Battle of Sorovich

Battle of Sorovich
Part of the First Balkan War
A relief map of modern day Greece, with the location of the battle marked.
Panorama of Ekshi Su (Xino Nero) c. 1916
Date2–6 November [O.S. 21–24 October] 1912
Location40°25′N 21°25′E / 40.41°N 21.41°E / 40.41; 21.41
Result Ottoman victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Greece Greece  Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Greece Dimitrios Matthaiopoulos Ottoman Empire Hasan Rıza Pasha[1]
Units involved
5th Infantry Division 16th Infantry Division
17th Infantry Division
18th Infantry Division
Strength
7,080 20,000
Casualties and losses
211 killed
320 wounded
22 missing in action
10 captured
Unknown
Sorovich is located in Greece
Sorovich
Sorovich
Location of the battle in present day Greece

The Battle of Sorovich (Greek: Μάχη του Σόροβιτς, Turkish: Soroviç Muharebesi) took place between 21–24 October 1912 (O.S.). It was fought between Greek and Ottoman forces during the First Balkan War, and revolved around the Sorovich (Amyntaio) area. The 5th Greek Division which had been advancing through western Macedonia separately from the bulk of the Greek Army of Thessaly, was attacked outside the village of Lofoi and fell back to Sorovich. It found itself to be heavily outnumbered by an opposing Ottoman force.

After withstanding repeated attacks between 22 and 23 October, the division was routed on the early morning of 24 October after Ottoman machine gunners struck its flank in an early morning surprise attack. The Greek defeat at Sorovich resulted in the Serbian capture of the contested city of Monastir (Bitola).

  1. ^ Kargakos 2012, p. 72.