Battle of Krivolak

Battle of Krivolak
Part of Balkans Theatre of World War I

French soldiers resting in Thessaloniki, 1915
Date21 October – 22 November 1915
Location41°31′38″N 22°07′15″E / 41.5272°N 22.1208°E / 41.5272; 22.1208
Result Bulgarian victory
Belligerents
 Bulgaria  France
Commanders and leaders
Units involved

Tsardom of Bulgaria (1908–1946) 2nd Army

Strength
1 army 3 divisions
Casualties and losses
5,877
  • 3,161
  • 10 artillery pieces lost
  • 12 machine guns lost
  • 36 ammunition wagons captured

The Battle of Krivolak (in Bulgarian: Криволашко сражение, Битка при Криволак) was a World War I battle, fought between 21 October and 22 November 1915. It was fought in the initial stage of the Macedonian campaign, in the Balkans Theatre. On 21 October, Bulgarian troops attacked the French-held positions near the Strumica rail station, at the time part of the Kingdom of Serbia (present-day North Macedonia), starting the battle. Fighting continued until 22 November, when two Serbian divisions failed to capture Skopje, thus rendering the continuation of Entente offensive operations dangerous and forcing the French to evacuate their forces from the region.

The Entente defeat at Krivolak and the follow-up battle of Kosturino led to the complete withdrawal of Allied forces from Serbia, thus enabling the Central Powers to re-open the Berlin to Constantinople rail line. The Allies, in the meantime, consolidated their defenses in Greece.