26 Facts About Radomir Putnik

Radomir Putnik was the first Serbian Field Marshal and Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian army in the Balkan Wars and in the First World War.

Radomir Putnik served in every war in which Serbia fought from 1876 to 1917.

The Putnik family was originally from Kosovo, but fled the region to the Habsburg monarchy during the Great Serb Migration of 1690.

Putnik's father, Dimitrije, was a teacher in Kragujevac, and Radomir completed his basic schooling there.

Radomir Putnik attended the Artillery School in Belgrade, where he graduated in 1863, placing eighth in his class.

Radomir Putnik proved himself on the battlefield during Serbia's wars against the Ottomans fought between 1876 and 1877.

The Serbian troops, under Major Radomir Putnik, were obliged to pull back to Merdare in order to meet a stipulation in the general armistice between Russian and the Ottomans.

Radomir Putnik was noted for being a self-righteous and demanding officer prone to strongly defending his point of view.

Radomir Putnik became a professor in the Military Academy, holding that position from 1886 to 1895.

Radomir Putnik was rehabilitated following the coup d'etat against Alexander I Obrenovic in 1903.

Radomir Putnik then proceeded to reorganize the Serbian army by retiring old and promoting new officers, and updating outdated war plans.

Radomir Putnik was the first officer to be appointed to the highest rank of Field Marshal.

Field-Marshal Radomir Putnik, expecting Bulgarian attack, had deployed his troops on the most important strategic points near the river Bregalnica, which was essential for a quick victory after the sudden, unannounced Bulgarian attack.

Radomir Putnik had to spend most of his time in a well-heated room.

Radomir Putnik refused to abide by request, arguing that it was unconstitutional and that a monarch could not assume such a responsibility.

Radomir Putnik's demand was rejected due to the wishes of the Allies, who were still hoping to isolate Bulgaria from joining the Triple Alliance.

Many of Radomir Putnik's soldiers were farmers, who occasionally slipped away from the retiring army to resume their rural lives.

Radomir Putnik's rapidly declining forces continued their withdrawal towards Albania during the first week of November 1915, a process aided by the fact that the Germans, Bulgarians and Austro-Hungarians were reluctant to pursue Serbian troops through the highlands of Albania.

Radomir Putnik's goal was to reach allied ships that would, he hoped, transport the core of the army to the safety of the Ionian islands.

In worsening health, Radomir Putnik had to be carried in a sedan chair during the retreat through snowy mountains of Albania, exhausted by the effort and episodes of bronchitis, influenza and pneumonia.

Radomir Putnik was met by allied forces in Scutari and transported first to Brindisi and then to Corfu, along with the core of the army.

Radomir Putnik felt embittered, having learned of his dismissal from a cashier who gave him his salary without a Chief of General Staff's supplement.

Radomir Putnik traveled to Nice, where the French authorities welcomed him with honors and gave him a villa.

Radomir Putnik was overcome by lung emphysema and died on 17 May 1917 without seeing his homeland again.

Radomir Putnik's remains were transferred to Serbia in November 1926 and buried with honors in a chapel at Belgrade's New Cemetery.

Radomir Putnik is included in The 100 most prominent Serbs.