Key Facts
- Start date
- 12 March 1917
- End date
- 26 May 1917
- Duration
- Approximately 2.5 months
- Campaign
- Salonika Campaign, World War I
- Result
- French attack failed
Strategic Narrative Overview
The battle unfolded between 12 March and 26 May 1917 as a series of French offensive operations against fortified German-Bulgarian positions north and west of Monastir. The fighting took place across difficult mountainous terrain, including Hill 1248 and the Pelister mountain range near Lake Prespa. The various phases of the operation acquired multiple names in French, Bulgarian, and other languages, reflecting the breadth and complexity of the engagements across different ridges and elevations.
01 / The Origins
During World War I, the Salonika Campaign saw Allied forces, primarily French, operating in the Balkans against the Central Powers. Monastir (modern Bitola) had strategic importance in the region. By early 1917, French commanders sought to press northward and westward from Monastir to dislodge entrenched German and Bulgarian forces holding fortified positions on the surrounding mountain ridges, including the Pelister massif and the Chervena Stena ridge.
03 / The Outcome
The French offensive ultimately failed to dislodge the German-Bulgarian defenders from their fortifications. The attacking forces were unable to achieve their objectives despite the sustained effort over more than two months of operations. The battle left the front lines largely unchanged in this sector of the Salonika Campaign, with the Central Powers maintaining their defensive positions north and west of Monastir.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
2 belligerents
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.