March on the River Drina

Miloje chooses the artillery battery because he wants to fight alongside his comrades rather than work in a safe administrative position. During the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, he served on the commission that supplied guns to the army, but he feels a strong pull toward frontline action. His family's wealthy banking background offers him a comfortable alternative, but he prioritizes duty and camaraderie over safety.

His earlier experience on the gun commission will later help him understand the tactical importance of safeguarding artillery equipment during retreat.

Major Kursula provides a strategic assessment during the Aranđelovac meeting that Austria-Hungary's main attack will come across the Drina River, not across the Sava as some other commanders believed. His analysis is proven correct when the Austro-Hungarian forces actually cross the Drina into western Serbia. This accurate assessment shapes the Serbian army's redeployment decisions.

Kursula's correct prediction establishes his credibility as a tactical thinker who understands the enemy's likely invasion routes.

The redeployment to Cer Mountain places the Serbian Combined Division at a critical defensive position along the likely invasion route. By August 15, the artillery battery reaches the foot of Cer Mountain and joins the battle lineup, preparing to defend against the incoming Austro-Hungarian assault. The mountain position offers tactical advantages but also becomes the focal point of intense fighting.

Cer Mountain serves as the primary battleground where the decisive engagement of the campaign unfolds.

On August 16, the Combined Division comes under sudden and intense pressure as enemy forces strike their position. The overwhelming assault forces a tactical retreat to save the lives of the soldiers, even though it means abandoning their initial ground. This retreat is not a defeat but a calculated decision to preserve manpower against superior numbers.

The retreat sets the stage for the afternoon counterattack that will ultimately turn the tide of battle.

A sergeant from the battery quickly disassembles one of the guns during the retreat to ensure it cannot be captured and used against the Serbian forces if it falls into enemy hands. This act of denial prevents the Austro-Hungarians from gaining valuable artillery equipment. It demonstrates the soldiers' commitment to denying the enemy any tactical advantage, even at the cost of leaving equipment behind.

After the retreat, Major Kursula goes to Tekeriš to report to General Stepa Stepanović, the supreme commander of the Serbian army. In the afternoon of August 16, the army launches a coordinated counterattack that successfully reverses the enemy's gains. The chain of command proves crucial in coordinating this defense, and the counterattack forces the Austro-Hungarian troops to withdraw across the Drina River into Bosnia, resulting in a decisive Serbian victory.

Kursula's direct communication with the supreme commander enables the rapid coordination needed for the successful counterattack.

The Battle of Cer, fought in August 1914, represents the Allies' first victory over the Central Powers during World War I. The Serbian army's success at Cer Mountain and the subsequent forcing of Austro-Hungarian forces back across the Drina River stabilizes the front and boosts Allied morale. This victory demonstrates Serbia's military resilience despite facing a larger imperial power.

The victory sets a precedent for Serbian defensive capability that will define the country's World War I experience.

The artillery battery undertakes forced marches because the Serbian High Command must reposition forces quickly to meet the evolving Austro-Hungarian threat. The timeline shows the battery moving from Belgrade to Aranđelovac, then to Lazarevac, and finally to Cer Mountain in rapid succession between August 10-15, 1914. This urgency reflects the fast-moving nature of the campaign and the need to establish defensive positions before the enemy can penetrate Serbian territory.

The Sava and Drina rivers represent the two main invasion corridors from Austria-Hungary into Serbia. The Sava flows directly toward Belgrade, while the Drina runs along the western border through mountainous terrain. Early in the war, some Serbian commanders expected a Sava crossing toward the capital, but Major Kursula correctly identifies the Drina route as the main axis. This strategic debate shapes where the Serbian forces position themselves for the coming battle.

The film opens on July 26, 1914, with Serbia declaring general mobilization in Belgrade, precisely three weeks after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This moment establishes the atmosphere of imminent war and sets the chronological beginning of the story. The mobilization triggers the rapid deployment of the artillery battery and introduces the personal stakes for characters like Lieutenant Miloje, who must choose between family connections and frontline duty.