The Battle of Oituz in Romania 8-28 August 1917

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Battle of Oituz(1917)

8^th-27^th of August

Romanians are occupying Oituz sector

For two days the cannon was noisily blowing in the Siret Valley. Under his protection,the waves of assault legions , which Mackensen was pushing without mercy, were winning terrain, widening the bloody ridge of Siret Valley, towards Panciu Hills. But his advance in depth was not easy. Instead of the putrefied Russian barrier,torn to pieces and wiped out at the first blow of the wave, rose up from the ground, in front of Marasesti, the locked wall of Romanian bayonets.

At once,in the 8^th day of August, the fire started in the left ,as well ,in the mountains. The Valleys of Slanic,Oituz and Casin,s tarted to echo by the cannon voice, and the paths of the mountain were filled by Austro-German troops,which were forcing to go down to Trotus River. Rohr has put in to the fight the right wing of his troops ,to shake hand with Mackensen at Adjud, behind the Romanian-Russian Armies of Valleys Susita and Putna.The battle of Oituz has started thus;she will evolve simultaneously and parallel with the Marasesti battle.

The Xi-th Russian Corps, which constituted the left wing of the IX-th Russian Army,h as been replaced by Romanian units of the II-nd Army. At 2^nd of August ,has arrived the 7^th RomanianDivision, brought to Siret River; she has occupied in the bigining the whole front, from Dofteana to Magura Casinului. At 4^th of August has arrived also the 6^th Romanian Division, taken out of Vrancea front, after a very exhausting march ,because of the heat and of the inclines,slopes,which had all the time to be uped and downed. She occupied the front between Oituz Valley and and Magura Casin, thus permiting to the 7^th Division to shorten her front. The two Romanian Divisions will receive the hit of Rohr and will bear the great task of keeping closed the Gate of Oituz,sealed and holly with the blood of so many heroes in the 1916 Campaign.

The front of the 7^th Division has started ,at the right side, at the fall of Sarariei Stream into Dofteana,where it connected with XXIV-th Russian Corps. From here it stretched towards south over Pravila Hill(height 875).Plaiul Cimpului (533) cuts the Slanic Valley to the upper head of Slanic Village, climbing Bortis Hill, over Ungureanu Peak(height 779) connecting at height 550, on the north bank of Oituz Valley,with the right side of 6^th Romanian Division.This one continued the the front line towards south, cutting Oituz Valley between Ferastrau and Hirja, crossing over Bilcutii Peak(height 704),over the Lesuntu Mic Valley and Lacului Hill, to link in front of Magura Casin with the right side of the 8tth Romanian Division.The three Divisions ,^th ,7^th and 8^th constituted the IV-th Army Corps, Commanded by General Valeanu; it was the right wing of the II-nd Romanian Army,under the Command of General Averescu. Only the 6^th and 7^th Divissions took part in the battle; the 8^th Division remained outside the fighting sector of the battle.

The 7^th Romanian Division-Commanded by General Rujinschi-was constituted by the 13^th Brigade-Commander Colonel Darvari-(Regiments 15thand 27^th),14^th Brigade-Commander Colonel Colori-(two regiments,4^th Artillery Regiment and 8^th Obuziere Regiment)The effective of the Division was 710 officers-of which 203 platooneers students-and 23000 soldiers. It had 120 machineguns Hotchkiss,184 rifle-machineguns,8 trench mortiere of 58mm,4 obusiers of 120mm,4 obusiers(shells) of 105 mm,36 cannons of 75mm and 8 cannons of 53mm.

The 6^th Romanian Division-Commander General Arghirescu-was constituted of the 12^th Brigade-Commander Colonel Stoenescu-(Regiments 11^th Siret and 12^th Cantemir),11^th Brigade-Commander Colonel Macri-(Regiments 10 Putna and 24^th Tecuci),7^th Huntrs regiment, two March Regiments,8^th Artillery Brigade(Regiments 11^th Artillery and 16^th Obusiere).The effectives of some units have suffered because of Marasti battle,at which the 6^th Division took part one week before. The defensive works of the position, inherited from the Russians were few and not enough. There was only one line of trenches and it was discontinuous ;a second line does not exist. The wire nets were weak ; the polls rare stalked .The distance to enemy vary between 70m and 1km.The terrain was heavily accident; ridges ,heights, valleys crossing each other . Long woods masked our positions as well as enemy ones; they made hard defense and easy surprise attacks

Before the arrival of our troops, the front has been quiet. Between the two troops, adverse, has been established even friendly rapports. The Germans were helping with all their powers the moral depression of the Russian troops.It could be found in the trenches news papers of revolutionary propaganda, printed in Russian by the Germans and given by these ones to the Russian soldiers. The Russian officers crossed the lines and went to Baile Slanic(Slanic Baths) were they were clubbing with the Germans and the Austrians. The brotherhoods and commerce was done on the whole front line.When they assumed their positions, the Romanians were surprised by the signals made by the Germans with their white handkerchiefs and by the bottles of drinks ,which they threw in our trenches, as well as not less surprised were the enemies ,when, unlike what had happened till now, their “friendship” was all of a sudden received , with gunshots. This state of mind counted as an important element in the calculus made by the enemy. Giving the blow in this sector ,the enemy was sure that he will easily defeat the Russian resistance, thus making his way without difficulties. Unfortunately, for the plans of the German Commander, Rohr was waited at Oituz, the same unpleasantness had two days before by Mackensen on Siret River shore. Instead of the Russian, bored by fight, he will meet the unmoved Romanian, who knew that no one will better defend the gate of his house, as himself.

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The setting of enemy forces for attack

The enemy front was occupied by the VIII-th Austro-Hungarian Corps, under the Command of General of Army Corps General von Benigni, forming thus the left wing of Gerock Group(the right side of this group was made by Ruiz Corps,from Vrancea).The group of general Gerock,constituted thus the south wing of I-st Army of Austrian General Rohr, which occupied the Charpathian Mountains front. The Benigni Corps had at left, from Dofteana to Slanic Valley,the 70^th Division de Honvezi,on the beginning of mountains, and at the right side, between Slanic and Casin Valley,the 71 Division de Honvezi. Between the two divisions,mounted on Oituz Valley,it was the 15^th Bavarian Brigade of the 8^th Division.

The three units have been strengthened with new troops, concentrated here for the projected offensive, forming thus three groups:

In the northern sector(Slanic) has been brought from Covasna the 7^th Cavalry Division.Austro –Hungarian, unmounted-General Graf von Marenzi-which has been before on the Siret front.The Commander of the group was Feldmarshal von Sorsich. The direction of attack of this group was towards Tirgu-Ocna.The souther sector (Casin) has been strengthened by by moving, in this sector of the 8^th Brigade of Mountain, Austrian, made of Bosniacs, which was organiclly part of the 71th Division,but has been kept in a southern sector, during the Marasti battle. From Cirlibaba, from Bucovina front has been brought the 8^th Austro-Hungarian Cavalry Division, of which four regiments have been left in Casin sector, as reserve behind the 71^st Division, and two have been crossed in Oituz sector. They were unmounted troops, made out of shooters escadrons, machineguns, of assault and pioneers. The Commander of the sector was Feldmarshal Lieutenant von Goldbach.

The central sector(Oituz) was the best strengthened .Here were the most numerous and best German troops. They brought here ,to strengthen the Bavarians, Alpine Battalion Wutemberg, two Regiments-11^th and 22^nd of the 117^th German Division of which Commander was General von Seydel ,he took command of the group and two regiments of the 7^th Division of Cavalry,Austro-Hungarian.The Alpine Wutemberger Battalion was organized after the model of the Alpine Bavarian Corps, as assault special forces troop .It was thus constituted by six companies of riflemen, three companies of machinegun men of six pieces of machinegun per company ,one company of mine throwers, and one company of sanitars. The total effective was of 1500 men, all young ,between 20 and 25 years of age, very well chosen. The battalion operated independent, undivisoned. It was brought directly from the French front and, arrived at Oituz at 8^th of August,has immediately join into the fight.

