Milunka Savic

There’s a certain frustration in realizing how little the world knows about Milunka Savić. Her story feels like it was ripped from the pages of an epic novel, yet she remains a shadowy figure outside her homeland. The most decorated female soldier in history, Milunka fought in three brutal wars across two continents, surviving grenades, bayonets, bullets, and the trenches of World War I. She didn’t just survive—she conquered, leaving a trail of heroism unmatched by any soldier of her time.

Born around 1888 in the tiny mountain village of Koprivnica, Serbia, Milunka grew up in poverty. Details about her early life are scarce, but what we do know is that by 1912, she was restless. At the age of 24, with war looming, she made a decision that would change her life—and history. Cutting off her hair, dressing in men’s clothing, and adopting the name “Milun,” she volunteered for the Serbian Army.

The First Balkan War had begun, and Serbia, along with its allies, sought to drive the Ottoman Empire out of the Balkans. According to some stories, Milunka took her brother’s place after he was drafted, but whether it was family loyalty or sheer defiance, one thing was clear: she wanted to fight. She joined without anyone suspecting her true identity—or perhaps no one cared, as long as she could shoot straight. Armed with a rifle, a helmet, and a belt of grenades, Milunka marched into battle.

From Farm Girl to Battlefield Legend

Milunka’s first war was a baptism by fire. The combined armies of Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania faced off against the crumbling Ottoman Empire. Milunka fought in key battles, charging enemy positions with her bayonet and earning a reputation as a fearless soldier. By the war’s end, the Ottomans had been driven out of Europe, but the Balkans were far from peaceful.

In 1913, the Second Balkan War erupted when Bulgaria decided it wanted Macedonia, a region Serbia had captured during the previous conflict. Serbia, naturally, refused to hand it over, and soon the allies-turned-enemies were locked in a brutal war.

Milunka served in the Serbian “Iron Regiment,” one of the most celebrated units of the Serbian Army. At the Battle of Bregalnica, she led charge after charge against Bulgarian forces. On her tenth assault, she was hit by an enemy grenade. Wounded and unable to fight, she watched from the ground as her regiment broke through the Bulgarian lines.

In the aftermath, Milunka was taken to a field hospital, where her injuries revealed her secret: she wasn’t a man. When she recovered, she was summoned by her commanding officer, who offered her a transfer to the nursing corps. Milunka refused outright, declaring she would not accept any role that didn’t allow her to fight. When the officer told her to return the next day for his decision, Milunka simply stood at attention and replied, “I will wait.” After an hour of her unwavering defiance, the officer relented. Not only did she remain in the infantry, but she was promoted to Junior Sergeant.

The Bomber of Kolubara

The Balkan Wars were only a prelude to the global chaos of World War I. In 1914, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia with an army of 450,000 professional soldiers, armed with state-of-the-art artillery and weapons. Serbia, with just 250,000 troops—mostly volunteers armed with outdated weapons—prepared for the worst.

Milunka’s defining moment came during the Battle of Kolubara. Commanding the Assault Bomber Squad of her regiment, she charged into No Man’s Land armed with a rifle, a bayonet, and bandoliers of grenades slung across her shoulders. She stormed an Austrian trench alone, throwing grenades and firing her rifle with deadly precision. Inside the trench, she captured 20 Austrian soldiers single-handedly.

Her fearless actions earned her the nickname “The Bomber of Kolubara” and the Karadjordje Star with Swords, Serbia’s highest military honor. The battle was a stunning victory, and the Austrians were pushed out of Serbia. For a moment, the nation could breathe.

Wounded But Unbreakable

But the Austrians weren’t the only threat. By 1915, Serbia was under attack from all sides—Bulgaria to the east, Austria-Hungary to the north, and Germany to the west. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Serbian Army was forced into a desperate retreat through the snow-covered mountains of Montenegro and Albania.

Milunka fought every step of the way, earning a second Karadjordje Star at the Battle of Crna Reka in 1916, where she single-handedly cleared a Bulgarian trench and took 23 prisoners. By the time her unit reached safety, Milunka had been wounded nine times.

The Aftermath of War

When the war finally ended, Milunka returned to a hero’s welcome. She had earned more medals than she could carry, including France’s Legion of Honour (twice), the Russian Cross of St. George, Britain’s Medal of the Order of St. Michael, and the French Croix de Guerre—the only woman from World War I to receive it. She was even offered a comfortable life in Paris by the French government, but Milunka declined. Serbia was her home.

She married, had a daughter, and adopted three children orphaned by the war. Despite her legendary status, her post-war life was marked by modesty. She worked at a bank and lived quietly—until World War II. When the Nazis occupied Belgrade, Milunka refused to attend a banquet honoring the German officers. For this act of defiance, she was sent to the Banjica concentration camp where she survived 10 months of brutal torture.

A Legacy of Courage

Milunka Savić passed away in 1973 at the age of 84, a legend in her homeland but virtually unknown elsewhere. She was buried with full military honors in Belgrade.

Her story isn’t just a tale of war; it’s a reminder that bravery knows no gender, no boundaries, and no limits. Milunka didn’t just fight for her country—she fought for the right to be herself, to defy expectations, and to carve her name into history with the same grit and determination she showed on the battlefield.

It’s time the world gave Milunka Savić the recognition she deserves.