Battle of Marasti(22nd of July-1st of August) 1917 in Romania

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Battle of Marasti

(22^nd of July-1st of August)

The lands of Vrancea

The old place of Vrancea, enclosed like a fortress between mountains and hills, spiritual and symbol of Romanian independence and freedom, has been sentenced by unknown laws of human nature to be the place where the Romanian , rested, to gather again all his strengths and to throw himself again,whith bitterness in his soul, and with the steeled fist ,over the enemy which was dishonoring his Kingdoom. On the land and in Romanian history,Vrancea is keeping a special place. A big land fall down, the sub Charpatian Mountains Depression of geographs-it is stretching with the north –south direction, guarded from the west by Vrancea Carpathians Mountains, with ridges and peaks up to 1400meters,very forested, which part it from the Secui lowlands. Towards east, another row of heights, a little smaller(Rachitasu:923m,Magura Odobestilor:1001m),just as forested ,part it from Siret River lowlands. In the big land fall, the waters which wash ,break and trench the hills, gather in two big valleys: Susita towards west and Putna towards east. These are the only gates entering in the Vrancea fortress, the first one surrounding north ,like a belt the pillars of Rachitas and the second one opening large gates between Rachitas and Magura Odobestilor. In the middle of the mountain depression and on the ribs of the hills are seeded the villages of Razesi(moldavian population since Stefan the Great year1400-ish ) of Vrancea,which have kept with stubbornness as it was inherited from their Daci(population of this area at around 100 year) ancestors. Neither the Kings of Muntenia or those of Moldavia,which one by one have stretched their dominant mastering over the mountains, hills and woods of Vrancea, have not deer to touch the rights of Vrancean-ers(population of Vrancea) and those of their cneji. Dimitrie Cantemir reminds about "Vrancea Republic" which was governed by its own unwritten law: the law of the mountains, which Stefan cel Mare(Stefan the Great),himself a Vrancean , has respected it and strengthen it. Gelous of their privileges, Vrancean-ers did not listen to their Kings Vornic-ers(like a minister),as these ones were also subjects of their old ways. What could have not been accomplished by the Kings of medieval times ,has started to be made by the lust for earnings of the modern exploiters .Railways have been stretched along the valleys, and mountains, the richness of the forests of hundreds of years is always carried into the valley, and in the wake remains the empty hills ,which fall and desert. But the arson of destruction has not altered the soul of Vranceaners; he has remained the mountain men, enclosed in his ancient lands ,singing his songs, telling his storyes, creator of Miorita(an ancient ballad),keeping over the centuries his Dacic(Dacia,the province at year 100 ) outfit and his independent and proud soul.

The enemy invasion has bite from the mountains and hills of Vrancea, but the conquering wave has stopped, exhausted, across them. For six months the locked barrier has been guarded with holiness by our soldiers .And now, when the big clock has rang ,here in the land of proud Vrancea-ners, on the land in which Stefan cel Mare was born and grown up, will unleash the storm which will have to blow away the invader.

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The fighting front

The line on which the II-nd Romanian Army had stopped, and which has been maintained for six months, had a general direction north-west-south-east, following the heights of the plateau, caught between Zabraut River and Susita River, and parallel with their course. At our right wing, the front line continued towards north west with the same direction ,towards Magura Casinului, faring away from Susita Valley which escaping the pushing of Rachitas Massif, drew an ark of a circle towards south west, to search the streams in the mountain barrier of west of Vrancea. At our left wing, the front touched at Racoroasa, Susita water, to continue then, beyond her-this time guarded by Russian soldiers-to the north shore of Putna water, towards Siret River. As well as behind, as in front of the battlefield, the terrain makes a series of ridges ,small valleys, with quick slopes, covered mostly by woods. All these valleys are strolled by numerous driveways or roads ,more or less important ;most of them ,by their position, out of sight. Narrow railways are stretched along the valleys of Putna and Susita. Here and there are funiculars for woods exploitation.

The relief of the region, with very heavy terrain, was, thus, improper for evolving great scale operations, but only for local actions .The numerous terrain accidents(bad terrain),and the dense forests were good for attacks, masking the movements of the troops, but in the same way they made possible for organizing new defense positions ,behind the lost ones.

At the two extremities of the front of the II-nd Army, Magura Casinului(height 1167m)and Momaia Hill(height 632) in front of Racoasa, high, trenched, dominating the terrain around to far away, were the best leaning points and observation ,of the enemy. Between them, the enemy positions, installed on ridges and hills, with communication roads and defiles behind them, dominated all over, the Romanian positions in front of them. The most important intermediary enemy positions were: Incarcatoarea Hill(height 711) and Marasti plateau, with a series of descending heights(heights 670,630.575,533,536,500,411).They constituted a perfect assembly for observation with information, with stretched views, giving the possibility to establish the situation of the targets, aiming from two observatory .Close to the south eastern plateau extremity ,at height 500,was Marasesti Village which, settled in the tactical center of operations, has thus given the name of the battle.

The enemy has strongly organized its front with defense workings. All the heights, succeeding along the ridge, has been transformed in resistance centrals , in which have been concentrated all kinds of defensive weapons.

A central was organized like a enclosure ,in which were found trenches for shooters on several rows, some of them two meters deep, certain outings for grenadiers ,concrete shelters for machineguns-isolated or in nests-platform for mortieres of trenches and bombardiers ,observatories equipped with periscopes ,entering for ammo and grenades, trenches for circulation of the defenders, chambers for flanking firing range, obstacles with nets of barb wire on several rows and abatize. Everything has been studied such that, with minimum of personnel ,could be obtained maximum of effect.The trenches were uncovered but in their vicinity ,there were spacious underground shelters, in which men stood hidden during artillery fire. These resistance centrals, real strongholds ,being placed in upper points of the ridge and on dominant heights with steep slopes, constituted thus the strong of the enemy positions. Their flanks were carefully studied ,enabling crossed fires ,and the closing of the attacker was very hard, because of the bad terrain and also because of the multitude and power of the defensive means massed in these centers. The centers were connected by lines of trenches , protected by nets of barb wire fences.

