Milivoje Stojanović (Serbian Cyrillic: Миливоје Стојановић; 18 September 1873 – 4 December 1914) was a Serbian military commander who served during the Balkan Wars and during the Serbian Campaign (part of the larger Balkans Campaign) during World War I.[1]

Colonel

Milivoje Stojanović
Stojanović during the Balkan Wars
Nickname(s)Brka (Mustachio)
Born(1873-09-18)18 September 1873
Požarevac, Serbia
Died4 December 1914(1914-12-04) (aged 41)
Lazarevac, Serbia
Allegiance Kingdom of Serbia
Service/branchRoyal Serbian Army
Years of service1892–1914
RankColonel
UnitXII Regiment
Second Iron Regiment
Battles/wars

After his death in the Battle of Kolubara, Serbian composer Stanislav Binički composed the March on the Drina in his honour.[2]

Career edit

Stojanović graduated from the military academy with the 22nd class and became an infantry lieutenant in 1892.

After the conquest of Rajčanski rid, as a key ground for victory in the Battle of Bregalnica, the commander of the First Army, Crown Prince Alexander I, was so delighted with the performance of the XII Regiment that he personally approached Stojanović (who commanded the unit), congratulated him, and removed the Order of Karađorđe's Star (with swords) from his chest and personally stuck it on the chest of Stojanović.[3]

Death and legacy edit

In the First World War in 1914, his Second Iron Regiment took part in the Battle of Cer, in its very center, on Tekeriš. He also distinguished himself as the commander of the Iron Regiment in the Battle of Kolubara. During the Battle of Kolubara, he contracted pneumonia. Seeing that his men were dying, Stojanović, although seriously ill, personally led the regiment in a new assault, and on that occasion Kremenica was conquered and Stojanović was killed.[4] The March on the Drina was composed in his honour.

A comic book publisher dedicated to the First World War called Linije fronta (Front Lines) published the comic book Gvozdeni (Iron) dedicated to Stojanović and his death during the Battle of Kolubara.

In the film King Petar of Serbia, Stojanović is played by actor Dragan Boža Marjanović.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Politika (2014-12-12). "Junačka pogibija na Kolubari" (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  2. ^ Intermagazin.rs (2014-12-14). "Zbog njega je nastao Marš na Drinu" (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  3. ^ "Lični dnevnik Komandanta XII peš.p. "Cara Lazara" I poz." od 19.06.1913. (in Serbian)
  4. ^ "Како је Гвоздени пук зауставио Бана Јелачића". Srpska istorija. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  5. ^ IMDB: King Petar the First (2018) Full Cast & Crew