Milunka Savić
| Milunka Savić | |
|---|---|
Sergeant Milunka Savić
|
|
| Born | 28 June 1892 Koprivnica, Kingdom of Serbia |
| Died | 5 October 1973 (age 81) Belgrade, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
| Allegiance |
Kingdom of Serbia Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes |
| Years of service | 1912–1919 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles/wars |
First Balkan War Second Balkan War World War I |
| Awards | |
Milunka Savić CMG (Serbian: Милунка Савић; 28 June 1892/10 August 1895 – 5 October 1973) was a Serbian war heroine who fought in the Balkan Wars and in World War I. According to a Serbian source, she may be the most-decorated female combatant in the entire history of warfare. She was wounded no fewer than nine times during her service.
Savić was born in 1892, in the village of Koprivnica, near Raška, in Serbia. In 1913, her brother received call-up papers for mobilization for the Second Balkan War. She chose to go in his place—cutting her hair and donning men's clothes and joining the Serbian army. She quickly saw combat and received her first medal and was promoted to corporal in the Battle of Bregalnica. Engaged in battle, she sustained wounds and it was only then, when recovering from her injuries in hospital, that her true gender was revealed, much to the surprise of the attending physicians.
Mental Floss described the repercussions:
In 1914, in the early days of World War I, Savić was awarded her first Karađorđe Star with Swords after the Battle of Kolubara. She received her second Karađorđe Star (with Swords) after the Battle of the Crna Bend in 1916 when she captured 23 Bulgarian soldiers single-handedly.
She was awarded the French Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour) twice,Russian Cross of St. George,British medal of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael, Serbian Miloš Obilić medal. She was the sole female recipient of the French Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with the gold palm attribute for service in World War I.
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