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The whole enemy front, between Magura Casin and Momaia, was made out of three sectors:

a)Casin sector, from Arsita Mocanului until Halosu Mic, had a stretch of 7 km, on which there were four resistance centrals ,united by a continuous line of trenches, behind which there was another line. The sector was occupied by the 8^th Mountain Brigade, which belonged to the 71^st Hanovezi Division. The deserters ,which run away from the enemy front, sroryed that the troops of the said brigade were constituted by mixed origins and that, because of the desertions, was introduced a severe regime.

b)Fundu Largutei sector, from Halosu Mic until Draganu Hill(height 603) ,on a stretch of 7 km, was made of three resistance centrals ,connected with continuous lines of defense .It was occupied by the 1^st Cavalry Division troops, Austro- Hungarian under the Austrian Feldmarshal Ruiz von Roxas .It was the weakest sector , as organizing, and especially for the troops, because it was set in a bad terrain ,in an inaccessible for defense region with slopes ,forest, steeps.

c)Susita sector, the longest and most important, stretching from height 603 to Susita, on a length of 16km.It was very well organized, with a numerous and powerful chain of centrals of resistance .From Incarcatoare until height 536,the centrals were not connected between them, being very close to one another :the enemy took advantage of the counter slope which was quick towards Dracea Mare and has build there a road of connection behind the principal ridge. On the portion height536-Marasesti Village, the line was continuous again, with four big centrals of resistance ,between which Marasesti Village has been organized as a strong central of resistance .At the south east extremity of the sector,height 421-Manastioara Hill, was also powerful strongholded. The sector was defended by the 218^th German Division, Commander ,General von Nostritz , strengthened with two regiments of the 117^th and 225 German Divisions, and with one Battalion of the 305^th Regiment of Hanovezi, which rose up its effectives at a total of 16 battalions. At the back of the Austro-German position, was found a second defensive position, at a distance of 1-2km of the first one but discontinue ;a third position was organised on the southern shore of Susita. In total, the enemy front was defended-at the beginning of battle-by 21 infantry battalions,6 cavalry regiments, unmounted, and 30 artillery batteries. It was part of the Gerock Army,which constituted the right side of Rohr Army, in Moldavian Mountains, this one taking also ,part at the constitution of the group of armies of Archduke Iosif.1^st Cavalry Division and 218^th Infantry Division were making together one group, Commanded by Feldmarshal Ruiz, the Commander of the Cavalry Division.

Considered in its ansamble ,the enemy defense was reducing itself at the line of centrals, very powerful ,but lacking depth-easy to breakthrough. She made thus a big economy of forces, with which the enemy has succeeded to stop the local actions. It was ,however ,insufficient for a big scale attack, as well as the lack of defensive organizing in depth ,and also because the lack of reserves, which would increase the power of resistance of the principal line. The important strengthens made by the enemy in the course of the battle could not reestablish a situation compromised from the beginning.

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The battle plan and the

Repartition of the Romanian forces

At 14^th of July the last preparations of the II-nd Romanian Army were made .All units were at battle stations; everybody was taken by apprehension and the anxiety which fills the souls in the eve of such great events .very rarely an army has found herself in a higher state of spirit as it was the II-nd Romanian Army in the eve of the Marasti battle.

The II-nd Army was organically made out of six divisions; two of the however ,the 7^th and 12^th Divisions, were taken by the Army and send over Siret ,to constitute the reserve of the I-st Army in the offensive planned for Namoloasa. The four divisions left have been grouped in to two corps of army: the IV-th Corps, under the Command of General Valeanu, constituted of the Divisions 8^th and 6^th,and I-st Corps under the Command of General Arthur Vaitoianu, made out of Divissions 3^rd and 1^st.

The battle plan and the grouping of the forces has been fixed in this way. The fighting frond has been split in two sectors :at the right side,the west wing,it was the defensive or demonstrative sector, and at the left side, towards east ,it was the offensive sector. The defensive sector kept from Arsita Mocanului(Poiana Felegus),where it connected with the Russians until Poiana Incarcatoarea (height 711)and was occupied by the troops of the 8^th Division and one Brigade of the 6^th Division.The role of the troops in this sector was ,for the time being, by local attacks to fix the enemy onto his position ,and to not permit ,in any way, to take part, to turmoil the unfolding of the action made at the left side.

The offensive sector was stretched between Incarcatoarea until the western edge of Racoasa Village, wher it was connected with VIII-th Russian Corps. The front was kept from right to left by a brigade of the 6^th Division and by the 3^rd Division, the last one strengthened with the artillery of the 1^st Division and with two infantry regiments of this division.The rest of the 1^st Division, together with the 2-nd Calarasi Brigade, constituted the reserve of the army ,disposed on two lines, behind the 3^rd Division.The troops of this sector had the principal mission that by a violent attack, to breakthrough the enemy front between Incarcatoare and Marasti,this action was going hand in hand with the offensive action of the VIII-th Russian Corps ,from the left, which in his turn, was supposed to attack and conquer Momaia(Momiia).

The Theatre of operations of the attack sector has a very bad relief , altogether disadvantageous for the attacker. The geographic node of this region is made by Poiana Incarcatoarea ,at altitude 711m.From this height starts towards south-east two ridges almost parallel ,separated between them by a deep valley ,through which flows Limpejoara Stream. The ridge which edges toward west(right) Limpejoara Valley,has ,in its first part ,the name Fintina Puturoasa Hill,then it continues with Marasti Hill ,of which ridge has a series of heights, transformed by the Germans in centrals of resistance.At the back of Maarasti Ridke are other rows of hills with the same orientation: Teiusu Hill,parted by Marasti Hill by Dracea Mare Valley ,then the hills Cotu Rosca and Dealu Mare, of which inclines descend in the line made by Susita Valley;The hills are separated between them by deep and forested valleys. The other row of hills, which is edging towards east(left) Limpejoara Valley keeps successively the names: Dragotestilor Hill Virlanului Hill, Albei Hill; on the ridges of those hills were the positions of the Romanian troops. They are a bit shorter than Marasti Hill, in front of them, with 50-100m high; from this point of view, the enemy position, infantry and artillery, were dominating the Romanian ones and had a field of observation and firing more advantageous. The attacking and forcing of the enemy line was very hard. The shore of Marasti Hill,from the direction of Limpejoara Stream, was steep ,with bad land, rising its ridge at 40-100m above the valley. To climb in force these bad land heights, under the crossed fires of the strongholds which were flanking all the holes of the bank ,seemed a risky enterprise and condemned to a bloody failure. At least that is how the Germans considered it, which considered themselves eased from this part. And still, studying the front of the positions of the enemy the Romanian commander has discovered exactly here the vulnerable part of this formidable cuirass ,and that is why he decided to give in this sector the breakthrough attack .The Command of the operations of this attack was given to General Margineanu, the Commander of the 3^rd Division ; he will rose up to the expectations of the given role ,with which he has been tasked.

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Once the breakthrough has been made ,the troops of the 6^th and 3^rd Divisions would have to advance over the hills, on a depth approximately of 10 km and to occupy the line Cimpuri-Vizantea Manastireasca-Gauri connecting to the right at point Gauri, with the troops of the defensive sector, and at the left keeping the link with the Russians. The new reached line had to be organized as a base for further development of the offensive, transporting also the artillery in new positions, behind this line. By introducing the reserves into the fighting line and by entrance of the troops from the demonstrative sector into offensive action, the break made into the enemy sector would thus widen and the enemy to be pushed to the sector of heights which guards at west Vrancea lands: Razboiului Peak ,Slatina Hill; towards south on Rachitasu; towards west Sarii Valley,connected with the Russian advance. In case in which the success of these first operations will allow, it will continue the operations to push the front on the hills to the left, Lepsei and Putna,up to Sarii Valley.

