20th-century History of Kosovo - World War I

World War I

During World War I, Kosovo was occupied by the Bulgarian and Austro-Hungarian forces following a defeat of Serbian and allied armies in 1915. In the winter of 1915–1919, during World War I,Kosovo became known as the Great Serbian Retreat. Many died as they retreated toward the Allies in Corfu and Thessaloniki, losing up to an estimated 100,000 soldiers along the way.

The Serbian Army (helped mainly by the Italian and French Army) was able to recuperate and the sick and injured soldiers received medical attention since they were away from the front lines. Once they were refreshed and regrouped, they returned to the battlefield.

In 1918, the Serbian Army pushed the Central Powers out of Kosovo. Following World War I, the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was formed, bringing together Serbian Kosovo and Montenegrin Metohija within the Kingdom of Serbia.