His career, spanning every major conflict involving Serbia from 1876 to 1917, left a lasting impact on Serbian military strategy and national identity.

After generations in exile, the family returned to the Principality of Serbia, which became the first modern Serbian polity to achieve independence from Ottoman rule in the mid-19th century.

[1] His career, however, was affected by political conflicts, particularly with King Milan I. Putnik’s refusal to support a favoured protégé of the monarch led to tensions.

In this role, he reorganized the Serbian army by retiring outdated officers, promoting younger talent, and modernizing obsolete war plans.

In a rare act of chivalry, the Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz Josef granted him safe passage back to Serbia, a gesture some viewed as self-defeating.

[4] The king refused, insisting that Putnik continue to lead the army in a strategic capacity, while younger generals such as Stepa Stepanović, Živojin Mišić, and Petar Bojović assumed operational duties.

In early 1915, Prince Alexander sought to assume direct command of the army, a proposal that Putnik firmly opposed on constitutional grounds, arguing that a monarch could not take on such a responsibility.

The retreat continued into Albania in early November 1915, aided by the reluctance of enemy forces to pursue the Serbian army through the harsh Albanian highlands.

On 25 November, Putnik gave the order to retreat further south and west, through Montenegro and into Albania, aiming to reach Allied ships that could transport the remnants of the army to safety in the Ionian islands.

[6] Ultimately, out of approximately 250,000 soldiers and civilians, only 155,000 made it to the Adriatic Sea, where Allied transport ships evacuated them to Greek islands such as Corfu.

[7] Suffering from bronchitis, influenza, and pneumonia, he was eventually received by Allied forces in Scutari (Skadar) and transported to Brindisi and later Corfu with the core of the Serbian army.

In the aftermath of tensions and recriminations between the Serbian Government and the High Command, the entire General Staff was dismissed in January 1916, including Putnik.

He felt deeply embittered upon learning of his dismissal in a particularly undignified manner through a cashier who issued his salary without the supplement for the Chief of General Staff.