By accomplishing the missions given, the forces grouped in the two sectors provided us with a superiority beyond discussion ,over the enemy .The defensive sector had ,on a length of front of 22 km:20 battalions of infantry and 11 and half artillery batteries, and the offensive sector presented on a front of 13 km, a number of 36 battalions of infantry, three regiments of Calarasi ,and 45,5 artillery batteries-containing in these numbers also the whole of reserves. The biggest artillery caliber was of 152,4 of the cannons of two Russian divisions, put to the disposition of the II-nd Romanian Army. ;this one had also three airplanes squadrons of seven planes each squadron .The Romanian offensive action was supposed to go hand in hand with the one made by the IV-th Russian Army,in the extention of our left wing. The right wing of this army was made by VIII-th Russian Corps ,constituted from west to east, by the 15^th Division in immediately contact with 3^rd Romanian Division, after which followed Divisions 14^th and 13^th of shooters from Turkestan. A Russian division was much weaker than a Romanian one in matter of effectives; other than this, the revolutionary states of being retained behind the army a sum of men in all kinds of committees ,such that a Russian army corps was not much more than a Romanian division. In front of Divisions 14^th and 15^th Russian was finding, on the enemy front ,only the 256^th regiment of the 218^th German Division ,constituting the right flank of Gerock Army, from which it begun then the front of Gallwitz Army, the left wing of the group of armies commanded by Marshl Mackensen.

The mission of the VIII-th Russian Corps was to take the offensive in the same time with the II-nd Romanian Army, conquer Momiia(height 625) and to push the front on the line Bajeana Stream-Vizantea Stream-Iresti. The ulterior unfolding of the operations would be determined by the progress of the II-nd Romanian Army .The Russians were sighting an advance to Milcov, with the destroying of the enemy forces in Focsani region.

The repartition of the Romanian troops was the following: the 8^th Division ,General Patrascu-was keeping the front from Poiana Felesug until the meeting of the Streams Pietricelelor; she had in the first line the 37^th,25^th and 29^th Regiments and in the second line the 13^th Regiment. In the reserve of the army corps was the 8^th Hunters Regiment.

The 11^th Infantry Brigade-Colonel Macri-of the 6^th Division-Commanded by General Arghirescu, formed the left wing of the demonstrative sector, stretching from the confluence of Pietricelelor until Poiana Incarcatoarea.She had in the first line Regiments,13^th Putna and 7^th Hunters.One battalion of the 24^th Tecuci Regiment was in the reserve of the corps.The 12^th Infantry Brigade –Colonel Stoenescu Alex-was at the right wing of the offensive sector, from Incarcatoarea until Dragotestilor Hill, having in line 11^th Siret Regiment and 12^th Cantemir Regiment. At its right flank, in front of Incarcatoarea, was the 24^th Tecuci Regiment ,kept to direct disposition of the commander of the division.As artillery ,had the 11^th Regiment,16^th Regiment obuziere(shells I think?) and three long cannons of 120 mm.

The 3^rd Infantry Division-General Margineanu Al.-was keeping the front from Dragotestilor Hill until Racoasa, inclusive.Also from the beginning he has received the 18^th Regiment of the 1^st Division, which had on the first line Regiments 18^th,4^th 2^nd Hunters and 30^th ,and in the second line the 28^th Regiment. As artillery, Regiments 2^nd Artillery and 5^th Obuziere.

In the reserve of the army, the 1^st Division-General Stratilescu-has started to move in the night of 23th-24^th of July ,on two columns ,starting from Zabrautu Valley.The right hand side column, composed of 1^st Hunters Regiment and 17^th Mehedinti Regiment have stopped at Piscu Tigancii,and the left hand side column, made out of 31^st Regiment and 1^st Infantry Regiment at Piscu lui Sofronic. The 17^th Regiment has been disposed to the commander of the troops ,of the principal attack, which has been previously given 18^th regiment and the artillery of the division.

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Battle of Marasti map

legend:continous thick black line=initial front before 24th of june

interrupted thick black line=front after 2nd of August

dots=sector occupied by the Russians

ARMATA II-a ROMANA=II-nd Romanian Army,D.6=6th Romanian Division,but also smallerD=Hill example: D.Babei=Babei Hill

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Artillery preparing

At 19^th of July the foreign military attaches have visited the front of the 3^rd Romanian Division and assisted at the preparations made by the artillery: firing range for adjusting, for concentration, for barrier. Everithing was set. The enemy positions photographed from planes, where known to the smallest detail, and well sighted. Prepared methodically and in detail, executed by a strong army, in the best conditions of training ,technically and morally, having the advantage of initiative and striking the enemy by surprise, the battle of Marasti has been announced under the most favorable conditions promising the most blessed results. That is why when, at 7^th of July ,General Averascu was addressing to his troops the order of the day in which he made the supreme appeal to strengthen all the powers for “the most just and holly cause: away the enemy from our homes ”,he knew as the last of the soldiers did that victory with be with us. In the afternoon of 22^nd of July ,the artillery of the II-nd Army has started to flow with fire the 288 cannon mouths. The heavy rain ,which fell in the morning, has postponed the firing till afternoon. The enemy artillery responded immediately ;even groups of enemy infantry tried to approach,I n different points, to our lines. Barriers of machinegun fires and cannons cut short immediately ,whatever velleity of the enemy, thus showing him that the thing is much more serious than he had thought..In the evening the fire ceased ;during the night only the back of enemy positions have been blown with long and rare firing range. The next day, our bombardment has increased ,as violence, being aimed over the stronghold works of the enemy,as well as over his communication lines. The response of the enemy, lively in the beginning ,has quieted in the end .Some attacks , preceded by weak barrier fires ,have been easily rejected. Obviously ,the enemy felt his inferiority .All day the Romanian artillery has thundered with an untamed violence, making ravages in the enemy lines. From or observatories one could see explicit the effects of the bombardment. Dizzied by the blows which fell like stone rain, men left the trenches running away; the wire nets flew under the hummer blows of the 75 mm cannon; the trenches and communication lines were demolished under the explosions of the 105 and 120 shells ;the works of the resistance centrals were smashed under the destructive power of the 150mm shells. On the front of the 3^rd Division the infantry patrols send in reconnaissance ,have established seven complete breaks in the barb wire nets and five only begun. Around noon, Marasti Village was in flames, partly flamed by our bombardment, partly arson by the enemy, to destroy the deposits he has established there.

