Milunka Savic: The Most Decorated Female Soldier in History

 She is the most decorated female soldier in history.

Here's her story:

Born June 28 1888. Not much is known about her early life, apart from the fact that she had a brother. When he was drafted into the Serbian military in 1912, she chose to take his place. She cut her hair and adopted the name 'Milun'. Women were only allowed to work as medical staff in the army at the time, but Milunka wanted to see battle. She fought in the two Balkan Wars as a part of the Iron Regiment and in the Battle of Bregalnica, she was promoted to Corporal. When she was injured in the 2nd Balkan War, it was discovered that she was a woman. She was brought to her commander, who didn't want to punish her for serving her country, so he decided to transfer her to the nursing division. She declined and said she only wanted to serve her country as a soldier. They decided to let her.

A year later, Serbia found itself in the First World War, with half a million Austria-Hungarians invading it. In December 1914 during the Battle of Kolubara, she reportedly crossed no-man's-land alone, throwing grenades and jumped into an Austrian trench and took 20 prisoners. She earned a Star of Karadjordjie, Serbia's highest honor.

2 years later in the Battle of Crna Bend against the Bulgarians, she single-handedly cleared out a Bulgarian trench and took 23 confused prisoners, earning her 2nd Star of Karadjordjie.

After the Serbian army had to retreat through the snowy mountains to the Albanian coast, they were evacuated by the French and British. Savic's unit became a Serbian Brigade in the French army. She fought in Tunisia and Salonika until 1918 when she was decommissioned.

The French offered her to move to Paris and earn a comfortable military pension, she declined and settled in Belgrade. She worked as a cook, janitor, and postal worker. She married, had a daughter, divorced, adopted 3 more daughters. During WWII she was sent to a concentration camp for 10 months, after which she lived in poverty and obscurity.

At the half-century remembrance for WWI, she turned up wearing all her medals, which was more than anyone had.

She died on October 5th, 1973 after stuffing a stroke.

She was awarded:

Serbian Gold and Silver Medals for Bravery during the Balkan Wars

Star of Karadjordjie (twice)

French Legion of Honor (twice)

British Medal of the Order of St. Michael

Croix de Guerre (France's highest Honor)