Toplica Uprising

The Toplica Uprising (Serbian: Топлички устанак) was a mass uprising by Serbian rebels against the Bulgarian occupation forces that took place in Bulgarian occupied Serbia during the First World War. The rebels were motivated by grievances against the Bulgarian authorities for ordering conscription of local Serbs in the Bulgarian army, forced labour and the denationalization policy imposed on the indigenous population. The revolt was supported by Serbian guerrilla fighters known as Chetniks.

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The Toplica uprising lasted from 24 February to 25 March 1917. It was the only uprising in an occupied country during the entire First World War; Serbian sources claim that as many as 20,000 Serbs died in the revolt and its aftermath.

In October 1915, the Kingdom of Serbia, which had throughout the fall of 1914 managed to withstand and repel three Austro-Hungarian invasions, found itself under attack again. This time it was a joint Austro-Hungarian, German, and Bulgarian invasion from two directions that included Austro-Hungarian Third Army, German Eleventh Army, and Bulgarian First and Second armies. Outnumbered and outmatched, the Serbian Army was defeated by December 1915. However, rather than surrendering and capitulating, the Serbian military and political leaders decided on a long and arduous army retreat south towards Albania, hoping to reach the Adriatic coast for evacuation and regrouping.^[1] This resulted in the invading Central Powers forces occupying the entire territory of the Kingdom of Serbia. In the immediate division of spoils, Kingdom of Bulgaria got the area of Pomoravlje, which had been a target of Bulgarian nationalism.^[2]

The primary cause of the rebellion was the policies passed by the occupiers. Constant denationalization, including closing Serbian schools, prohibition of the Serbian language and traditions, burning of books, and looting, requisition, and internment, provoked the population.^[3] Romania entering the war in August 1916 awakened hope in the Serbian population of a breakthrough of the Salonika front, some arming themselves and taking to the forests.^[3] Kosta Vojinović began the organization of resistance, and in the summer of 1916, established a band in Leposavić, the core of the future Ibar–Kopaonik Detachment.^[3] At the end of September 1916, the Serbian High Command sent Kosta Pećanac, reserve infantry lieutenant and veteran Chetnik Vojvoda, by airplane into Toplica. He was tasked to establish a secret resistance organization to be activated when the Allies and the Serbian Army were to break the Salonika front and arrive at Skoplje.^[3] The peak of Serbian discontent came with the Bulgarian announcement of conscription of local Serbs aged 18–50 for military service. Massive flights to the mountains from Bulgarian recruit commissions began.^[3] The first armed conflicts between fleeing conscripts and Bulgarian chases began after 20 February.^[3] Pećanac and Vojinović established headquarters on Mount Kopaonik. Guerrilla leaders met secretly near Leskovac on 21 February 1917 to vote on whether to launch an uprising. Though a decision for a general uprising was taken, according to historian Andrej Mitrović, the uprising was already underway by the time they made their decision.^[4]

The rebellion included the areas of Toplica, Jablanica, Jastrebac, and eastern and central parts of Kopaonik.^[3] The rebels liberated Kuršumlija (27 February), Lebane (1 March), Prokuplje (3 March) and Blace (5 March).^[5] Having broke out in the Toplica region, the rebellion expanded into territories on the right bank of the West Morava (Vlasotince, Crna Trava, Vranje area), and in the West Morava valley, including the Sokobanja and Svrljig areas.^[5]

On 12 March, the Bulgarian counter-attack started under the command of Alexander Protogerov involving IMRO forces led by Tane Nikolov.^[6] Bulgarian and Austro-Hungarian authorities worked together. IMRO commander and Bulgarian officer Todor Aleksandrov orchestrated the most violent actions committed by the Bulgarian paramilitary. After several days of fighting, the Bulgarians entered Prokuplje on 14 March, and the Austro-Hungarians entered Kuršumlija on 16 March. As of 25 March, the order there was fully restored.^[7] In the battles, several thousand people were killed, including civilians. In April 1917, Pećanac, with his guerrillas, attacked a railway station.^[8] On 15 May, Pećanac entered the old Bulgarian border and invaded Bosilegrad, which was burned. Then his band withdrew to Kosovo, controlled by the Austro-Hungarians. The Allies opened a new front at Salonika in June, but the Serbian army couldn't break through the Bulgarian lines. After reemerging briefly, in September – October 1917, Pećanac again disappeared. In October 1917, the Austro-Hungarian command created entirely Albanian paramilitary detachments to assist the Bulgarian and Austro-Hungarian forces and capture the remaining Serbian rebels into the mountains. On 23 December 1917, surrounded by enemy forces, Vojinović took his own life before they could capture him.^[9]

The uprising is a notable event in the history of Serbia in World War I. It was the only rebellion in the territories occupied by the armies of the Central Powers.^[3]

• Bojnik (24 February), against Bulgarians, Serbian victory
• Mačkovac (26 February), against Bulgarians, Serbian victory
• Kuršumlija (27 February), Serbian liberation of the town
• Lebane (1 March), Serbian liberation of the town
• Prokuplje (3 March), Serbian liberation of the town until March 14
• Blace (5 March), against Austro-Hungarians, Serbian liberation of the town
• Jankova klisura, against Austro-Hungarians, Serbian victory
• Brus, against Austro-Hungarians, Serbian victory
• Prokuplje (14 March), Central Power re-occupation

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toplica insurrection.

• Serbian Campaign (World War I)
• Bulgaria during World War I