In our trenches, along the Hills, Dragotestilor , Bourului and Albe i,the soldiers listened with honor and pleasure the voice of the Romanian cannon, which grew more and more like a revenge song, whished for so long . Apprehensive ,it was hard to retain them from getting their heads out of the trenches, to follow and listen with shouts of joy ,the effects of explosions beyond Limpejoara Valley,in the enemy lines over Marasti plateau. Up, on the ridge of Dragotestilor, the Commander of the Army,General Averescu,was carefully observing the destroying effects of the firing range ,noticing with satisfaction the will of his soldiers. In the calm and quick eyes of the Chief ,one could read with clearness the certainty for victory.

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The assault over Marasti Hill

All night of 23^rd-24^th of July, the Romanian cannon did not stop his anger. Hidden in the back of their trenches or in the entering s of the underground shelters ,the German soldiers did not deer to rise up their heads and look outside. Rockets of all colors were lighting in vain the ridges of the hills, the banks of the shores and the wide valley of the stream, with the happy shining of a party fire crackers ;in the enemy trenches the observers were not at their stations of cart anymore. And what interesting things they could have seen, when the lightning of the rockets was cutting the black of night!

At around one clocks after midnight, rows of shadow were getting out of the Romanian trenches in front of Marasti Hill. Nor a noise ,neither a whisper ;only from time to time the shining of a bayonet….One by one, the rows of soldiers have descended the hills ahead, and crossed through the crystal -like water of Limpejoara, and started to climb the quick slopes of Marasti Hill, catching the weeds in their ascend ,the roots, hiding themselves behind every bank of land in their way, crawling through all the holes in the ground. Soon they are 100 meters underneath the enemy line. Here they stay still, one with the ground, behind bushes ,through small woods, behind crests of ground .One hour goes by, two hours…Over their heads ,are rattling without stop shells and shrapnels, intersecting their trajectories in all directions, pinning in the ends of their trenches the guardians and observers of the enemy front, unaware of what is going on outside; the fire play of the rockets is following, lighting the valley for those who could not see and for those who did not want to see. And at a few throws of rock ,away, in front of the enemy line ,sat ,glued on to the ground ,with the eye searching the dark around and with the arm muscled on the weapon ,the soldiers of the Romanian attack battalions, awaiting the supreme moment. The watches , well set in the eve, indicates four in the morning. Over the forest behind, from the station of the Romanian commander, a rocket highs , searching in the sky. Then, at once, like pushed by a resort which escaped from its tight catch, the rows get up from the ground and jump forward in a savage raw ,in jumps and shouts. In a few seconds they are in front of the enemy trenches. The Romanian artillery has elongated it aiming; she blows now behind the enemy position with a barrier firing range, to stop the arriving of helps. In the enemy trenches begins the furious game of grenades and bayonet, as the slopes of the hill are filled like through magic, by the crowds of soldiers which ,wave after wave ,are climbing ,running, towards the ridge.

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Three groups are assigned to the assault sector; at the center are the troops of the 5^th Brigade from the 3^rd Division, which attack tha Marasti Hill; at the left is the 6^th Brigade of the same division which attacks Marasti Village and Minastioarei Hill; at the right is the 12^th Brigade , of the 6^th Division which attacks Incarcatoarea and Fintina Puturoasa Hill. The center Brigade starts first to attack. The soldiers of the 2^nd Hunters Regiment are jumping through, the two breakings, made in the barb wire fence nets, get into the enemy trenches attacking furiously, body against body fighting the Germans, killing them or running them away. It is the Regiment which forty years before entered firs into Grivita Stronghold!(Romanian –Turkish war, of Independence 1877).At the right side of the Hunters haste to attack the 4^th Arges Regiment. Confused by the infernal bombardment , surprised by the unexpected and vigorous attack ,the Germans don’t even have the time to think of defense..The ones that don’t fall killed by grenades or run through with bayonet, are raising their hands up. The breaking is made in the middle of Marasti Hill, between strongholds of heights 536 and 500 meters. The Arges Regiment executes quickly a turning right and attacks by the rib the stronghold of height 536, and ease the task of men from 18^th Gorj Regiment, which give the attack to the north of this stronghold, between heights 536 and 575.The speed of the attackers paralyzes immediately any means of resistance of Germans .Decimated and horrified by the grenades thrown by Romanians from above, from the edge of the trenches, the defenders leave the strong shelter and come out with their hands raised, to row themselves two by two in the prisoners convoy. The breaking has widen now, more .The Hunters and Argesenii ,filled with hope, have started now the advance towards Teiusului Hill, leaving behind ,in the trenches and chambers of the enemy, the trenches cleaners to crush the last of the resistance, which would be tried by any enemy, whatsoever. At the right side, the 18^th Gorj Regiment, pinned down by the wire nets ,which haven’t been destroyed enough and also by the not successful of the 6^th Division at the right, fight with stubbornness along the enemy trenches ;at 6,30 in the morning, Gorjenii have managed to enter the enemy trenches and to occupy them.

At sunrise, the sun was not a spear over the horizon ,when Marasti Hill, with all his strong holds, was entirely in the hands of Romanians. Two clocks behind, Teiusului Hill was also cleaned off ,of the enemy, and in our hands. The hardest part has been finished with success. In a few hours ,the enemy line has been broken on a few kilometers ,wide, and we were on the depth of his defensive position. The brave troops have been given few hours rest, remade their rows and, at 2,45 afternoon, have retaken the advance and fight against the second line of defense of the enemy.

At the right side of 18^th Gorj Regiment ,enters the fight also the 17^th Mehedinti Regiment, reconstituting by their union the 1^st Brigade of the 1^st Division. The infantry attacks are helped by the Mountain Artillery of the 1^st Brigade, which shoots in the long of Dracea Mare Valley, hitting in the rib the enemy retreated on Dealu Mare(The Big Hill).The attack of our soldiers is surrounded with success. The Hills Cotu Rosca and Dealu Mare, with their labyrinth of trenches and nests of machineguns, are conquered; the unstoppable determination of the soldier and his bayonet have completed what the shells could not. The Germans are running now ,disbanded; on Teius Hill, they have left in the hands of our soldiers three batteries of obusiere(shells) of 105 mm ,his strongholds and trenches left behind, are full of bombardiers ,big and small and ammunition. The column of hundreds of prisoners are forwarded to our positions.

At night , the line of Romanian advance is near Susita Valley.