The outstanding importance given to Oituz sector was connected with the offensive plan.In the other two sectors, the action had to be ,in the beginning, mostly demonstrative. The principal blow has to be given along the driveway of Oituz, which was thus the ax of the battle field itself. The aim of the enemy attack was breaking the Romanian front in Oituz Valley and occupying Onesti.; in the end the left wing would have followed the move,to occupy Tirgu Ocna.Placed in Trotus Valley,at the cross section point of of Oituz Valley, Casin Valley and Tazlau Valley, Onesti forms the node of all communications lines of these valleys; possessing it ensures the mastering of the whole line of Trotus River. The succeeding of the enemy attack and conquering the Trotus line would have meant for the Romanians an economical disaster and a strategic one. Because Trotus Valley, wide ,rich, populated, with an excellent driveway and railway, with numerous ramifications to the right and to the left, was the principal artery of communication and provisioning of the Russian-Romanian armies in Moldavia Mountains and the only reservoir of minerals riches, the Kingdom had for the population and also army needs. Here were the coal mines of Asau and Comanesti, petrol shafts of Moinesti, salt mines of Tirgu Ocna. The falling of the Trotus line, meant also the turning of our defense positions in Siret Valley, catching of the Romanian-Russian armies in the big patent on which arms, one manoeuvred by Rohr and the other one by Mackensen.It was the catastrophe of these armies and the conquer of Moldavia. That is why, in Oituz Valley was played now not only the faith of this battle, but the faith of the Kingdom of Romania itself.

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Austro-German offensive

8^th-10^th of August

In the morning of 8^th of August,at six o’clock the Austro-German artillery has started a violent bombardment over the right side sector ,occupied by the Russians.The bombardment was growing more and more as well as intensity as wide .At seven in the morning, cannons of all calibers were thundering on the whole stretch of the front of IV-th Romanian Corps.The artillery fire was concentraded mostly over the points , Pravila, Ungureanu and in the region of the Oituz driveway. The effects of the bombardment were destroying .The nets and the trenches, badly constructed, could not withstand the strong bombardment. The Romanians had not the time to construct trenches and strong shelters; that is why our losses were extremely high.

At our right wing,in the sector of the 13^th Brigade, the first enemy infantry attack was produced at twenty past ten,hours,and was given into two directions; on the Cimpurile Stream,between Pravila Peak and Slanicu Valley and over the left wing of the 27^th Regiment. The attacks have been stopped in the barrier firing range of cannons,machineguns , grenades and the rifles of our soldiers .A second attack,given around 2,30 in the afternoon,after a very serious prepare of the artillery ,had the same fate. Another two attacks, given between 4-5 o’clock ,in the afternoon through Cimpuri Valley,had not have a happier result. The whole night continued the bombardment in this sector.

Much worse were the things in Oituz sector, where German troops, Wurtembergers and Bavarian were giving the principal attack ,prepaared by a crushing bombardment of big calibers.The Romanian front was broken in the sector of 16^th Suceava Regiment. The left flank of the regiment was left uncovered at 2,35 o’clock and it is turned over. Ungureanu Height is attacked by the enemy from all directions. The Romanians are surrounded fighting with heroism.Nomerous Bucovina(part of Moldavia) volunteers are between the Officers and Grades of the Regiment. The Soldiers of 9^th and 10^th Companies counterattack and reject the enemy.But this one starts a new bombardment which burry under the falls of the trenches almost all Men of the two Companies.The troops of the regiment had to leave the peak, with heavy losses; they retreat with 700-800 meters backwards, on Iordogatu Peak (height 752),loosing connection with the 6^th Division, neighbor.

At the south side of Oituz Valley,the enemy,after bombarding the positions of the 12^th Brigade of the 6^th Division, with axfixiant bombs and tear bombs. Succeds thus to break our front between 11^th Siret Regiment and 7^th Hunters Regiment. Our troops give counterattacks ,at which take part the Regimental Reserves and the Battalions of the Marching Regiment.In vain.The enemy has an overwhelming superiority; he rejects all counterattacks ,widening the breach thus advancing in columns stronger and stronger along Lesuntu Mic Valley, occupying Bilcuta Peak on the northern shore of the valley. The darkness of the night stops the attack in this forested and bad terrain region and the adverse troops remain on positions occupied in the evening, under the bombardment which have not stopped all night.

In the left sector of the 11^th Brigade of the 6^th Division,the enemy has given numerous attacks on Lacul Hill,succeeding sometimes to gain terrain,which has been then lost in the wake of the vigorous counterattacks of 10^th Putna Regiment.The same activity of attacks and bombardments and counterattacks,without result,have taken place also on the front of the 8^th Romanian Division,in front of Magura Casin.

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The result of the bloody day of 8^th of August ,were that our front could have been kept at the two extreme wings ,but was instead pushed to the center along the Oituz Valley, under the overwhelming power of the enemy. During the night the units manage to recover and in the dawns of 9^th of August day, at 4,30,the right side of the 6^th Division, together with the left side of the 7^th Division, start to counterattack, to regain the lost terrain. The troops are advancing around 1 km, but are stopped by a strong barrier firing range of the enemy artillery. Well, certainly, it is not the time for victorious counterattacks ;the enemy is in full development of his offensive and the overwhelming power of which he dispose cannot be defeated by our counterattacks. He concentrates his firing range in the point he wishes to attack, then his infantry starts in waves, attacking frontal the heights ,as other columns are turned through the valleys. Our troops receive them with machineguns and grenades, but overwhelmed by the numbers, and with the threat to have the lines of retreat cut,they are forced to retreat in their turn.In Slanic sector, the enemy occupies Pravila; between Slanic and oituz ,occupies Iordogatu; along Oituz ,the Alpine Wutembergers enter in Ferastrau; at south ,powerful enemy forces advancing on Lesuntu Valley, occupies Arsitei Hill,of which 7^th Hunters Regiment, too weak, cannot retake.

We have to kneel ourselves in front of the necessity.Our regiments ,fewed and exhausted,cannot withstand the line anymore ,which because of the retreat of some units have become to long and sinuous .The commander of the IV-th Army Corps gives the order of general retreat on a shorter line,

stronger and which can be defended by smaller units. The manoeuvre is executed during the night. In the morning of 10^th of August, our fighting front is situated on the line:Dofteana Stream(in connection with the Russians)-Nineasa Height-the height north of Bitca Stream-Oituz driveway, between Ferastrau and Grozesti-Lusentu Hill-Sticlarie Hill(east of height 633)-Chiosurile Hill-height 10819North –west of Magura Casin),where it connects with 8^th Division.Measured along the Oituz Valley,the principal ax of advance of the enemy, the new position is at 4-5 km behind the old one.

