Wartime in 1914 completely depleted the Kingdom of Serbia. The economy collapsed and citizens, a lot of them being refugees, were hungry and affected by epidemic typhus and dysentery. Civilians, soldiers, children and the elderly were all dying together with the doctors who were treating them.
In September 1915 Austro-Hungarian and German troops gathered 800.000 soldiers for the new offensive against Serbia, which barely had 300.000 soldiers, poorly equipped. The offensive began with bombing of Belgrade on 5th October 1915. Over 30.000 shells fell on Belgrade in just two days. Enemy army tried to cross the Danube on 7th October, supported by heavy artillery fire. It was only after a dozen of unsuccessful charges that Austro-Hungarian forces managed to cross the river. Under the fierce onslaughts of enemies, the defenders had to retreat from Danube quay first to the Dušanova Street, and then to Vasina Street. Fierce fights lasted for three days. Belgrade was defended, besides the soldiers, by women, children and old men, who took guns from dead soldiers.
Faced with the lack of artillery weapon, ammunition, equipment and food, Serbian army left Belgrade and retreated to the south of the country with a strong resistance. In those difficult moments, the whole nation fought together with the army.
Plan of the high command to retreat the army through the valley of Morava towards Greece and Thessaloniki port was hampered by the attack of Bulgarian units that invaded the south of Serbia without a declaration of war. Despite being faced with complete failure, Serbian army refused offered capitulation and continued the fighting. In November 1915 high command ordered the retreat across Albania in order to reach Durres port, from where the army would be transferred to the safe Greek soil.
The retreat of Serbian army across Albania, followed by the convoy of refugees and the entire state leadership headed by King Petar I Karđorđević, is rightfully called Golgotha of Serbia, because it represented the hardest experience for Serbian army and nation since the beginning of the Great War.
Motif on the stamp: Regent Alexander and the British admiral Thrubridge on the position of the defense of Belgrade. Motif on the envelope: the defense of Belgrade 1915, the moment to fire a fieldpiece.
