Source: File: General
Falkenhayn and German 9th Army entering
Bucharest. See an original
image at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bucharest> [Accessed 01
December 2016]
i
In Formation of alliance,
Roumania
Negotiated a place on side of
triple entente -
France, British and Russian
leagues
Would assist with Roumanian
ambitions -
Having had their eye for some
time
On Transylvanian territories,
whose people
Were ethnic Roumanians; Bukovina
And Banat being under Austria-Hungary
Rule.
Previously these two countries
had
Formed an allied relationship,
but matters
Changed with 1914's war
declaration.
Austria-Hungary their one-time
ally, sided
With Germany in causing the
conflict.
Having no obligation to enter war
Roumania's
Decision to remain a neutral
country
Placed a great strain on their
historic alliance.
A final agreement that would see
Russian supporting Balkan armies
would
Be signed, 18 August 1916 - with
Declared war finalised between
Romania
And Austria-Hungary by 27 August
-
To be taken by total surprise,
when troops
Of Roumania led a offensive
strike
Into Transylvania via Carpathian
passes.
By the Roumania Hypothesis, 'Z
plan'
Centred on act of rapid advances
- the second
Army taking the main assault that
took
Communes Putna,
Lepsa, Zabala and Naruja -
Matters initially
went well, with intent
To knock out Austria-Hungary - the first phase
Would last till September, to
capture
Nou, Tohanul,
Brasov and Vama Buzului.
With another stage to last 7 days
The Roumanian second army had
formed
Catalina, Arcuș,
Vâlcele, Feldioara,
Sercaia, Sinca Veche line. Having
taken
Sfntu Gheorghe in a third stage -
Yet another 7 days gained
Daisoara and
Meresti, to make formation in a
line
Of defense, having made a 62-mile
attack.
Austria - Hungarian forces had
Suffered a bloodied nose but
matters
Were not yet over, as German
Forces built aid for their
battered ally.
The ninth German army under
Erich von Falkenhayn on 18
September,
Began a counter maneuver
At Hateg; halting Roumanian first
army.
Now forced into defence rather
Than advance, 26 September saw
Sibiu
City captured by German force
Of the Alpen Korps - next Brasov
which
Had been under Roumanian
Control, was lost by second army
-
Roumania's fourth army had
To fall back to Carpathian
Mountains.
All the gains that Romania had
Made began to crumble; their
armies
Were pushed back to original
Positions. Still they stood to
halt German
Intent at Targu Jiu, the capital
Of Gorj in Oltenia, a Romania
province.
27 October came counter attack -
Romanian army pushed Germans
back.
After two days reformed Germans
Created a further reinforced
attack, that had
By 1 November effectively
succeeded
To take Targu Jigu - now a
turnabout came
As Germans secured that city -
with
Retreat of Roumanian troops enemy
cavalry
Entered Craiova, 21 November;
Leading to 23 November charge of
Robaesti.
ii
More akin to Balaclava over 50
years
Before, by determination to
defend their country
Came bravery of Romanian
Military.
Light emerged on dawn of 23
November, hazed
By fog, the brigade moved towards
Pielesti, Robanestii and Bojoiu
communes; a line
Of machine guns halted advances
east
Of Bojoiu - a fierce fight saw
Germans retreat.
The 9th Rosiori regiment moved
west
Of Bojoiuand, hidden by Robanesti
hills in Vlasca
River valley, working to attack
German
Left wing at Parsani - soon after
other troops were
Advanced through Robanestii de
Jos,
Closing on German resistance in
decision to attack -
4th Rosiori Regiment dismounted
to embark
On a frontal attack; elsewhere saw
rapid maneuvers.
A platoon on the left made up
positions,
Supported by machine gun units,
with three platoons
To the right prepared to cover
Teslui River
Area - while on Robanestii de Jos
to Parsani road,
The fourth platoon rapidly
readied selves.
South west of Parsani woodland
9th Rosiori regiment
Stopped by straw stacks; as
scouts reported
Positions of German artillery and
a line of attack.
Lieutenant Emil Mora suggested a
charge;
Colonel Caliescu took this
information and advised
All commanders to select troops
for this -
Then Captain Filitti volunteered
his squadron
To charge enemy positions -
although
Their strength had depleted to
number 110 -
Taking on Fillitti's main
thrust, under
Sergeant Balasa, two platoons
edged northwards.
An attack on enemy flank opened
from
Under cover of a hill - command
divided between
Lieutenants' Rosca and Mora -
built
Tension released as the poised charge
suddenly
Given the signal to release the
intent -
Thunder of hooves echoed -
already ahead
Germans had pulled back their
guns
In an apparent retreat, yet other
guns opened.
