Mihailo Rašić

Rašić was born on June 13, 1858, in Aleksinac to father Petar, a court clerk, and mother Katarina.[1] In the third grade, he moved to Belgrade and lived with his aunt Stana until he graduated from high school. He enrolled in the Artillery School of the Military Academy as a cadet on 20 September 1874.[2] He became a corporal on 6 September 1875, Sub-Sergeant on 4 May 1876, and sergeant on 1 June 1876. He graduated from the academy in September 1880, eighth in his class, ahead of Stepa Stepanović and Živojin Mišić.[3]

At the beginning of the First Serbian-Turkish War, Rašić and his fellow cadets in the Artillery School were mobilized. During this conflict he was promoted to the rank of infantry Sublieutenant on 10 December 1876. He became a lieutenant on 20 August 1883. Rašić was promoted to captain, 2nd class on 22 February 1887, full-fledged captain on 1 January 1891, major on 22 February 1893, lieutenant colonel on 22 February 1897, colonel on 6 April 1901, general on 20 October 1912, and Divisional General on 21 October 1923.[4][5]

In the war of 1912, as a reserve officer, he was appointed commander of the 2nd Danube Division. By the decision of 20 October 1912, he was returned to active service and was promoted to the rank of general. He commanded that division in the wars of 1912 and 1913. After the end of the wars, on 1 September 1913, he was appointed dean of the Military Academy, and at the same time, president of the Military Disciplinary Court. He remained in that position until the Austrian Empire declared war on the Kingdom of Serbia when he was immediately appointed commander of the Combined Division of the 1st call-up. He commanded that division until the arrival of the Serbian army in Corfu in January 1916. In Corfu, he was appointed commander of the Timok army. He was appointed a delegate of the Supreme Command of the Serbian Army to the Supreme Command of the French Army on 27 February 1916.[6]

In June 1917, due to organizational changes in the French army, he was appointed to a new position - head of the Serbian military mission in France. He served as representative of the Serbian army with other allies. In the second half of 1917, as a member of the state mission, he went to the United States, with the task of motivating and gathering volunteers for Salonica front. He held that position until February 1918, when he returned to France, as head of the Military Mission. With the reconstruction of the government of Nikola Pašić, he was appointed Minister of War on 24 June 1918. He kept this department in Pašić's new cabinet, from 3 November 1918. In the newly formed cabinet of Stojan Protić, from 7 December 1918, he was again department head and remained in that position until 30 March 1919, when he officially resigned.

On September 20, 1920, he was appointed President of the Board of the Overhaul Fund in the military. At his request, he retired once again on 7 November 1921, though he was transferred to the reserve on 21 October 1923.[7]

Mihailo Rašić died in his family home on 17 February 1932. He was buried in the Belgrade New Cemetery.[9]

• Sa Nj. V. Kraljem Milanom Na Istoku: Putničke Beleške (1891)[10]

Rašić married Leposava, the daughter of Gliša Isajlović, a telegraph operator and post office manager. They had three sons: Svetozar, Branivoje, and Dragoljub and three daughters: Katarina, Ružica, and Jelena.[11] His son, Svetozar, born in 1885, was a lawyer, chief of staff to Dr. Voje Marinković and a diplomat. Rašić's daughters Katarina, Ružica, and Jelena were married to General Dragomir Ž. Stojanović, pharmacist Sima Protić, and industrialist Vladimir Đorđević respectfully. Academician's grandson Dimitrije Đorđević (historian) was a professor of history at the University of California, Santa Barbara from 1970 to 1991.[12][13][5]

• Ministry of Defence