The battle took place on the Macedonian front during the First World War Allied Monastir Offensive in October and November 1916.

After extremely heavy fighting and severe casualties on both sides, the Bulgarians retreated from Bitola on 19 November, taking positions 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the north by defeating all the later attacks from there.

The Serbs then recovered for three days, and on 18 October, they crossed the left bank of the River Crna at Brod and fortified it.

During the week, the Bulgarians tried to push them back without success, and all Serbian attacks were also unsuccessful, leading to massive casualties for both sides.

The Bulgarian-German army continued to hold the Macedonian Front against French, British, Serbian and Greek troops until the Franco-Serbian breakthrough at Dobro Pole on 15 September 1918.