{"id":168365,"date":"2025-03-03T11:46:45","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T09:46:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/?p=168365"},"modified":"2025-03-03T11:46:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T09:46:46","slug":"a-precedent-that-should-become-law-how-serbia-helped-its-enemy-during-the-1885-war-while-losing-photo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/a-precedent-that-should-become-law-how-serbia-helped-its-enemy-during-the-1885-war-while-losing-photo\/","title":{"rendered":"A PRECEDENT THAT SHOULD BECOME LAW: How Serbia helped its enemy during the 1885 war \u2013 while losing! (PHOTO)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During the short-lived Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885<\/strong>, an extraordinary episode took place, one that can be considered a historical precedent in warfare<\/strong>\u2014Serbia allowed and facilitated a humanitarian convoy carrying medicine and medical supplies for its enemy!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This unusual story began with the efforts of the Principality of Bulgaria<\/strong> to annex Eastern Rumelia<\/strong> and achieve national unification. King Milan of Serbia<\/strong> saw this as a direct violation of the Berlin Congress<\/strong> agreements and a threat both to Serbs living in Eastern Rumelia and to the Kingdom of Serbia itself<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

King Milan believed that if Bulgaria succeeded, it would become the dominant power in the Balkans. After a series of provocations along the border and failed diplomatic initiatives, Serbia declared war on Bulgaria<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that time, Bulgaria\u2014having only recently gained independence from the Ottoman Empire<\/strong>\u2014lacked a developed military medical system. There was no organized way to transport the wounded from the battlefield<\/strong> or provide them with adequate care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Srpsko-bugarski rat \/ Wikimedia Creative Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To help Bulgaria, the International Red Cross<\/strong> collected humanitarian aid from across Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it is often mistakenly claimed in the media that Serbia was the only possible route<\/strong> for delivering aid, the truth is that Serbia provided the shortest and most efficient route<\/strong>, though it required passing near Serbian military forces<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a report from the Austrian Red Cross<\/strong>, which mediated the operation, the winter of 1885 was particularly harsh, Bulgaria had no railways<\/strong>, and the Danube was difficult to navigate<\/strong>. There was also an overland route via Lom Palanka to Sofia<\/strong>, but it was costly and time-consuming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Branislav Nu\u0161i\u0107 u Srpsko-bugarskom ratu (levo) i Proglas rata bugarskog knjaza Aleksandra, u kome se navodi kako su “bra\u0107a Srbi” pokrenuli “bratoubila\u010dki rat” \/ Wikimedia Creative Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

King Milan personally ensured safe passage for the medical convoy through Serbia<\/strong>, even assisting in the section from Ni\u0161 to the Bulgarian border<\/strong>, where no railway existed<\/strong>. At the time, humanitarian organizations praised Serbia\u2019s decision<\/strong> as a noble and unprecedented humanitarian act<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reports from the International Red Cross in Geneva<\/strong>, as well as Austrian and British humanitarian organizations<\/strong> involved in the mission, clearly describe Serbia\u2019s actions as a precedent and a point of national honor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Red Cross headquarters<\/strong> stated that allowing humanitarian aid to pass through one\u2019s own territory for enemy soldiers<\/strong> was in full accordance with the Geneva Convention<\/strong>, though the convention did not explicitly require<\/strong> warring parties to do so. This generous interpretation of humanitarian principles<\/strong>, they noted, deserved applause<\/strong> and should become a legal standard in the future<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bugarska vojska na Slivnici \/ Wikimedia Creative Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The British Red Cross<\/strong> called this operation “undoubtedly one of the most remarkable events of this war.”<\/strong> Their report noted that simply allowing medical aid<\/strong> to reach enemy forces was already a significant step<\/strong>, but providing transport assistance<\/strong> along the way was an unprecedented act of generosity<\/strong>, bringing honor to those who enabled it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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