til Central Powers conquered
Serbia in November 1915. After the breakthrough of the Thessaloniki Front,
First Serbian Army commanded by general PetarBojović liberated Niš on
October 12, 1918. In the first few years after the war, Niš was recovering from
the damage. In 1921, Niš became the centre of the Region (oblast), governed by
a grand-zupan, appointed by royal decree. The tram system in Niš started to run
in November 1930. The national airline Aeroput included Niš as a regular
destination for the route Belgrade—Niš—Skopje—Thessaloniki on 1930. During the
time of German occupation in World War II, the first Nazi concentration
camp in Yugoslavia was located in Niš. About 30,000 people passed through
this camp, of who over 10,000 were shot on nearby Bubanj hill. On February 12,
1942, 147 prisoners staged mass escape. In 1944 city was heavily bombed by the
Allies. On October 14, 1945, after a long and exhausting battle, the 7th
German SS Division 'Prince Eugene' was defeated and Niš was liberated by Red
Army and Partisans. The University of Niš was founded on June
15, 1965. On May 7, 1999, the city was the site of the NATO Cluster
bombing of Niš that resulted in many civilian casualties
