Battle of Kosturino

Battle of Kosturino
Part of Balkans Theatre of World War I
French soldiers resting in Thessaloniki, 1915
Date 6–12 December 1915 Location Kosturino, Kingdom of Serbia (present-day North Macedonia) Result Bulgarian victory
Belligerents
Bulgaria	United Kingdom  France
Commanders and leaders
Georgi Todorov	Bryan Mahon Maurice Sarrail Maurice Bailloud
Units involved
2nd Army 11th Bulgarian Division	10th Division 156th Division
Strength
1 army	2 divisions
Casualties and losses
400+ killed	99 killed 386 wounded 724 missing 10 guns lost 1,804 casualties 12 machine guns lost 36 ammunition wagons lost

The Battle of Kosturino was a World War I battle fought between 6 and 12 December 1915. It was fought in the initial stage of the Macedonian campaign, in the Balkans Theatre. On 6 December, Bulgarian troops attacked the French and British-held trenches in Kosturino, at the time part of the Kingdom of Serbia (present-day North Macedonia). Though the early offensive was held in check, on 8 December, Bulgaria managed to infiltrate the Memesli ravine. Bulgaria then seized Crete Simonet, thus threatening to outflank the Allies. The Entente defeat at Kosturino led to the complete withdrawal of Allied forces from Serbia, thus enabling the Central Powers to build the Berlin to Constantinople rail line. In the meantime, the Allies concentrated on solidifying their defenses in Greece.