The tactical crisis of the Oituz battle is approaching her apogee.In the morning of 10^th of August our troops, exhausted and decimated by the bloody fights of previous days,are mixed between them .Hard to reestablish the connections and the units on the battlefield ,accidented with valleys and covered with forests .In the sector of 14^th Brigade ,the enemy retakes the bombardment and the advance. Who to hold him? The 16^th Suceava Regiment is like closed down On the ridges of the hill have remained groops without connection between them.The few troops between the Muncel Hill and Matiusca Hill are forced,after having heavy losses,to retreat on the ridge south of 702 height.A detachment of some 400 men, formed by the mixed troops of different units,which has found himself isolated on Muncel Hill,is attacked in front and behind. The detachment waits the arriving of the night, throws himself ,in the power of darkness,over the enemy, which was occupying the ridge behind, makes his way through with bayonet, and succeds to retreat on Cosna Hill(789 height).The Commander of 16^th Suceava Regiment gathers around 100 men,which were retreating, occupies with them the ridge between heights 702-789 thus stopping the advance of the enemy. With all the forces gathered on Cosna Hill-three companies-it is tried a counterattack towards Muncel Hill, which does nod succeds. Ahead of an attack company, the French Captain Paul Berge, attacked to the 16^th Regiment, fells killed by bullets,shouting to the soldiers in Romanian:”Forward guys ,always forward!”but his counterattack succeds to save Colonel Cezar Mihail, the Commander of 16^th Suceava Regiment left behind enemy lines. We have to be thankful for occupying and strengthening the new line ,on which we find ourselves retreated. But with what forces! Out of a Battalion of !6^th Regiment ,it could be counted in the evening, on Cosna Hill,50 men. The whole 14^th Brigade was reduced in the evening of 10^th of August at 19 officers and 537 soldiers! Seven companies arrive of the 15^th Regiment and from the 1^st Marching Regiment of the Division, to strengthen the defense of the sector which was like undone. The front of the 7^th Division can establish on the line: Virfu Mare-the origin of Bogata Valley-the eastern forest edge of the Slanic Village-height 652-the heights between 702-779-Virfu Pietrei Hill.

On the front of the 6^th Division we could hold, this day, almost all positions. With the help of two battalions of strength ,was attacked the line of the enemy, after artillery preparations, and could reoccupy part of the lost positions, but being counterattacked again, with superior forces, we are forced to retreat on the old positions. A south. The 2^nd Brigade strongly attacked on Sticlariei Hill,is forced to withdraw, pivoting on the battalion at height 1125 m ,in front of Magura Casin, on the Malaiu Hill, under Plaiu Curita and Magura.

In the evening of 10^th,our situation is extremely grave. Some of the Romanian units have been destroyed; other reduced at remains without significance. The 7^th Hunters Regiment is almost finished; his remains have retreated in disorder at Bogdanesti. The 14^th Brigade of the 7^th Division is completely disorganized .All the units have very big losses .And the enemy, happy with the success thus made, is preparing to give the decisive blow .He has brought on the driveway Oituz three battalions of fresh troops and a numerous cavalry and is preparing to force the Grozesti defile ,to get out into the open valley of Bogdanesti, last step towards Onesti.

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The Map for Oituz Battle 8th-28th of August 1917

a llittle bit of legend: from left to right:881=881meters ,corpul24rus=24th Russian Corps,Front la 23 August=Front line at 24th of August,Plaiu=a field between hills,Vf=peak,smallD=hill example: D.Muncel=Muncel Hill,Vf Nineasa=Nineasa Peak,D.255G.=255th German Division,Grupul Sorsich=Sorsich Group,Corpul VIII A.U=8th Austro-Hungarian Corps,D.7R.=7th Romanian Division,Corpul IV Armata Roman=IVth Romanian Army Corps,D.1CvR.=1st Romanian Cavalry Division,Brigada Graniceri=Border Romanian Brigade

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Help arrives

We were passing through a difficult situation, which could have become a catastrophy .At Siret and at Oituz , the enemy was attacking with fury .There was no doubt now ,that the two battles were part of a system well clevered ,which was after, not just a simple local success, but aiming for a greater strategic goal.

We must,in our turn, make a great effort .As the attack against Marasesti seemed fenced by the units of the I-st Army, one by one thrown over the right side of Siret River, at Oituz, the battle was taking a course ,more and more dangerous. The unfolding of the fights was probe that the enemy has brought here crushing forces, which were by far superior to the power of our army .So we must bring here units that will reestablish the balance of equilibrium, indispensable for stopping the enemy wave. Hard thing ,when the Marasesti crater, was swallowing division after division, when on Vrancea front were signs that the enemy was preparing an attack from over Zabala as well.The big Hedquarter was making the inventory of the forces available, to send them to General Averescu, without endangering those fronts and weakening to much the General Reserve.

The 2^nd Calarasi(means Horsemen in Romanian) Brigade, the reserve of the II-nd Army,war ordered to leave to Onesti. The 1^st Cavalry Division, which has been ,in the beginning, set on the left shore of Siret River, for the offensive at Namoloasa and which, due to stopping of this offensive, was send towards the northern Moldavia,to take part at the construction of the Manoeuvre Army, destined to attack the the Austro-Germans which were advancing into Bucovina, was turned on its way, and send towards Oituz; at 11^th of August, in the morning, the Division is at Onesti .It was also send from the General Reserve, Graniceri(borderarmy) Brigade,the Mountain Hunters Battalion, and some any Russian units; these last ones never arrived.

A serious examination of the II-nd Army front, imposed also solutions which ,if it meant a loss of ego, it also meant a tactical advantage. The front occupied, in the wake of the Marasti victory, was made by a very ark-like line, which was advancing deep into the enemy lines, forming thus a real bag. This situation has become very dangerous by the advancing of the two enemy armies which were stopping, one at the right side and one at the left side; they were after the ,as we know, strangulation of the bag, thus capturing the Romanian army inside it .Other than that, the line of this front was too long and to occupy it ,meant a great deal of troops. That is why,the big Romanian Headquarter, decided to withdraw the front backwards, which touched Putna Valley,on a line behind a little, along Vizantea Stream. This front line being thus shorter, could be occupied by a smaller number of troops. Few units could, in this way ,be taken out from there, to be used in the danger front. In this way, the 1^st Hunters Regiment from the 1^st Division and the 46^th Regiment of the 12^th Division, were also send to Oituz, together with other two, three battalions of other regiments. Thanks to these new troops, it could be hoped that the army at Oituz will be able to strengthen her power of resistance and be able to pass over the crisis situation in which she was finding.

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The Crisis at 11^th of August

In the morning of 11^th of August,the enemy widens his attack zone also over our right wing, to which they aimed only demonstrative attacks till now. He thinks his advancement at the center is forwarded enough, and the forces he has massed on the fron,t and behind the front ,were plenty for him to push his left wing towards Tirgu Ocna.

On the front of the 7^th Division, Slanic River was parting the sectors of the two brigades of the division.In the right ,was the 13^th Brigade, with three battalions of the 27^th Regiment and two battalions of the 15^th Regiment. In the left side was the 14^th Brigade, with mixed troops of three regiments, completely exhausted and demoralized ,after three days of heavy fighting with the enemy ,superior; they were grouped in companies of 70-100 men. Slanic Defile was defended inside and outside of north-east by a company of infantry and one of machineguns.

The enemy artillery fires violent all day, aiming to the positions occupied by the troops and the back of the front as well. Tirgu Ocna and Grozesti are savagely bombarded. The houses go up in flames and fell apart. The population packed and run. The sad shows of 1916 fall begin to repeat. The roads towards east are starting to fill with the multitude of columns of refugees and carriages filled in haste with the poverty of the houses.

Austro-Hungarian patrols start to infiltrate along all the valleys and gorges .One column has sneaked over the night, between 6^th Division and 14^th Brigade; at 1,40 in the afternoon she attacks from flank and behind the troops ,of the 13^th Romanian brigade, in which time other troops attacks them by the front .The Romanians are forced to retreat on the wooden ridges north of Cosna Peak(789) and fight with vigor, under the violent fire of artillery, with the enemy which disputes the mastering of the position .Later on, arrived a battalion of Regiment 46/61, of the 12^th Division from Putna shore. He counterattacks immediately at bayonet, the enemy which was trying to cross Lupului Stream,to turn Cosna by north,rejects him reestablishing the situation in this sector.

