The Bravest Woman in the World Died Poor and Forgotten

Milunka Savić was the most decorated female soldier ever

Milunka Savić in WWI (left) and as a Lance Corporal (right) | Image from Wikipedia, altered by the author

When in July 2019 French President Emmanuel Macron visited Belgrade, Serbia (southeastern Europe), he wanted to see the grave of Milunka Savić (1890/1892 — 1973). This was 46 years after her death, but the French still vividly remembered her.

Funnily enough, the Serbs forgot Milunka while she was still alive.

Because of Sergeant Savić’s bravery, the French called her the “Serbian Joan of Arc“. A century ago, in the pre-internet era, this illiterate girl from a small land of farmers became known throughout Europe for her courage. She was wounded nine times in the two Balkan Wars (1912–1913) and World War I (1914–1918).

Her medals were many and of the highest rank:

• The British medal for the order of knights with the title the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George,
• the French Croix de Guerre with the gold Palm — she was the only woman to get it after WWI,
• two French Legions of Honor,
• the Russian Cross of St. George,
• and several Serbian medals.