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Conquering of Marasti Village

and of Minastioarei

At the left side of the attack sector, the 6^th Brigade of the 3^rd Division was tasked to attack and conquer Marasti Village and Minastioara Hill. Marasti Village was formidable fortified and entirely transformed in an unconquerable stronghold.He formed a complete enclosure, surrounded with two strong bands of nets of barb wire fence with two rows of deep trenches, consolidated with wooden beams ,of metal or hard concrete.The houses at the edge of the village were put in a state of defense.Numerous communication trenches followed the village into every direction, connecting the defensive works ,with profoundness ,spread in every corner .In this way ,defended and set on a dominant ridge, over a steep bank, the Village of Marasti,was impossible to be taken by a frontal attack. That is why, after the artillery has unleashed the waves of fire ,of a destruction bombardment, in which time two Companies of the 2^nd Dimbovita Regiment simulated an attack of front, has produced the veiling decisive attack ,through the north of the village.Two Battalions of the 22^nd Regiment have started at 4,30 in the morning the attack over the central no.116,from two directions: from the north and from the south. After almost two hours of furious fights. at 6,10 ,the central is conquered. The trenches cleaners jump into these and give death to the enemy, which didi not had the time to run across the field or to raise their arms up ,in sign of obedience. The thick of the Battalions have turned quickly to the left and attacks the neighbor centrals ,117 and 118,which were cutting the Romanians by the rib with machineguns. the centrals are conquered in the same fast movement of undefeated blow. Now our troops are in front of Marasesti Village, which attacks from the north, by the rib and from behind, as the two Companies ,which have managed in this time to climb the bank, attacks the enemy by the front,uniting their strengths with those of their mates in the right side.A tough fight is cooking; trench after trench, yard after yard(of village houses),are taken one by one from north to south. Ahead of the units the Officers are souling the troops by their enthusiasm and courage; between them ,a real hero,captain Coravu,always ahead of soldiers ,manoeuvreing himself the rifle ,grenade ,machinegun. At ,30 in the morning ,Marasti Village is entirely in the hands of Romanians.It is only ruins,s moking wreckage ,of houses, rambled by trenches full of dead bodies .The pursue of the enemy is made on the plateau behind the village, where he organizes a defensive position with trenches and nets of wires.Taken out of this position and rejected towards south-west, he is followed in retreat up to Viei Hill ,the objective of the 22^nd Regiment.

South of Marasti, Minastioara Hill is also organized in a resistance central much stronger than Marasti Village, itself. Attacked by troops of the 30^th Muncel Regiment, the defenders had put up a very strong fight. It have been given ferocious fights, with great losses ,both sides, without reaching a result. At noon,the situation was the same. In the afternoon of the day was given a concentric attack. Frontal the attack was continued by a Battalion of 22^nd Regiment, which occupied Marasti Village-the connection was made by a Battalion of the 28^th Regiment ,the Division Reserve, which attacked from the north-from south-east ,a Battalion of 30^th Regiment ,which made the connection with the Russians; after these ones have conquered Momiia, the Battalion have turned towards right and contributed himself, especially with the cannons ,at the attack over Minastioarei. Attaccked in this way from all sides, after a fight more and more ferocious , Minastioara had to fall. The strongholds were conquered one after the other with a rich war material and with many prisoners. One cannon of 105 mm, with quick firing, captured ,was immediately aimed towards the runaways ,which were retreating disorderly over Susita.

In the night of 24^th of July, all the units of the 3^rd Division, were on their ordered positions; all the objectives have been met.

……

[Robert Dunlop]

Hi Andrei. I am travelling in the Netherlands at the moment. Today I met two of your countrymen, both of whom come from Cluj. I mentioned about these battles and they were really surprised. They had both heard about the battles, but did not realise that someone outside Romania would know. These were young men in their late twenties, so I was impressed that they knew about this part of your country's history.

Robert

[razu]

Hi Andrei. I am travelling in the Netherlands at the moment. Today I met two of your countrymen, both of whom come from Cluj. I mentioned about these battles and they were really surprised. They had both heard about the battles, but did not realise that someone outside Romania would know. These were young men in their late twenties, so I was impressed that they knew about this part of your country's history.

Robert

Robert,

That is quite interesting.Ther are also battles in Transilvania in WW1,in 1918,like "Apuseni Mountains battle".But I'm sure they heard abot this one as well.

Andrei

[razu]

The attack of “Incarcatoarea”

At the right side of the attack sector, the 12^th Brigade of 6^th Division, had the mission to attack the position from Incarcatoarea to height 575.Poiana Hill Incarcatoarea-height 711-was the dominant position of the sector ,by its height. The plateau of the hill,which has been transformed in a formidable stronghold, was like an enclousure on a depth of 1 km. The quick banks and sometimes steep were a very effective defense , increased by the numerous technical means, massed in its works. That is why ,the commander of the army have decided , at first ,not to attack the position which would have exposed us to inutile bloody losses, but to leave just an observation post in front of it, remaining to be occupied later by manoeuvre. Still, in the last moment, the commander of the division has decided to take it by assault. In the morning of 24^th of July, after a very strong artillery fire, concentrated over this stronghold ,three columns of volunteers of 24^th Tecuci Regiment,of the power of a platoon each, have started to attack. Other columns were following. The columns have reached the enemy strongholds and started a hard body to body fight. With great losses Romanians manage to occupy the first line of trenches and a part of the second one .But our troops had great losses, their rows are thinned and the enemy is always cutting them with machineguns and shells of trenches(obusiere). Another Battalion of the same Regiment arrives in their help and strengthens them.But at 4,30 in the afternoon the enemy starts a very violent counterattack and our troops,with great losses ,are forced to retreat back into the trenches from where they started. A new attack ,tried at 5,15,did not succeed to get close to the enemy positions. Because of this last unsuccessful trial, the commander has renounced at conquering of this stronghold for the day.

A little to the left, the 11^th Siret Regiment and 12^th Cantemir Regiment have fought all day against the rows of heights; Fintina Puturoasa Hill, Dorului Hill, which connectsPoiana Incarcatoarea with Marasti Hill.The strong centrals of heights 660,670,630 and others intermediary, all with thick rows of barb wire fence and strengthened with works of heavy concrete, were curving the coast. At 4 in the morning the artillery has opened a very violent fire, and after half an hour the infantry ,hidden in the vicinity of the enemy trenches, jumped to attack. Unfortunately the artillery preparing has not been so effective as in the sector of the 3^rd Division. The terrain being very bad and many works being hidden in holes in the ground, the cutting of the wire nets has not been complete. One Battalion of the 11^th Siret Regiment managed to occupy the 670 stronghold at Ciobanu Stream, but after an hour,the strong counterattack,is forced to retreat. A handful of men remains in the enemy line and keeps in respect the enemy which cannot get closer . In this desperate position they have remained till night fall when the battalion ,strengthened by a company of the 17^th Regiment, with a Battalion of the Marching Regiment and with another from neighbor 12^th Regiment, ”Cantemir”, which have attacked the stronghold by south and west, after several very ferocious fights, have succeeded to occupy it.

