 They retreated in three columns, one across southern Montenegro, one through central Kosovo across northern Albania, and the southernmost from Prizren to the port of Dürres.Ravaged by disease, freezing to death in the bitter winter, lacking food or transport, harassed all the while by Albanian guerrillas, the survivors managed somehow to stagger to the Albanian coast in what became known as the “Great Retreat.”

The territory of Serbia was occupied by Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian troops.In the Austrian zone of occupation (northern and central Serbia), a governor-general was established with a center in Belgrade.