At five o ‘clock,the enemy has given the attack, powerfull ,with big forces,on the whole front of 13^th Brigade.Under the rain of projectiles and bullets,our troops withstood almost three hours ,till, defeated by the power ,superior of this enemy ,has started to withdraw. Few counterattacks ,at which takes part also the Battalion of Regiment46/61,arrived from Putna ,but they don’t succeed. Our troops are now on the right side of Trotus. The 27^th Regiment is in Bogata Village; one detachment is on Magura,at the edge of Tirgu Ocna city; another detachment has assumed position on the left side of Trotus River,on the heights south of Poieni, protecting thus the retreat. The enemy patrols advance to grapes growing and heights, west of Poieni and Mosoarele.The driveway and railway of Trotus Valley,upward of Tirgu Ocna,are finding themselves under the blows of the Austro-Hungarian machineguns, installed on Vrinceanului Hill .

In the Oituz Valley, the enemy pushes with strength his troops ,concentrated against the 6^th Romanian Division,which cannot resist and leaves the heights at left and right of Oituz: Matiusca and Lesuntu Hills.A counterattack tried at 11,30 is rejected and our troops have also to leave Pietrei Hill .A big gap has appeared between the right side of the 6^th Division and the left side of the 14^th Brigade. Through this gap, advance the Wutemberg Alpines and Bavarian ones. At the center they entered Grozesti,and at the left, they are between Marginea and Bahna,four km of Bogdanesti. The situation is extremely critical: the crisis has reached its apogee.

The Romanaian commander sees himself forced to take precautionary measures. The heavy artillery is thus, taken out of position and retreated towards Onesti; few easy batteries are send back, on the Buhociului Hills and Girbovanului. The Quartes of the Corps of Army and Division start to pack their things. The eyes of the commander are aimed with apprehension towards the back of the front, where ,gather and form up for attack the help troops. Will they be able to intervene , as there is still time, to save the situation?

At Onesti has arrived in the morning, also the 1^st Cavalry Division, with the horses in gallop, and was directed to Nicoresti and Bahna .In the train station the train starts to disembark Graniceri(bordermen)At Filipesti, south-west of Onesti, has arrived, part with the short ecartament(smaller distance between rayls) train, the greater part on foot, after a march of 82 km ,made mostly at nighttime on bad roads, through forests and mountains,1^st Hunters Regiment ;he is on his way to Grozesti.

The troops of the 1^st Cavalry Division , unmounted, are disposed into two battalions, corresponding to the two brigades of the division .At the left, the 2^nd Brigade-Colonel Mircescu-attacks from direction of Bahna towards Magura;the enemy which was not expecting the attack, surprised starts to retreat. At the right side, the 3^rd Brigade –Colonel Olteanu-attacks on Stiborului Hill. The enemy is surprised here as well and stopped in his advance, but he recollects and opens against the Romanians a very lively machinegun fire, rifles and grenades. The attack of the unmounted Cavalry is superb. Flamed and enthusiastic ,they charge with bayonets. Ahead of his Escadron , Captain Braileanu, taken down by a grenade, fells shouting “Ahead ,boys!”.The Cavalrymen advance unbothered in the rain of bullets and grenades ,reject the enemy from position to position, pursuing him ,step by step, away him from Stiborului Hill conquering Poiana lui Boboc line-height 629,east of Cosna.At the left wing of the Cavalry Division, the auto-machineguns detachment of the division has advanced on the driveway till 500 m of Grozesti, hitting in flank the enemy, which was trying to advance towards Bahna. At Bogdanesti has also arrived the 1^st Hunters Regiment and starts towards the battlefield on two columns,one north of Grozesti and the other one south, over Tisei Hill .Violent fights, which keep till night, are given around Grozestilor. At the north of the driveway has succeed to reoccupy the height 383,with the Negroponte Castle. At south they have occupied the lower of Albert Hill maintaining on to Sarii Stream. The ruins of Grozesti Village remain parted, between the two adversaries: the west corner into the hand of the enemy, and the eastern corner in the Romanian hands. The two battalions of hunters had fixed themselves like two fixed pillars, one at he right side ,the other one at the left side of Oituz Valley.

In the southern sector has been tried at 4 in the afternoon, an attack on large front on Fintina Runcului Hill,Sticlariei and Chiosurile, connected with a flank attack, aimed at the right side of the enemy, by a detachment which was coming from Magura Casinului. The attack crushing with the enemy resistance ,superior ,has failed; but has fixed the enemy on Lusentu Hill thus stopping its advance.

The day of 11^th of August has been one of the bloodiest ,which could had become the fatal day of Oituz battle, as it was on the front of Marasesti. The critical moment was touched, the crisis has approached its end. The units send in help were all, now, on the battlefield, or in its closest vicinity. Some of them have been engaged into the fight, the other are in the behind the front. From the II-nd Corps have arrived two more battalions, of the 22^nd Regiment and each one from 1^st and 31^st Regiments.

The Romanian Commandment hopes that the intervention of the newly arrived troops, will bring in the next day, the favorable turning. Although ,none could hide the impression that the situation is critical. The Headquarter of the IV-th Army Corps has left Onestii, and the Headquarter of the 7^th Division has left Tirgu Ocna. All awaits, with beating heart, the unfolding of the next day events. General Averescu has announced his arrival, to personally take charge of the operations in the decisive day.

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The attack of Ciresoaia

12^th of August

The morning of 12^th of August seemed to announce a weakening in the enemy affensive. The great attacks given in the previous days have not brought the results expected, and more over, they did not correspond to the big losses suffered by the enemy. We have managed ,almost everywhere, to fence the enemy advance, and the help troops were arriving all the time. The two sides of the balance of power begun to change their movement. The enemy powers begun to weaken, and ours to rise. It was the perfect moment for us to try a counteroffensive, and try to throw back the enemy, regaining the lost terrain. The Romanian commandment thought wise to wait, first, to have all the troops in hand. The Graniceri(borderarmy) Brigade ,with which was supposed to attack the sector ,between Oituz and Casin, was arriving but in groups. General Averescu postponed the counteroffensive for the next day For the day of 12^th ,he will give counterattacks only in Tirgu Ocna, where the situation was most dangerous. The Vrinceanu Height,772m,Ciresoaia height, which dominates Trotus River from west, were in the hand of the enemy; his patrols were searching through Poieni and Mosoare and they approached the west barrier of Tirgu Ocna; the railway, train stations and the driveway of Trotus Valley were beaten by the fires of machineguns and rifles of him. A new forcing of the enemy , and Tirgu Ocna was in his hands.

The attack of 12^th will be given for conquering Ciresoaia point and the neighbor heights. Will participate, from right to left: troops of the 2^nd Russian Division,27^th Romanian Regiment, Mountain Hunters Battalion and one Battalion of the 15^th Romanian Regiment. After a lively artillery prepare ,the attack begun at 5,15 in the evening. Two Battalions of the 196^th Russian Regiment attacked north ,starting from Bogata Village, along Bogata Stream and advanced till Titirezu Peak;where they stopped. At the left side of the Russians,the troops of the 27^th Regiment of the 7^th Romanian Division, have started to climb enthusiastic the slopes north east of the hill, along the Arinisul Stream Valley, fighting with Vrinceanu’s chest, as well as the enemy. Two battalions are in the first line, and the third one in the second line. At the right side, he link with the Russians,left on place, is broken, but at the left side the soldiers of the regiment keep connected tight with the Mountain Hunters. Up, on the peak of the hill the enemy is resisting ,but the soldiers attack with fury. The fight is short, but very violent. The enemy is set on run ,disbanded ,leaving behind in the hand of the attackers prisoners and a small cannon. At 9 in the evening, the 27^th regiment is on top of Ciresoaia Peak(Vf Ciresoaia),with threes battalions in the first line. More lightning-like was the attack of the Mountain Hunters.

