Milunka Savić, born in Serbia, made history by disguising herself as a man to fight in the Balkan Wars when her brother was too ill to serve.She joined the Serbian army under the name Milun Savić, and for nearly a year, she fought undetected, demonstrating exceptional skill as a soldier and grenadier.Her identity was revealed during the Second Balkan War when she was wounded at the Battle of Bregalnica.Despite military laws barring women from combat, she insisted on staying in the infantry and quickly earned recognition for her bravery.During World War I, Savić gained international fame as a member of the elite 'Iron Regiment.

' She was particularly renowned for her precision with hand grenades and her ability to capture enemy soldiers single-handedly, earning multiple prestigious awards, including Serbia’s Order of the Star of Karađorđe, the French Croix de Guerre, the British Order of St Michael and St George, the Russian Order of St.George, and the French Legion of Honour.

After the war, she declined a comfortable life abroad and instead lived modestly in Belgrade, dedicating herself to raising over 30 orphaned children along with her own daughter.Although largely forgotten for decades, she was celebrated again in the 1960s as a national hero.Milunka Savić passed away in 1973 at age 84, leaving behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and selflessness.