The troops of the 12^th Cantemir Regiment have conquered, after repeated assaults the works at heights 630,575,together with all the ridge of the sector, and have rejected the counterattacks enterprise by the enemy to retake them. Our losses have been big ;numerous dead and wounded have remained caught in the barb wires of the nets in front of the enemy trenches.

With all his ferocious assaults, payed with big bloody losses, the 11^th Siret Regiment, could not take the stronghold of height 600 of Fintina Puturoasa Hill, neighbour with Poiana Incarcatoarea. All our attacks have been rejected by crossed fires, from the neighbor strongholds,670 and 655,seated more to the front. They succeeded to occupy the intermediary entering , Caruta, at the right of height 660.The fights for height 660 have continued until late at night ,without any result. With this face ,the troops of the 22^nd Brigade have managed,with great efforts and many losses ,to occupy the whole line of the ridge north of Marasti Hill, up to Fintina Puturoasa Hill, which remained ,at night, together with Poiana Incarcatoarea ,in the mastering of the enemy.

…….

[razu]

Conquering Momiia

In the Russian sector from the left wing of the II-nd Romanian Army, the Russian troops of the 15^th Division have unleashed the attack together with our troops,and advancing on two columns, one to north and the other to south of Momiia Hill, have succeeded to take it with assault, at 11 o’clock.In the day, after a violent fight, which caused heavy losses .The Russians have made prisoners, five Officers and 422 German soldiers ,and captured 35 cannons of which 8 heavy.It was “the song of the swan” for this army,touched by the Germen of decomposing. In the same time, the neighbor Divisions 14^th and 3^rd Turkestan, have occupied Voloscani Village,defeating the strong enemy resistance. The connection between Russians and Romanians was established on Inurile Hill, south of Manastioara.

At the opposite extremity of the fighting front ,in the demonstrative sector, the action of the IV-th Romanian Corps was made only by a lively artillery bombardment and to patrols incursions .

Victory

The day of 24^th of Jully was finished with a very satisfying count.The enemy front has been broken and breakthrough on a wide of 10 km; his strongholds fell one after the other in the hands of the brave Romanian soldiers and Russians ;the 218^th German Division was beaten ,disbanded and run away. The Romanian Army ,remade after the catastrophe ,has restarted the fight under the best conditions.The first blow applied to the enemy meant a shining success ;she had to be exploited and pursued without mercy.

For the German Commander,which counted his strongholds line ,unconquerable, the breakthrough of the Marasti front,and conquering of the entire line have made a considerable surprise and disappointment .When,at 4in the morning,the Commander of the front troops, phoned to the sector Commander,Colonel Schmidt,at Cimpuri,that the Romanian attack has begun,this one had not given any attention to the fact ,and did not ruin his sleep. Three hours behind, when the lines had been broken and the Romanian assault battalions were flowing over the hills, the Commander have left in haste the house and run by foot, with his head uncovered,followe by his officers,in the curses of the village women. The firsts Romanian patrols, which have entered in the house in which the Officer’s mess was, have found on the table the cups only half empty with coffee, which showed the haste with which the officers have retreated .At the hedquarter of the II-nd Romanian Army Corps, General Vaitoianu could offer to war correspondents an excellent wine of Rin, “Leibfraunmilch”, not a less exquisite champagne “Kupferberg Gold”, cigars ,and so on, of the provisions left behind by the guests. The same effect had the blow over the soldiers. Rare have been seen german soldiers running with so much precipitation. Over 20 cannons, numerous machineguns, ammo ,an immense material left behind, proven the panic which overwhelmed and their disbanded run .That is why ,the number of prisoners of the day was small,1500 men.

…..

[razu]

From flight ,with broken wings…

The victory does not late to show its results .At 25^th of July ,in the dawns of the day, The Germans were in general retreat. The brilliant success obtained at the center made in vain the desperate enemy resistance in front of the right side of the offensive sector. The Commander of the Army have send order to the 17^th Mehedinti Regiment ,which was on Teiusu Hill ,to turn towards right and take from the rib and from behind the positions on which the enemy still resisted .This menacing manoeuvre determined the Germans to leave during the night the last sstrongholds,in which he maintained in the eve, and which have cost us so many hero lives. At four in the morning ,Poiana Incarcatoarea and height 600 have been occupied by Romanians. The show which was in front of our soldiers eyes was frightening, The Romanian artillery ,especially trenches mortiers(shells),crowded in front of the strongholds,made ravages in their works: trenches ,cannons ,mortiers smashed, were mixed with dead bodies and with numerous wounded which were moaning. Between the intact wire nets, were laying the brave soldiers of the attack columns, caught by death in the most bizarre positions ,cut by the nails of the wires ,with clothes and flesh torn ,hit by the fires from those inside as from those outside, some without arms or legs, some without heads…..Tragic reverse of the winning medal!

Freed by the barrier which stood in their way, the troops of the 6^th Division can now move along the whole front of its two Brigades,keeping close on the tracks of the enemy which retreats in disorder. In the center of the pursuing front, between Divisions 3^rd and 6^th,General Averescu introduces the whole 1^st Division, as at the left, withdraws two regiments of the 3^rd Division, to keep them in reserve, in Dracea Mare Valley. The Artillery follows the advance, changes positions and gets closer the pursuing front.

The whole line of the three Romanian Divisions is now on the move , energetic ,of advance, with general direction south-west.

…….

[razu]

......

At the right side ,we occupy Coada Babei Hill;a Divizion(not division) of cavalry is sent through Gura Vaii and Rotilesti in Soveja direction, to which is also forwarded 1^st Calafat Regiment, from Rosculesti. At the center ,the Regiments of mehedinteni and gorjeni(men from Mehedinti and Gorj) of the 1^st Brigade attacks vigorously the enemy which resists on Dealu Mare, run him away, cross Susita and occupy Cimpuri, while the troops of the 2^nd brigade occupy Vizantea Manastiresca :the Cavalry patrols are pursuing the enemy in the direction of Rachitas and Soveja. At the left, we occupy Vizantea Razaseasca and continue the way towards Parosu, keeping the connection with the right wing f VIII-th Russian Corps All over, the Germans are running with precipitation. Our reconnaissance patrols only meet arierguard ,which retreats, looking for a resistance line which the energetic pursuing of our troops does not allow them to find.The disaster propagates towards west .The enemy front starts to shake and fall, and at its left wing, in the sector said till now, demonstrative .Beyond Incarcatoarea.the Germans have left their trenches, which are occupied by the troops of the 11^th Brigade, Romanian. The 8^th Austrian Division have left ,by their own will Fetisoarei Hill, and the series of resistance centrals spread over the ridge of Puturosu Hill. Only at the most extreme west side of the front ,in Casin sector, our reconnaissance ,advancing to the enemy nets ,were pushed with lively machine gun and grenades, and had to retreat.