It was a new troop, made up in haste in the sad days of November 1916,but well tightened in the months of recovery spend in Tirgu Neamt, near the legendary fortress of plateau-men of Stefan Cel Mare(Stefan the Great) and Cantemir(Dimitrie Cantemir). The Battalion, organized on five companies of riflemen and two of machinegun-men, has become, by the burning of war and the training of officers and men, an elite unit, which was waiting apprehensively ,to prove in fight, that is not less than the famous French Alpiners or Germans .The hard days at Oituz has called the Mountain Hunters to make the wanted prove .T hey left on 8^th of August ,Tirgu Neamt,at 11^th of August in the evening the Mountain Hunters were at Bratesti,5km north east of Tirgu Ocna,after 160 km ,made in four days of forced marching, over the hills ,mountains and then along the Tazlaul Valley.In the morning of 12^th of August, after three hours of sleep, they took the road again, to enter the fighting line, where they were expected with apprehension .

The enemy mastered the heights which dominates the Trotus water,from the west.To escape his eyes and his shootings, the rows of the Hunters had to sneak, behind the backs of the hills and thus make a big surround by the north.At the point of falling of Dofteana, they have crossed Trotus River, with the water at their chests, and at four in the afternoon they were in Mosoare Village,at the foot of Ciresoaia, of which eagle peak, dominating the s urroundings, have guided them the whole day. And after only one clock, at 5,15,as their mates where climbing Vrinceanu Hill at Arinis, the Hunters begun to ascend themselves near Rupturile Stream. From the heights of the hill, the enemy spreads a rain of bullets of machineguns. But the hunters have not travelled 200km to get scared at nothing .Behind them, our artillery thunders , continuously ,from the other shore of Trotus.Her regulated groaning ,encourages the Hunters, which ascend all the time, sneaking through steeps and gorges.A last edge is crossed and ,all of a sudden, they appear on the hill ,at the edge of the forest and unfold qiukly into fighting position.The waves begin in running and throw over the enemy, which is closing in from opposite direction. There are three long waves of enemy troops, made by double rows of shooters, with numerous machineguns, which descend the valley, dragging with them considerable amounts of ammo.The enemy wave have stopped, astounded by the apparition of these new troops, dressed and equipped other than the enemy they were used till now, and which attacks with savage fury. The Mountain Hunters pass like a vertigo through the enemy rows, they spread them and obliterate them, without even giving them time to fight back. From the right ,arrive groups and groups of enemy of the 313 Austrian Regiment, which have run from ahead the attack of the 27^th Regiment, Romanian .The Hunters receive them in grenade fires ,sending them in the Rupturile Valley, where they are caught like in atrap. Always ahead ,unexhausted, it is like they haven’t been through for days of continuous marching,the hunters are pursuing the enemy ,which is now running, surprised and caught by panic in front of this thing .In the forest on the ridge the Hunters shake hands with the braves of the 27^th Regiment, which were arriving from the right side. Groups of tens and hundreds of enemy prisoners pass by ,through the Hunters rows, heading down slope to Trotus River, which few hours ago they thought they’ll cross as winners.

When the darkness falls onto the hills, all the heights were in the hands of our soldiers: Maguea, Vrinceanu, Cuprianu, Grohotisu,Ciresoaia.The Mountain hunters were in the middle, at the right was the 27^th Regiment,at the left a battalion of the 15^th Regiment,which has sustained well the attack of the Hunters. Down in the valley, in Slanicu Defile,a Romanian detachment resisted bravely, with artillery assistance,thus rejecting three enemy attacks.

The ridges and the valleys of the hills were seeded with dead bodies and wounded of the enemy;over 400 prisoners were the rich prey of today ,as the hunters had only two dead soldiers and two officers and 17 wounded. What was most important was that the enemy had been send back with a few kilometers. The Trotus Valley was out of danger.

That night the pursue was renounced .It was night,t he action was hard to execute in darkness on that bad terrain, and the enemy, retreated in strong positions, have started a violent barrier firing range of artillery. We had made thus a giant step. The enemy offensive have been stopped, the enemy has been thrown back. The Romanian commander had now in hand the necessary forcesto retake counteroffensive.

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a Romanian command post during Oituz battle,

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Romanian counteroffensive

With all the success in the eve, the day of 13^th of august presents under unfavorable circumstances because of the general situation on the Romanian front of Moldavia.At Marasesti,the VIII-th Russian Corps have lost Panciu and the whole of Susita line.General Ragoza has given the order of general retreat on Iresti line-Diocheti-Modruzeni,with abandoning of Marasesti. Only the energy of the Romanian commandment and the trust in our soldier value has stopped this usless martyr. In the wake of the Russian failure, General Averescu has been forced to push the units of the 3^rd Romanian Division, towards left,on the heights of Varnita ,to make safe the left of the II-nd Romanian Army,and in the same time to shorten the front in Vrancea, retreating it on the right line on Slatina Hill-Vizantea Stream –Iresti.

The actions on the rest of the front had not to barrier the unfolding of Oituz counteroffensive ,which aimed to consolidate and fulfill the nice beginnings in the eve. The helps arrived in the last few days ,have filled the gaps made by the last fights, thus rising the combative force of the IV-th Romanian Corps. It has been given to the 6^th Division, four battalions of the Graniceri(borderarmy) Brigade,Calarasi Brigade, two battalions brought from the II-nd Corps in Vrancea, a mountain battery, an armoured cannon and two Russian automachineguns. The 1^st Cavalry Division has been strengthen with the two battalions of the Graniceri Brigade. The mission of the IV-th Corps was today ,to push the enemy as far away as possible towards west ,to away him from Trotus Valley.

Early in the morning,at 5,our artillery has started the fire on the whole line;two clocks behind the infantry begun the attack.

To our right wing-Ciresoaia sector-the troops of the 13^th Brigade, together with the Mountain Hunters, rebegin the advancing. The Hunters hit the Austrian troops ,demoralized by the eve defeat, following them through the thick wood, west of Ciresoaia Peak,they push them over the edge of the big valley of Slanic, destroying them, taking a great number of prisoners and machineguns. Magura Massif is now in the Romanian hands ,together with the whole ridge of 772 height.

In the central sector ,Cosna ,between the valleys of Slanic and Oituz, are fighting the rest of the 14^th Brigade of the 7^th Division, together with Cavalry Division, strengthened with two battalions of the Graniceri Brigade and another two of the 22^nd Regiment. Our artillery is firing over enemy positions from 5 to 8 in the morning after which, the troops attack in convergent columns the Cosna Hill, and the line between the heights 789 and 702.The enemy resists with force; his artillery is making a strong barrier firing range. Romanian rows are cropped ,but they keep advancing without counting losses. The horsemen on foot, Graniceri(borderarmy),infantry men are beginning to contest with eachother. Ahead of his escadron of the 9^th Rosiori Regiment, Captain Demetriad falls with his chest runthrough by machinegun bullets, and with his stomach broke by a grenade explosion; his last words are:”All the time ahead boys!”Other officers and soldiers fall around him pierced by bullets. At 100 m under the ridge height, the waves of assault of the Graniceri are imobilised for two hours and decimated by a violent firing barrier range of enemy artillery, but at 11,45 the first Graniceri battalion has occupied Cosna peak-height789-the dominant point of the region, from which the view stretches unstopped to the border. The violent fight for conquering height 703 continues. Our troops are climbing with difficulty the rapid incline. The enemy lightnings them with the crossed fire of four batteries. With great losses, especially Cavalry troops, Romanians get under the ridge. The enemy tries to veil them south, but Romanians barriers him, filling the gap with other troops. Towards evening, the height 703 has fallen in the hands of Romanians; the enemy has retreated on height 702,Pietrei Hill. The whole line of dominant heights ,between Tirgu Ocna and Grozesti are now to the Romanians; at the right the front links ,over Lupului Hill and Slanicu Valley, with the 13^th Brigade.

