First Balkan War (1912-1913)
The First Balkan War pitted the Balkan League (Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro against the Ottoman Empire. The Leagues goal was to liberate the Christian populations of the Ottoman Empire's European territories.
The war was an unmitigated disaster for the Ottoman Empire, which lost approximately 83% of its European territories and 65% of its European population. The League partitioned almost all of the Ottoman Empire's remaining territories in Europe. These events led to the establishment of an independent Albania, angering the Serbs. Bulgaria was also dissatisfied over the division of the spoils in Macedonia. The 1912-1913 war ended with the Treaty of London on May 30, 1913, but soon the Second Balkan War started.
Greece issued a 30mm, bronze medal to its land and naval forces with battle clasps for participation in the First Balkan War. The obverse features a cross with crossed swords in the background, the years 1912-1913 are at the base of the cross and encircled by the inscription, WITH GOD KING AND COUNTRY. The reverse is inscribed with three locations: MACEDONIA, EPIRUS, and ARCHIPELAGOS.
Greek Medal for the First Balkan War
Bulgaria instituted a Medal for Participation in the Balkan Wars 1912-1913 in 1933. The circular medal bears the crowned state coat-of-arms imposed on crossed swords (tips up) encircled by a wreath of oak and laurel. The reverse bears the dates 1912-1913 encircled by a wreath of what, oak, roses, and laurel. There are three ribbon variations with white stripes being added for civilians and black stripes for those killed in action.
Bulgaria Medal for Participation in the First Balkan War
Bulgaria also issued a commemorative medal celebrating the liberation of Macedonia during the First Balkan War. The obverse features the four heads of state: (1) Peter I of Serbia; (2) Ferdinand of Bulgaria; (3) Nicholas I of Montenegro and (4) George I of Greece. The reverse contains a Cyrillic inscription bordered by two laurel branches above a banner with the Cyrillic inscription, MACEDONIA and 1912 in the lower portion.
Bulgarian Commemorative Medal for the Liberation of Macedonia
Serbia issued a Balkan War Commemorative Medal for participation in the First Balkan War. The obverse features a central sun with rays emanating outward, inscribed 1912. And below it, a 14th century Serbian Orthodox Monastery near Pristina and war trophies. Above the sun along the upper edge, in Cyrillic, is the inscription, AVENGED KOSSOVO. The reverse depicts the Serbian double-headed dragon surrounded by a laurel leaf wreath. The leaves of the wreath are each inscribed with the names and places where the Serbian Army won some of its greatest victories: KUMANOVO, SKOPJE, PRILEP, EDIME, VELES, NOVI PAZAR, DEBAR, STIP, PRIZREN, MERDARE, BITOLA, SHKOODER, OHRID, SJENICA, DORIAN, LEZHE, TETOVO, DURRES, ELBASAN, and PRISTINA.
Serbia Medal for Participation in the First Balkan War
Serbia also issued its Medal for Bravery during the First Balkan War. The 30mm medal was awarded in both gold and silver, it was also known as the Women's Medal. The obverse of the original version represented Serbia with an allegorical figure of a woman. Some officers felt that this diminished the award. A second 31mm version was created with the medieval knight, Milos Obilic. The initial version is now considered extremely rare.
Serbia Medal for Bravery Version 1 (Woman's Medal) and 2
The First Balkan War pitted the Balkan League (Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro against the Ottoman Empire. The Leagues goal was to liberate the Christian populations of the Ottoman Empire's European territories.
The war was an unmitigated disaster for the Ottoman Empire, which lost approximately 83% of its European territories and 65% of its European population. The League partitioned almost all of the Ottoman Empire's remaining territories in Europe. These events led to the establishment of an independent Albania, angering the Serbs. Bulgaria was also dissatisfied over the division of the spoils in Macedonia. The 1912-1913 war ended with the Treaty of London on May 30, 1913, but soon the Second Balkan War started.
Greece issued a 30mm, bronze medal to its land and naval forces with battle clasps for participation in the First Balkan War. The obverse features a cross with crossed swords in the background, the years 1912-1913 are at the base of the cross and encircled by the inscription, WITH GOD KING AND COUNTRY. The reverse is inscribed with three locations: MACEDONIA, EPIRUS, and ARCHIPELAGOS.
Greek Medal for the First Balkan War
Bulgaria instituted a Medal for Participation in the Balkan Wars 1912-1913 in 1933. The circular medal bears the crowned state coat-of-arms imposed on crossed swords (tips up) encircled by a wreath of oak and laurel. The reverse bears the dates 1912-1913 encircled by a wreath of what, oak, roses, and laurel. There are three ribbon variations with white stripes being added for civilians and black stripes for those killed in action.
Bulgaria Medal for Participation in the First Balkan War
Bulgaria also issued a commemorative medal celebrating the liberation of Macedonia during the First Balkan War. The obverse features the four heads of state: (1) Peter I of Serbia; (2) Ferdinand of Bulgaria; (3) Nicholas I of Montenegro and (4) George I of Greece. The reverse contains a Cyrillic inscription bordered by two laurel branches above a banner with the Cyrillic inscription, MACEDONIA and 1912 in the lower portion.
Bulgarian Commemorative Medal for the Liberation of Macedonia
Serbia issued a Balkan War Commemorative Medal for participation in the First Balkan War. The obverse features a central sun with rays emanating outward, inscribed 1912. And below it, a 14th century Serbian Orthodox Monastery near Pristina and war trophies. Above the sun along the upper edge, in Cyrillic, is the inscription, AVENGED KOSSOVO. The reverse depicts the Serbian double-headed dragon surrounded by a laurel leaf wreath. The leaves of the wreath are each inscribed with the names and places where the Serbian Army won some of its greatest victories: KUMANOVO, SKOPJE, PRILEP, EDIME, VELES, NOVI PAZAR, DEBAR, STIP, PRIZREN, MERDARE, BITOLA, SHKOODER, OHRID, SJENICA, DORIAN, LEZHE, TETOVO, DURRES, ELBASAN, and PRISTINA.
Serbia Medal for Participation in the First Balkan War
Serbia also issued its Medal for Bravery during the First Balkan War. The 30mm medal was awarded in both gold and silver, it was also known as the Women's Medal. The obverse of the original version represented Serbia with an allegorical figure of a woman. Some officers felt that this diminished the award. A second 31mm version was created with the medieval knight, Milos Obilic. The initial version is now considered extremely rare.
Serbia Medal for Bravery Version 1 (Woman's Medal) and 2
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