded as a sideshow by many western authors, as it sucked resources away from areas which were, in the end, far more decisive. Serbia Requests Aid In 1915 Serbia, having survived attacks from Austria-Hungary the previous year, asked the Entente powers for aid, as it looked like another major attack was coming. They also asked Greece, with whom they had a treaty stipulating that Greece would send 150,000 troops if Serbia was attacked.
The Greek Prime Minister told the Entente that, as they needed Serbia to stay free and an eastern threat to Austria, they should supply the troops instead. Due to diplomacy and desperation, the Entente agreed and Greece gave Britain and France permission to use Salonika to support Serbia. A small force was sent, but not enough to make a difference.
Somehow, the British commander in Salonika persuaded his commander to keep the force there, claiming it would tie up enemy troops. The French force remained because a political party in the nation needed to keep the French commander in Salonika employed to keep support in France. They also wanted French influence in the Balkans after the war.
Greece, meanwhile, claimed ‘benevolent neutrality’, which let the Entente stay but gave no support. As Turkey and Bulgaria split the Balkans, people in Greece agitated for a switch to actively campaigning on behalf of the Entente. The block was King Constantine, who was worried about Entente designs on land and was partly pro-German. When Constantine allowed a German force to occupy a fort the British had had enough and started a blockade, demanding a new government and action. They also moved the Serbian army into Salonika, bringing the force to a quarter of a million men.
The Salonikan army went into action in August 1916, had some initial success and then were pushed back by a counter attack. Britain now tried to force a new Greek government into creation by invading Greece, but this didn’t go well and they resumed the blockade. All the while the Central Powers couldn’t believe their luck at this waste of resources. In March 1917 France turned the screws, demanding Constantine abdicate and Greece attack; Constantine did so on June 12th and his pro-Entente son took over. This didn’t actually stimulate an attack, and the situation stayed mostly the same until the war ended, although the allies did attack Bulgaria from Salonika on September 20th, prompting them to surrender. Overall, the front drained the allies of resources, and put little pressure on the Central Powers, at a cost of great casualties from disease.
The Greek Prime Minister told the Entente that, as they needed Serbia to stay free and an eastern threat to Austria, they should supply the troops instead. Due to diplomacy and desperation, the Entente agreed and Greece gave Britain and France permission to use Salonika to support Serbia. A small force was sent, but not enough to make a difference.
The Muddle of Salonika
The Austro-Hungarian attack did come, supported by Germany and Bulgaria. The Serbian capital fell and the Serb army was forced to retreat, until their link to Salonika was severed. Serbia was then conquered, but a large part of the Serb army passed through Albania and was evacuated by the Entente.Somehow, the British commander in Salonika persuaded his commander to keep the force there, claiming it would tie up enemy troops. The French force remained because a political party in the nation needed to keep the French commander in Salonika employed to keep support in France. They also wanted French influence in the Balkans after the war.
Greece, meanwhile, claimed ‘benevolent neutrality’, which let the Entente stay but gave no support. As Turkey and Bulgaria split the Balkans, people in Greece agitated for a switch to actively campaigning on behalf of the Entente. The block was King Constantine, who was worried about Entente designs on land and was partly pro-German. When Constantine allowed a German force to occupy a fort the British had had enough and started a blockade, demanding a new government and action. They also moved the Serbian army into Salonika, bringing the force to a quarter of a million men.
The Salonikan army went into action in August 1916, had some initial success and then were pushed back by a counter attack. Britain now tried to force a new Greek government into creation by invading Greece, but this didn’t go well and they resumed the blockade. All the while the Central Powers couldn’t believe their luck at this waste of resources. In March 1917 France turned the screws, demanding Constantine abdicate and Greece attack; Constantine did so on June 12th and his pro-Entente son took over. This didn’t actually stimulate an attack, and the situation stayed mostly the same until the war ended, although the allies did attack Bulgaria from Salonika on September 20th, prompting them to surrender. Overall, the front drained the allies of resources, and put little pressure on the Central Powers, at a cost of great casualties from disease.