In full victorious advance, the II-nd Army receives the fatal order to suspend the operations , which sounded:”With all the success obtained, the continuation of operations on the Romanian front is not possible because of the general situation on the oriental front”. Thus it is ordered : The II-nd Army will stop on the front which she’ll reach on the night of 12^th of July. The troops will strongly strengthen on the best line of resistance, which is situated along the conquered front…”etc.It was the direct effect of the disaster in Galitia, of the act at Tarnopol, which demonstrated that the Russian Army have lost the sense of duty and the notion of soldiery discipline and that the country ,in its guarding, may expect at anything, if it will not take care of its own escape.

Very seldom, a victorious army has received a stronger moral hit then the one received by the II-nd Army.To live six months of hard life, sustained only by the hope of the great day when, with the price of supreme martyr to be able to taste the joy of victory and, once here, when the arm crushes without mercy with sword of fire the stealer of our cities, to be all of a sudden stopped, not by your weakness,nor by the power of the enemy, but by desertion of your ally ,it was the most formidable bitterness which has been kept for the unfolding of our war, so full of deception gifts of all sort.

Lowering our heads in face of the forsaken fate, the Commander of the II-nd Army had to prescribe its troops the stop of the offensive section ”as soon as the thick of the units will reach the line touched by the advanced detachments”. Admitting the necessities of tactic s ,shown by General Averescu, the Great Headquarter ,came around ,and left the Commander of the II-nd Army the freedom to continue its advance ,in the idea of occupying a resistance line more favorable. ”if the Commander of the Army thinks possible and necessary ,may take dispositions, on one hand to push the right of the Army on Magura Casinului-height 1125-at the left of the IX-th Russian Army, and on the other hand, as general line of resistance, on which at the present time the Army is strengthening herself, to be choosen such, that it will forbid the moving of the enemy through Putna Valley, between Negrilesti and Sarii Valley, as well as the concentration of her forces at Soveia, Rucareni and Dragoslave. D.I.O,signed byGeneral Prezan”.

So, the Russian desertion, with all the complications, strategically ,will not be of much help to the Germans and will not escape them ,so easy, from the clutching tight spot in which they’ve been thrown by the victory of Romanians. General Averescu gives immediately the order that the pursuing will continue .And in the dawns of the 26^th of July,the whole front of the four Romanian divisions, begins again the running away of the beaten enemy, as the chain of the hunter does not weakens for a moment the hunted ,with despair in its soul, out of breath and with the led in the rib.

……

[razu]

The Pursuing…

The enemy does not have an organized line anymore ;he is looking in haste for escape towards the chain of heights which guard towards west and northwest Vrancea Country.At the right side of the II-nd Romanian Army, the troops of the 8^th Division are advancing, executing a move of conversion ,and turn ,facing west, after an angle of almost 90 degrees .The enemy, blown by our artillery, attacked and harassed without leaving him a minute to rest, is leaving position after position. The front of the 8^th Division, which had in the beginning a direction almost west –east, arrives to take, in the evening of 27^th of July, a direction north –south, occupying Arsita Mocanului Hill,t he eastern versant of Plaiul Magurii and of Muntelui Razboiului, over the peak of Slatinei Hill, until the height 716,where it made the connection with the troops of the 6^th Division.

At the center, Divisions 6^th and 1^st are in an unstoppable advancing, perpendicular Tarii Vrancei ,with the direction towards south-west, following the enemy which succeeds to run faster than Romanians are abel to follow,in the hand of which he leaves prisoners, cannons, deposits, kitchens and all sorts of materials of war. Here and there ,a disposition of a more advantageos terrain makes him to organize a resistance point.In Vrancea heart, the two Rachitase are rising their peaks, like two sugar heads ,until close to 1000 meters high. They are two points easy to put in defense. But the soldiers of Regiments Gorj, Mehedinti and Calafat are go by them ,like a wave which sweeps everything on the way. Soveja, Rucareni, Dragosloveni, Negrilesti,arhaic centers of Vrancea,are receiving with enthusiasm the eliberators; the population comes in their way with tears in their eyes and arms filled with flowers. Rucarenii and Dragoslovenii reminds the soldiers from Muntenia the fields of Muscelului.In truth,there are old colonies of musceleni brought by Matei Basarab and settled here as sign of peace between Muntenia and Moldavia.,after the ends of fights between brothers. The old King made them Church and gave them lands.The enemy refugees himself on the ridges of the mountains which make barrier towards southwest ;there are three long ridges like rows :Tina Neagra, Tiua Golasa and Roschila,all more than 1000 m high. It is hard to stop ,though,the enthusiasm of the troops, souled by the joy of victory. The Romanian artillery takes position in front of Blagoslovenilor and Rucarenilor and blows hard the mountains ridges.Unexhausted ,the soldiers of the 18^th Gorj Regiment,start to assault,climbink the steep inclines towards east of the mountains,without carring of the projectiles that fell as stone rain around them, attack with manhood the enemy up on the ridge, defeat him,reject five violent counterattacks and, finally, succeed to run him away.

In the evening of 27^th of July,near midnight, all the ridges were in Romanian hands. The advanced line of the 1^st Division has touched Putna. At the left wing,the troops of the 3^rd Division are advancing with decide towards south. The enemy has organised a powerful stronghold on Cerdac Hill and Bataraga Hill, where he resists with disperation and stops the advance.A ferocious fight is givenin front of the hills.The Romanian troops ,tired by a night marching,made through unknown valleys, covered with woods and crossed by steeps ,north of Secaturii, fight without artillery sustaining, which is far behind, and have great losse. Two companies of the 22^nd Regiment, lost by a traitor guide ,are thrown into a steep ,in the middle of strong enemy positions well strengthened .But their Commander is Captain Coravu, the conquerer of Marasti Village .He takes position ahead of the two Companies and starts to assault Teiului Hill,with first wave of assault, with a grenade in each hand and with his pockets filled. The Soldiers of the two Companies are decimated by the crossed fires of the enemy,Coravu fells pierced by bullets,leaving the undying memory of a real hero, happy union of high idealism, of vast culture and of elan defiant for death. In the same time , close,in Gauri Village the Russians of the 15^th Division,were going disorderly through the village, without thinking at the duty of an intervention in the help of the army of their comrades of weapons.The 2^nd Hunters Regiment operated a surrounding move through Tichirisului Valley and turned the enemy defense on Cerdac Hill, hen Teiului Hill, which are occupied by Hunters. On Bataraga Hill, the enemy resists all night, until morning of 27^th,when with all the exhaust made by the fights in the eve ,our soldiers attack again and manage to occupy the hill.