Towards night ,the Austrians attack with great violence our extreme right wing. The Russian Linutarski Regiment leaves the position retreating ;to or right thus produces a big gap which the Russians are filling with nothing, pretext ,that they do not dispose of troops anymore. Attacked by the flank, the troops of the 27^th Romanian Regiment, have to retreat as well, stretching their front to the right. he mountain Hunters are forced as well to imitate the move, leaving Ciresoaiei Peak, earned with so much heroism, and to establish themselves a little backwards ,on Cuprian Peak. In the southern sector, between valleys of Oituz and Casin,the troops of the 11^th Brigade of the 6^th Division are strengthened with four Battalions of the Graniceri(borderarmy) Brigade, which arrive on Sticlariei driveway ,concentrating on Bitca Carelor Hill.General Averscu intends to attack with the Graniceri straight towards west and to conquer the enemy positions on Chiosurile Hill;then to make a conversion to the north, to attack on the long side Lesuntu Hill. In the same time ,troops of the 12^th Brigade will attack in Grozesti region,in a convergent direction with the first one. The attack could not be given on the 12^th of August, because, the Graniceri, arriving in small groups, were not gathered on the position. During the night, dark as molasses ,between 12^th and 13^th of August,climbing hard through the dense forest, where the guides were always wronging the paths, the Graniceri arrive to concentrate on Bitca Carelor .At 2,30 at night, the Headquarter of the 1^st Regiment it is at the command post of the Calarasi Brigade. Colonel Cantacuzino, the Commander of the Graniceri Brigade, asks again for postponing the attack, showing that it hasn’t arrived yet the 3^rd Battalion of the 2^nd Regiment ,neither the ammunition ,especially the hand grenades, and the fighting terrain is not yet reconnaissanced . Still Averescu, having the necessity of the need of attack on the whole front simultaneously ,does not approve the postponing ,giving the order to Graniceri to begin their attack.

At 7,30 in the morning, the artillery concentrated a violent firing range over the position between heights 903-805,where it was supposed to make the breaking of the enemy front, and the conversion north of our attack troops At 8,30 our artillery elongates the firing and Graniceri start their attack with two battalions in the first line. The enemy unleashes a violent barrier fire; he is very well strongholded on the east side of Chiosurile Hill, which has the form of an abrupt valley with forest, disposing of numerous troops, machineguns, mine throwers, snipers, and rifle-machineguns. The Graniceri advance in complete order and very determined up until the wire enemy fence, beyond Curita Stream. But the wire nets are untouched, and the machine gun and grenades barrier fires tremendous. For four hours the Graniceri Battalions give five consecutive attacks ,between heights 805 -903;they throw themselves heroic over the nets, trying to cut them as to get to the trenches; but they are cropped by machinegun fires, just as tey near the wire nets. After the third attack the other two battalions have joined the fight, and after the fifth one ,the 16^th assault waves have united in one. Under the crushing fire that falls over them, the soldiers begin to dig defensive masks ,on spot, without inching back one step. At six in the evening, the Graniceri Battalions start the 6^th attack, not even this time succeeds, to cut the wires and pass beyond them. The enemy is very strong in this region ;he is well retrenched and armed. The Graniceri have lost almost half of their effectives: eight dead officers, of which Major Caracas, Commander of the third Battalion, four Captains, companies Commanders and 19 wounded;almost 1200 Soldiers are dead and wounded; amongst them ,all specialists of machineguns and rifle-machinegun.

Still, the left ones keep during the whole night ,the position bathed in the blood of their mates, reject ten enemy counterattacks, not inching even one meter from the terrain. The next day they are replaced by the 2^nd Calarasi Brigade, and withdrew to Onesti.

In the course of Cosna assault, died the Granicer Sergent Musat Constantin. In the heavy fights over the winter he has been heavily wounded, thus loosing an arm in Iasi Hospital. Musat ,however ,asked not to be reformed,and to be sent back to the front ,as grenade thrower ,to not leave the Kingdom without the services of his one arm left. He died ,at great honor post, moving example of understanding the duty for the Kingdom beyond the borders of human nature and the nature fixed by men.

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A break in Oituz battle

The unfulfilling of our attack on the front of the south sector has stopped the evolving of the success obtained in the center sector thus limiting the victory. But the violence of the attack given by the Romanians on the whole stretch of this front has proved to the enemy that this front has strengthened ,felt ,that an equilibrium has been thus established between the two adverse parties, that the enemy superiority has come to an end, and even, that the initiative has begin to cross on our side.

The Oituz battle reached with this face, a dead end. The enemy has put into the fight all the available troops and did not dispose of reserves able to continue the counteroffensive. The terrain gain, obtained till 11^th of August has been partly lost. The advancing had not been stopped on the whole line. Tirgu Ocna, seriously threatened at 11^th of August, arrived at two fingers to falling ,has been cleared, and the Trotus line put to safety .All over, the Romanian line, smashed for a moment, has been now remade ,strengthened and threatening .

In the evening of 13^th of August, the Austro-German Commander has to realize the reality: his offensive has been paralised. The Oituz battle has been stopped after six days of very bloody fights. The counting was very weak. The Austro-Germans, Putting a great deal of troops into the fight ,have managed to obtain some tactic success .On a front line of almost 20km,they succeeded to push the Romanian front, in the central region, where they made maximum of advance ,with 6 km. They did not occupy a ,though ,a locality of some importance, neither to touch an important geographic line. Only that the front has been moved from some valleys and hills, on other valleys and other hills. As about the great strategic goals, followed by this offensive, which, has spend so many forces and ended so many lives ,they were as far away as in the beginning .Rohr army was not on the way to Adjud. As von Eben was bleeding ,helplessly in front of Marasesti, Benigni had to stop as well, exhausted ,in front of Tirgu Ocna.

The heroic resistance of the Romanians have thus stopped the enemy advance, making wall in front of Trotus River and, after some very hard days, has overcome the peril keeping on place the enemy.

The enemy has not considered his failure as definitive,as the action on Marasesti front continued and was obtaining success in the Muncelu and Panciu sector, towards the Russians. Retaking the operation was in mind after the reorganization of the units on front and at a date which will be indicated by the progressing of the Marasesti action. In waiting ,the Oituz front was not completely quiet. The desire to have better positions for the further actions and the Muncelu vicinity, where the war Vulcan was in full eruption ,could not leave into quiet the Oituz sector.

At 14^th of August ,the front of the IV-th Romanian Corps, was constituted with this face: The 7^th Division to the right, from the origin of Bogata Valley, over the Slanic Water, till near Cosna(789).The 1^st Cavalry Division at the center, together with the other troops of strengthening, occupied the line of heights 789-703.The 6^th Division to the left, from height 532,over Oituz Valley perpendicular over Grozesti till Magura Casinului, where it connected with the 8^th Division. At Onesti was the reserve of the Army Corps: four Graniceri battalions. In the reserve of the II-nd Army was set the 1^st Division ;one brigade of this division was destined to strengthen the front of Center of Oituz, in the cavalry division sector.A change has been made between the commanders of the two army corps of the II-nd Army;General Valeanu passed to II-nd Corps in Vrancea sector, and General Arthur Vaitoianu passed ahead of IV-th Corps ,on Oituz sector.

