page_title: August von Mackensen
section_title: Serbian Campaign
hierarchical_section_title: August von Mackensen / First World War / Serbian Campaign
caption_attribution_description: English: Belgrade, Kosutnjak park, WWI monument erected by German Field Marshal August von Mackensen to the Serbian defenders of Belgrade The inscription reads "Here rest Serbian heroes".
context_page_description: Anton Ludwig Friedrich August von Mackensen, born August Mackensen, was a German field marshal. He commanded successfully during the First World War of 1914-1918 and became one of the German Empire's most prominent and competent military leaders. After the armistice of November 1918 the victorious Allies interned Mackensen in Serbia for a year. He retired from the army in 1920; in 1933 Hermann Göring made him a Prussian state councillor. During the Nazi era, Mackensen remained a committed monarchist and sometimes appeared at official functions in his First World War uniform. Senior NSDAP members suspected him of disloyalty to the Third Reich, but nothing was proven against him.
context_section_description: In October 1915, a new Army Group Mackensen (Heeresgruppe Mackensen, which included the German Eleventh Army, the Austro-Hungarian Third Army and the Bulgarian First Army), launched a renewed campaign against Serbia. The campaign crushed effective military resistance in Serbia but failed to destroy the Serbian army, half of which managed to withdraw to Entente-held ports in Albania and, after recuperation and rearmament by the French and the Italians, re-entered fighting on the Macedonian front. When Mackensen returned to Vienna, he was honoured by a dinner and a personal audience with Emperor Franz Joseph, and he was decorated with the magnificently jeweled Military Merit Cross 1st Class with Diamonds, a unique award for a foreigner.
  Von Mackensen appears to have had great respect for the Serbian army and Serbians generally. Before departing to the Serbian front in 1915, he had spoken to his men:
  "You are not going to the Italian, Russian, or French front. You are going into battle against a new enemy - dangerous, tough, fearless and sharp. You are going to the Serbian front and Serbia. Serbs are people who love their freedom, and who will fight to the last man. Be careful this small enemy does not cast a shadow on your glory and compromise your successes".
caption: World War I monument erected by Mackensen[citation needed] to the Serbian defenders of Belgrade. The inscription reads "Here Lie Serbian Heroes" in German and Serbian.
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