Memorial medal for the withdrawal of Serbian army through Albania
Encyclopedia
The Commemorative Medal for the withdrawal of Serbian army through Albania or Albanian Retreat medal is a single-Class military medal which was award gained by all members of the Serbian army and the people who retreated through Albania in the winter of 1915/16 during World War I
was instituted on 5 April 1920 the decree of Crown Prince-Regent Alexander I Karadjordjević
in the then new state of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. On the obverse side is the left profile of the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Army Prince-Regent Alexander I and around it is a circular inscription "his war comrades Alexander I“. The medal is worn on the light green bar with black stripes along the edge. The Commemorative Medal was the honorary award of lower rank, but has its own historical significance, as it is given on anniversaries and jubilees to all participants of an event. By the end of 1915 the Serbian Amy faced defeat, after being attacked from several directions by the Austro-Hungarian, German and Bulgarian forces. The decision was taken to retreat towards South, through Albanian Mountains, in direction of the Adriatic Coast. From there, the Army was transported to the safety of the Greek
island of Corfu
. King Petar I and Prince-Regent Aleksandar I shared the terrible ordeal of their Army.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was instituted on 5 April 1920 the decree of Crown Prince-Regent Alexander I Karadjordjević
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
in the then new state of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. On the obverse side is the left profile of the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Army Prince-Regent Alexander I and around it is a circular inscription "his war comrades Alexander I“. The medal is worn on the light green bar with black stripes along the edge. The Commemorative Medal was the honorary award of lower rank, but has its own historical significance, as it is given on anniversaries and jubilees to all participants of an event. By the end of 1915 the Serbian Amy faced defeat, after being attacked from several directions by the Austro-Hungarian, German and Bulgarian forces. The decision was taken to retreat towards South, through Albanian Mountains, in direction of the Adriatic Coast. From there, the Army was transported to the safety of the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
island of Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
. King Petar I and Prince-Regent Aleksandar I shared the terrible ordeal of their Army.