An interruption of the tactic truce have had place at 16^th of August, when the enemy, after a strong artillery bombardment ,has given a violent attack on Sticlariei Hill,at the connection point between 12^th Regiment ”Cantemir” and the Battalion of the 31^st Regiment. The Battalion has been rejected from the position and the front broke in this point. The effects of the breaking have been felt right and left side. The 12^th Regiment had to retreat its flank, remained uncovered and dragging in retreat also the 7^th Hunters Regiment, to his right. At the left side, the marching units and the Calarasi Brigade had to retreat on Bitca Carelor. The enemy has gained thus height 633 on Sticlariei Hill. The 2^nd regiment of Graniceri and a battalion of the 46^th Regiment had immediately joined into the fight for conquering the lost positions .On a torrential rain and under the violent fire of the enemy,Granicerii have advanced along the Muncelu valley and rejected the enemy to Runcu Ridge. At 300 m under the rib, they are forced , towards evening ,to dig mask for shelter. The fight continues the next day,17^th of August. Our troops have fight bravely and have re-counquered part of the lost positions, taking also 61 enemy prisoners.

The action of 16^th of August has been only a diversion and a terrain fingering made in other point than the one chosen for the real serious offensive.This will be given at 19^th of August in Tirgu Ocna sector. The enemy Commandment has decided to give in this day a serious convergent attack on the two offensive fronts:Benigni will attack at Tirgu Ocna and Morgen at Marasesti. The two attacks given with maximum available forces,had to force victory,which till now have turned the back to the enemy. In the intention of the enemy commandment, the day of 19^th of August was supposed to bring the decisive in the great front stretched from mountains to Siret River

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The great attack of 19^th of August

In the morning of 19^th of August as Morgen’s divisions threw themselves in a supreme effort, over the Romanian lines of Razoare towards Marasesti, on the Oituz front the Austro-German cannon restarted the bombardment ,furiously,which has been interrupted for five days.

Atour right extreme the Russian troops, neighbour with the 7^th Romanian Division, are strongly attacked by the enemy at 11,25,in Pacuritei Valley. The attack spreads also over our right side. Under the strong pressure ,27^th Romanian Regiment ,does not resist and retreats. A counterattack given with the Regiment Reserve does not succeed. The 15^th Romanian Regiment maintains with difficulty over Cuprian.

The Mountain Hunters Battalion is S.O.S. –ed. Only in that morning the Mountain Hunters have been withdrew from the fighting front, and set to reserve on Magura Height ,in the middle of the forest from Aur, above Tirgu Ocna .They haven’t even well installed themselves, behind the rocks of Magura,and a telephone order has interrupted their rest and sends them to in the spin of battle ,again,towards Ciresoaia.The Battalion descends Magura, in the midst of the infernal bombardment of enemy artillery and his numerous airplanes, and starts to climb Ciresoaia, with the right wing toward Cuprian.Their apparition rises the moral of the neighbor troops. The spectacle was impressive: under the rain of crossed fires of the enemy, the four Companies of the Mountain Hunters, grouped in the form of a cross ,were lifting the hill in an complete order, like in a manoeuvre. Again the Hunters were facing death with their courage ,which became, only in a matter of days ,legendary. The Hunters have big losses .One of the Assault Companies is left with 90 men, of more than 200.But the enemy is pinned down with bayonet in his trench, either taken out from it and run away. They are troops of the 22^nd Brandenburg Regiment of the 117 th German Division and Honvezi of the 314^th and 315^th Regiments of the 70^th Austro-Hungarian Division.Up,on the plateau, beyond the trenches, the fighting is following with fury. Our artillery is running against the enemy artillery. The Romanians and the enemies are bringing their reserves. Officers and soldiers fell one after the other. One Hunter Platoon sneaks through the enemy lines advancing to Slanic Valley. In vain is the enemy making huge efforts. The Hunters are not giving back an inch of what they have gained and towards evening, at nine o’clock,the fight ends; Ciresoaia Plateau remains divided between the two adversaries.

At the center, in Cosna sector,1^st Cavalry Division, which has been strengthened wit one battalion of the 22^nd Infantry Rgiment, is attacked ,around noon, by surprise, without artillery prepear.1^st Rosiori Regiment, unmounted , is destroyed; what is left of him, together with his Commander, Colonel Popeea, deadly wounded ,fells into the hands of the enemy. The height 703 is lost. Our counterattacks are rejected; the whole line of defense is occupied by the enemy. The enemy advances ,he has arrived in Poiana lui Boboc.Our artillery is concentrating a tremendous firing range over the enemy .The fire curtain is nailing him in Poiana lui Boboc.(poiana = an opening in the forest).The 6^th Ulani Regiment ,of the 7^th Austrian Cavalry Division is decimated.

Helps are brought to the periled sector .The 2^nd Calarasi Brigade is taken out of the sector of the 6^th Division and set to the left of the cavalry Division, north of Grozesti. There are also send two battalions of Graniceri. At night ,the enemy advance is stopped; still, the situation is not grave. Because a strong Mixt Detachment has formed at Onesti, closing in to the fighting front ,to annihilate whatever velleity offensive of the enemy.

In the southern sector, after a violent bombardment, the enemy attacks strong from height 547,Scaunu Runcului, up to the 633 height,Sticlariei Hill. Granicerii of the 2^nd Regiment resist with fury, making big losses to the enemy and maintain the position .At their right, however, one of the marching units, which has been introduced in the first line is rejected ;the enemy gets into the breach and advance towards east. Our artillery is making barrier.A battalion of Graniceri of the reserve ,is brought from Onesti with the automobiles and thrown into the fight .Granicerii manage to gather and turn back into the fight the disbanded troops, they attack with fury the enemy and reject him. But this one is coming back to attack with freshened forces.On Sticlariei Hill is a real slaughter. Or troops are retreating a little and the night interrupts to the slaughter.

The day of 19^th of August has been a bloody day on the Oituz front. The enemy has only obtained here and there ,local successes. All over they have been stopped by the energy and timely intervention of our reserves. The enemy hit planned for this frond has failed, as it did the one tried in the same day on the Marasesti front. She could not evolve, thus, and transform itself into a front breakthrough.

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Cosna battle

20^th-22^nd of August

The next day,20^th of August, the action started in the eve has continued on the whole line.At the two wings, in the sectors of 7^th and 6^th Divisions, the whole day have been given artillery and infantry fights, without the positions of the two adversaries to suffer any change, of importance.The Romanians have preserved the line where they have stopped on Sticlariei Hill. The key of the battlefield ,today ,is Cosna Hill(height 789).The dominant height ,south of Tirgu Ocna.Conquered by the enemy in the eve,by the Cavalry Division,it constituded ,thus,a dangerous enemy base for attack,which has occupied in front of Boboc Hill and Poiana lui Boboc.A new successful leap,and the enemy would be in Trotus River Valley,behind Tirgu Ocna.It was obvious that the enemy will search to exploit this situation, and taking advantage by the weak defense that we have, which he have Knowledge in this point,to try to turn ,here, the Trotus line. It is true ,however ,that our cavalry Division, which supported the hit in Cosna point, has been disorganized and weakened . But our commander has foreseen the decisive importance which would be played by this sector, and in the wish to retake the lost position, or at least to neutralize the enemy forcing, has sent here a strong detachment newly organized.”The Attack Detachment of the Cavalry Division” has been constituted of the 17^th Mehedinti Regiment and two Battalions of the 1^st Graniceri Regiment, with an artillery made out of 34 mouthsof fire,f different calibers, under the Command of General Obigeanu ,the Commander of the 1^st Brigade .In the morning of the 20^th of August, the Attack Detachment is at Pingaresti, from where it starts on three columns at the attack of the enemy position. The right side column is advancing through Bradului Stream (Piriul Bradului) Valley and attacks Cosna by flank surrounding.The center column attacks Poiana lui Boboc Hill,towards the south of height 789.The left column follows the road Taieturii(the Cut),to attack height 703.The artillery opens fire at 5,30 in the morning, and the infantry columns, disposed in thin waves, start at 7 their vigor movement of advance.

