Stepa Stepanovich Serbian commander. Date of Birth: 12.03.1856 Country: Serbia

Biography of Stepa Stepanovich

Stepa Stepanovich was a Serbian military commander and voivode. He was born in 1876 and attended the Belgrade Artillery School. During the Serbian-Montenegrin-Turkish War in 1876, he served as a company commander. In the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, he commanded a battalion of the People's Army.

From 1883 to 1884, Stepa Stepanovich served as an adjutant to an infantry regiment, and from 1884 to 1886, he commanded a company in an infantry regiment. During the war in 1885, he commanded a Cheta (a unit) in the Shumadia Division. From 1886 to 1888, he was attached to the General Staff.

In 1888, Stepa Stepanovich became an adjutant to the Chief of the General Staff, and from 1889 to 1895, he served as the chief of staff for a divisional area. He also held various other positions during this time, including commanding a infantry battalion and serving as the chief of staff for a divisional area.

In 1896-1897, he became the head of the General Staff's department of general military affairs. Stepa Stepanovich commanded an infantry regiment from 1897 to 1898 and then became the chief of staff of the active army's command from 1898 to 1899. From 1899 to 1900, he served as the head of the General Department of the Ministry of War.

In 1900, Stepa Stepanovich became the commander of an infantry brigade and later became an assistant to the Chief of Staff of the active army. He continued to hold important positions such as the assistant to the Chief of the General Staff and the chief of general military affairs in the Ministry of War.

From 1903 to 1908, Stepa Stepanovich commanded the Shumadia Divisional Area. He also served as the Minister of War in 1908 and 1912. During the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, he commanded the 2nd Army.

In World War I, Stepa Stepanovich served as the deputy chief of staff of the Supreme Command and commanded the 2nd Army. His troops achieved a significant victory against the 5th Austro-Hungarian Army, pushing them back into Austro-Hungarian territory.

In 1914, Stepa Stepanovich was promoted to the rank of voivode, equivalent to a field marshal. In 1916, he commanded the 2nd Army and Timok forces, leading successful military actions against the 1st Bulgarian Army and executing the famous Leskovac Maneuver. He later led the army on the Salonika Front and accepted the surrender of the Bulgarian Army.

Stepa Stepanovich continued to lead the army until its transformation into the 2nd Army Group in 1919. From 1919, he served in the reserve.

Throughout his career, Stepa Stepanovich received several awards, including the Order of the Star of Karageorge and the Order of the Takovo Cross.