1914_0923_01: The Grinder - FWWC 03 Serbia '14

Macva Peninsula and Jagodnja Mountain, Serbia, 23rd September 1914:

The second invasion of Serbia ground to a halt as both sides exhausted themselves in bitter fighting and deteriorating weather. In the Macva Peninsula, 5.Armee had barely gained ground but Krauss' mixed force, which would become known as the Kombinierte Korps (Combined Corps), was successful in opening a second front on the Serbian 2. Army, threatening the center of the peninsula and the rear of Serbian defenses arrayed along the Drina. In the south, the Serbian 1. Army counter offensive had been completely repulsed on the Jagodnja but at the cost of total exhaustion of 6.Armee.

Reinforced by the 36.ID from 5.Armee, 6.Armee planned to launch an attack to assist the 42.HID bridgehead at Sor. The Serbians intended to hold and to continue to attack the strategic mountain peaks on the Jagodnja where possible.

Although the Serbians had enjoyed a qualitative advantage in the previous engagements, ironically by stopping the Austro-Hungarian advance they created an unfavorable stalemate that would instead see the Serbs at a severe disadvantage where they were slowly ground up by low supply, and a steady flow of Austro-Hungarian replacements and artillery barrages.

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*See the notes document for information on scenario design decisions and historical notes.