The enemy is surprised by our counterattack, but just as, sure of his superiority earned in the eve, he was prepearing to attack to pick the fruits of his success.He resists with stubbornness on the ridge and slopes of Poiana lui Boboc; his numerous machineguns throws bundles of bullets in the rows of the attackers pining down on spot the Romanian column in the middle . The right hand side column has taken with assault ,one after the other the 660 and 740 heights, thus preparing to attack height 789(Cosna),but an enemy counterattack, given with great forces ,rejects her to the edge of Tisesti forest, retaking 730 height. Here the Romanian column makes stronghold, in connection-at the right –with the troops of the 7^th Division ,and at the left, with the central column of the Attack Detachment. The Romanians are solidly keeping the position, with all the killing bombardment of machineguns, with which is unstoppable hit by the enemy which occupies the dominant ridge.

The attack column on the left side is trying a veiling movement of height 703 to the south and advances to the origin of Gingiesu, but she is forced ,also ,to stop and withdraw her left wing, because of barrier fire made by enemy artillery and machineguns on the whole Tarapan Hill, south of 703 height. An empty space which forms at left ,between Graniceri and the Cavalry Division, is filled with troops of the 22^nd Infantry Regiment.

Encouraged by the failure of the Romnian offensive, the enemy decides to take the offensive, himself. At 6,15 in the evening he attacks on the front of the Romanian detachment, but is pinned down by the barrier fire made by our artillery, which fires with great precision .He repeats the move after half an hour, without obtaining any significant successes .Two new attacks given, at 7,30 and 8 in the evening, have the same faith. The Romanian line is not inched.

The Romanian attack group has lost 9 Officers and 508 Soldiers, dead and wounded .He bivouacs during the night on the position signed by the line which passes at the western edge of Tisesti Forest-height 632-east of 532 height. Ahead of the Romanians ,at a distance of 20-100meters,is the enemy, occupying heights 730-734-632-532.The night of 20^th-21^st of August has been extremely unquiet. The enemy attacked ,in the power of the night, at 1’oclock our right wing and has repeated three times the attack over the same wing, at hours 4, at6 and 9,45, seasoning the attack also with airplane bombardments. All the attacks have been received in the barrier fires of our artillery and by the infantry fires on position. Faced with the continuous threat to which is subjected the right wing of Obogeanu’s Detachment, it is set to his diposal ,as reserve, one battalion of the 1^st Mountain Hunters regiment ,at the origin of Boghii Stream.Two new enemy attacks, at hours 11 and 11,45 are again rejected. these continuous attacks are exhausting our troops thus enervating them .It is imposed a counterattack, to bring nerves calming and to occupy better positions. The Mountain Hunters, only arrived on position, are again sent to attack to sustain the troops of the 17^th Mehedinti Regiment, caught in heavy fights with the enemy. Between the thick forested trees of Cosna ,in the rain of bullets, machineguns and shrapnels, start again the Mountain Hunters, vigorously to attack.T he Mehedinti Regiment have succeded to retake the height 730;the Mountain Hunters reestablish the link, one moment broken ,with the 7^th Division from the right and our position is strengthen . The whole afternoon of the day the enemy has given attacks ,when over 730 height, when to the south on Poiana lui Boboc. All the attacks, seven in number,have been rejected. The Romanians have kept intact the positions. The Attack Detachment had pay the resistance of this day with 9 officers and almost 400 men ,dead, wounded or missing.

The stubbornness of the enemy increases with the same measure as our resistance does. He seemed decided to finish in the 22^nd of August thus concentrating its powers where he sees the principal obstacle. The right wing of Obogeanu detachment and the left wing of the 7^th Romanian Division ,will receive the blows as the rest of the IV-th Romanian front remains almost quiet .At noon the enemy has finished his concentrations and preparations .The attack unleashes precisely at 12.His attack waves are organized on two lines each. The first line is made out of grenadiers, with superimposed machineguns and the second line made of riflemen .But in front of the attack waves the resistance of our troops is unbeaten. It is a complete connection between troops of different weapons .Artillery, machineguns, grenades ,rifle shots, are welcoming wit honor the enemy waves, pinning them down, breaking their rows, disband them ,forcing them back to the start position. Numerous attacks follow in the afternoon of the day ,more and more furious, on several waves ,organized as the enemy artillery bombards Nicoresti and the Command Post of the Detachment .In vain, our line is unmoved and the enemy has to return to its start position. By evening, at 8,20 the enemy, disposed on four columns, gives a big attack on the whole front of the Detachment. Each column is made out of three waves.In the first wave are the rifle men on their belly with machineguns; the second wave is made out of grenadiers, the third wave of rifle men. The enemy attack is received by the Romanian artillery with a precise barrier firing range .The infantry fires complete the resistance and the assault is smashed before it reached our lines. Only at the right side, the enemy has succeeded to make a breach in the connection point with the 7^th Division ,but a company of mountain Hunters ,situated in reserve, runs with a machine gun section, counterattacks with vigor and away the enemy.

…..

[razu]

Romanian Mountain Hunters attacking an enemy position(sorry abot quality of the image)

[razu]

Powerlessness and fury

The last attempt of the Austro-Germans to break our front,has been crushed. Filled with rage, the enemy starts a furious bombardment of Tirgu Ocna.Incendiary shells fall over the peaceful place, left by its inhabitants and light up the houses with fire.The thick black smoke spreads over the roofs, thus covering the martyr city in a dark veil, rambled by tangs of fire,of which reflexes reddens the clear waters of Trotus River.T he neighbourhood towards the penitentiary completely destroyed, pray to the vengeful instincts of an impotent enemy,disillusioned and irritated by unsuccessful

The Cosna battle , the last echo of the big battle of Oituz,was closing down at the sinister light of the arson of the city, deserted. But with her, quiets definitely the hope of break through the Romanian front of Oituz mountains and conquering Trotus Valley.

Two days before ,Mackense, decisively defeated at Razoare, restarted the Marasesti battle and gave up definitely to the idea of forcing Siret defense. Rohr had to imitate the gesture of his fellow of arms. In front of Tirgu Ocna, the Austro Germans were stuck on the ridges of Ciresoaiei, hanged by Cosna slopes. In Oituz Valley, they were fixed perpendicular Grozestilor*, and on Sticlariei Hill ,a barrier of dead bodies was indicating the parting line of the two fronts.

The great strategic plan of Ludendorff has collapsed in complete failure. The cracker of the two armies ,Austro-German, which had to operate along Trotus River and along Siret River, were laying on the ground with broken arms. The Oituz battle, from 8^th of August till 22^nd ,it is a victory of power of resistance of the Romanian soldier. In tight connection with the Marasesti battle, she has thus succeeded to ruin the big plan strategic of the enemy, saved Moldavia of the invasion catastrophy and enemy occupation ,brought a new glory to Oituz, earned with so much blood, shed in the fall of 1916**(Oituz battle of 1916).

[Robert Dunlop]

Thank you, Andrei. Very interesting as ever.

Robert

[razu]

Thank you, Andrei. Very interesting as ever.

Robert

Robert,

I thank you!

Andrei

[razu]

*A last trial of the enemy to retake the attack over Grozestilor had taken place at 28th of August.

**The total losses of the Romanians at Oituz are numbered at aproximately 14000 men,dead,wounded and missing.