Emerging from cover of haystacks
The rattle of machine guns
matched pace
Of 3rd squadron - still Intent to gain
The artillery
retreat, the horse cavalry charge
Came under infantry
fire from trenches,
Onwards along
Craiova-Bals road - too late
To stop flesh of
horse and men
Explode - Fillitti
ignored his burning wounds.
Such ideals of archaic ideas,
when
A charge could determine battle
results,
Still clogged the minds of aged
Generals - steel of swords
could be
No match for steel armaments
-
The pounding of Fellitti's horse
power
Still set on course, as a random
Hand grenade killed his steed
outright.
Heavily wounded Captain Fellitti
Stumbled on the ground, as all
around
Saw annihilation of the charge;
The air fizzed with heated steel
- one
After another the cavalry fell.
To see the dire situation the 9th
Rosiori
Began to advance in assistance.
Yet rapid defeat led to only
answer; retreat.
94 men had fallen, to leave only
16
Of the squadron and two officers
- all to be
Taken as prisoners - small
success
Had been to dislodge the enemy
artillery -
And as a diversion to 1/17
Division
Retreat; yet the final success
was Germany's.
After some 90 days of intense
fight,
Romanian troops were pushed to
Olt River.
iii
From 27 November a German
Advance looked towards Romanian
capital,
Bucharest - the alliance of
Bulgaria,
Austria-Hungary and Germany’s
forces had
Crossed river Danube at Zimincea.
Marking 76 miles from the
country’s capital
They slowly made way through fog
-
Still Romanian army planned to
make stand.
Intent was to combine all
reserves,
Aimed at the last flanking attack
as enemy
Would cross the river Arges.
This intent to include Russian assistance
Holding the fighting elsewhere -
Problematic, as their leaders did
not agree -
Still they attacked 1 December,
A turn of fortune saw Germans
captured.
Then German reinforcements
Came, as Roumanian reserves
failed
To appear - German field Marshal
Mackensen and Falkenhayns reacted
Quickly to Romanian attacks,
4 December - Roumanians
fragmented,
Partly isolated from Bucharest,
Halted by enemy pincer movements.
The disarray caused chaotic
Retreats; a staff car driving
directly
Into German position, carrying
Attack plans to seal setbacks -
rainy
Conditions and poor roads
Saved the remainder of Roumanian
Army's shift towards Siret river;
With Russia pockets of resistance
left.
News had seeped across Europe
Of Roumanian battles and apparent
success
By the enemy alliance; how heavy
Fights were closing inwards, not
just towards
The capital but the oil fields of
Ploesci.
5 December increased numbers
about river
Vede, with Gradistento, south
Of Bucharest, taken at fifteen
miles distance.
Falkenhayn Leadership given to
Field
Marshall Mackensen had secured
command
Unity - Night blurred into dawn -
For Roumanian forces it became
all too clear
That Bucharest would fall; yet
both
Sides did not want a fight within
the city itself -
Though encounters on the
outskirts
Set to eradicate any advantages
to Germany.
While destroying anything
military,
Roumanians were given armistice
of 72 hours
To
leave the capital open - later
Field Marshall Mackensen entered
the city
Of Bucharest on a white horse,
As news in Berlin prompted Kaiser
to open
Champagne - back in England
Headlines heard situation;
'Oilfield Menaced.'
Stating fact as more dire than
Bucharest falling, was threat of
Germany
Gaining the oil fields - taking
Approach from North and West the
area
lay 29 miles from Ploesci -
In admittance final defeat Roumanians
Began burning wheat and oil
Fields, intent as a blow to enemy
victory.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. The War - Official News From All The Fronts -
Roumanian Battles - Enemy's Successes. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 5 December 1916. P.9.
Col.1. Available at:
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213937/Daily-Telegraph-December-5-1916.html>
[Accessed: 6 December 2016].
Anon.,1916. Enemy Closing On Bucharest - Battle Of The
Argesu - Big German Claims. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 5 December 1916. P.9.
Col.7. Available at:
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213937/Daily-Telegraph-December-5-1916.html>
[Accessed: 6 December 2016].
Anon.,1916. Further Retreat Towards Bucharest - Oil Fields
Menaced - Enemy Move on Ploesci . The Daily Telegraph, [online] 6 December 1916. P.10.
Col.71 Available at:
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213939/Daily-Telegraph-December-6-1916.html>
[Accessed: 6 December 2016].
Source: File: Battle of Robănești.
Wikipedia. Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Robănești> [Accessed 26 November
2016]
Source: File:
Battle of the Argeș. Wikipedia .Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Argeș> [Accessed 26 November
2016]
Source: File:
Romania, Austrian Occupation – WW1 (1916 – 1918). Available at:
<http://www.dcstamps.com/?p=5839> [Accessed 26 November 2016]
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 6 December 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Roumania
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