The Battle for Edirne

Edirne Fortress was besieged at the beginning of the First Balkan War. The siege was divided into four sectors: Eastern, on the left banks of the Tundzha and Maritsa; Southern, on the right banks of the Maritsa and Arda; Western, along the left bank of the Arda as far as the Maritsa; and North-Western, along the right bank of the Tundzha as far as the Maritsa. The assault plan called for the capture of the forward Turkish positions to mislead the enemy into expecting the main attack against the southern sector. The actual principal objectives were the north-eastern forts of Aydzhiolu and Ayvazbaba. The assault was preceded by an artillery bombardment beginning at midday on 24 March. Infantry began advancing around 4 a.m. on 25 March, and by 9 a.m. the Eastern Sector's forward defensive position had been captured. The attack on its forts began late on 25 March under artillery cover. By the morning of 26 March, the main defensive line had been taken. The fall of Edirne determined the war's outcome.

The battle ended in success for Bulgaria and Serbia. An armistice was signed on 12 April 1913, followed by the Treaty of London on 30 May 1913.