The advance restarts, the troops of the 3^rd Division occupy the Baba Maria Hill,and Topesti Village;the Division has reached ,as well Putna Valley.The advanced elements cross Putna and occupy Birsesti. Our soldiers uncover themselves with faith in front of the monument which the belief of Vrancea people build to their great voievod(like a King in Moldavia,Muntenia,Transilvania etc..).”Seven sons I have ,I give them all to You” said the old Vrincioaia Lady to Great Stefan Voievod.So the Hunters listen to the old story and seem like the shadow of the great voievod is looking them with pride and bless them.

Four days and four nights has lasted the pursuing of the enemy defeated and run away. In the evening of 27^th of July the war correspondent of the big British newspaper ”The Times”, speaking with a prisoner German Officer,expresses his surprise that the Romanian patrols have reached the Hungarian frontier,without encountering a serious resistance”Where are your troops Sir..?”asks the correspondent.”If-answered the prisoner-ours continue to run away ,as they run in the last three days and if yours continue to pursue them whit the same quickness ,they must be close to Budapest, by now!”

……

[razu]

Robert,

"Four days and four nights has lasted the pursuing of the enemy defeated and run away. In the evening of 27^th of July the war correspondent of the big British newspaper ”The Times”, speaking with a prisoner German Officer,expresses his surprise that the Romanian patrols have reached the Hungarian frontier,without encountering a serious resistance”Where are your troops Sir..?”asks the correspondent.”If-answered the prisoner-ours continue to run away ,as they run in the last three days and if yours continue to pursue them whit the same quickness ,they must be close to Budapest, by now!”"

Andrei

This is a quoute from this chapter.Who would be this British newspaper man from "The Times"?Could it be Mr.Hamilton Fyfe?

[razu]

Enenmy organizes resistance

The enemy starts to waken .The great German Headquarter suspects that he is not confronted with a simple local action, with the intention of decongestion of the Russian front from Galitia, but in front of a great offensive with strategic targets. This offensive has reached a felt point of the ally front and broken it in the point of articulation of the Austrian Army groups of Archduke Iosif, with the German Group of Mackensen. The Romanian advance has reached Putna and the Germans are under the impression that,they are tending to engage in the line Zabalei and Narujei,to turn at west Magura Odobestilor and to fall behind Focsani and Mackensen ‘s Army.But this would mean catastrophe which with any means should be stopped. The enemy resistance is organized feverishly. It is renounced at the great offensive plotted for lower Siret River, in the region Fundeni-Namoloasa,for which important units were concentrated at the disposal of General von Morgen .On the contrary, numerous forces are now forwarded towards Focsani, brought from the close fronts as from further ones, to replace the decimated units and to reconstitute the front. The 147^th Regiment of the 117^th Division,-from 218 Division and 373^rd-from 225^th Division, almost destroyed ,are taken out of the fight. In their place are brought the other two Regiments of the 117^th Division, which have been kept in reserve in Tirnavelor region,in Transylvania.The 37th Hanovezi Division, which was on the front of Tulghes, is transported by train and trucks at Breteni and from there is brought on foot in the right side of Casinului, replacing the troops of the 1^st Cavalry Austro-Hungarian Division, which is moved to the right further, on Zboina Neagra.At 28^th of July,arrivea a Husari Regiment,the 12^th Regiment.On the southern front ,most periled ,arrives the 3^rd Grenadieri Regiment of the 1^st German Division; the regiment which was at Iacobeni in Bucovina,has been brought to Focsani with the train and, and from here by trucks has been transported through Zabalei Valley and placed in Sarii Valley. Another five regiments and battalions, taken from the five divisions of the IX-th Army, neighbor,were brought to fill in the gaps in the German sector.

……

[razu]

……

Romanian patrols, which have crossed Putna Valley, are searching the Villages Paulesti,Spinesti,Bodesti and find groups of Germans, here and there, which they take prisoners. On their side ,the Russians have pushed their front toward right, and established the junction with the Romanians in Sarri Valley. But in the day of 28^th,the advanced Romanian patrols of the Divisions 3^rd and 1^st are encountering a ferocious resistance. The enemy struggles on the two shores of Putna River, from Sipote to Sarri Valley. A strong artillery fire receives the soldiers of 30^th Muscel Regiment which attacks Pleasa Hill. The fight is very tough. The enemy gives five counterattacks ,but Muscelenii attack violently at bayonet and make in the enemy legions a real slaughter;the whole of the enemy troops is destroyed. Other helps arrive in great haste, and the fight continues, heavy ,all through the night. Only towards morning, of the 29^th of July, the defeated remains of the Germans are retreating.

We occupy Sarii Valley and we start to organize defensive on the left shore of Putna,completely cleand off,the enemy.The Romanian troops are also tired,after five days of unstopping pursuing and fights. The 3^rd Division has lost over 500 dead and 1200 wounded. A regiment is taken from the division and sent to another fighting front .The reserves are exhausted, and on the right shore the enemy strengthen s more and more ,with fresh troops. The II-nd Army has met the objective and the offensive stops.

.....

[razu]

The fights in Vrancea Mountains

The country of Vrancea was in our hand up to the valley of Putna River, thus to the southern limit, fixed in the beginning as objective of the II-nd Army. For that the mastering of the whole region to be ensured ,we also had to occupy the whole ridges of Vrancei Mountains, which rise towards west in a continuous chain with north-south direction, domminating from heights over 1200m the whole region .This was the purpose of the operations which General Averescu has ordered to Divisions,1^st,6^th and 8^th for the day of 28^th of July and the following ones. The 1^st Division was established in the sector Negrilesti –Soveja, on the ridges of Mountains Tiua –Neagra ,Tiua Golasa,Roschila nd Culmea Tulcenilor. Reconnaissance patrols ,sent towards west ,see that the enemy is situated on Macradeu Mountain, on the frontier and on the right shore of Lepsa River;advanced detachments are on Lepsuletului Valley,in contact with our front guard. For five days are given fights on these forested valleys of this bad terrain region ,between isolated detachments sustained by artillery. Attacks and counterattacks are given with felt losses for both sides .The result is that the enemy is pushed beyond Lepsei Valley; our front has advanced with 4 km and finds itself on Hills Titiana, Fata Schitului,Coasei.

On the front of 6^th Division, Putna Regiment manages, after three assaults, to reach the foot of Seciu Mountain, and after the complete rejection of the enemy, occupies the whole ridge of Zboina Neagra Mountain ,with heights 1234,1351 and 137.In the same time ,the troops of Siret Regiment advance through battle along Dragomira Valley and occupies the heights between Vulturului Stream and Susita River. The batteries of cannons captured from the enemy are put into firing position in Dragosloveni.

More bloody and important are the fights of the 8^th Division against the strong massive of heights which guards Vrancea region north-west , toward Oituz Pass. Casin Valley goes perpendicular over this massive and breaks it into two halves: beyond of Magura Casinului(1167m),rocky and with steep valleys, prolonging to the south with Cornu Magurii and in front ,towards east, with the wide plateau of of Plaiu Magurii. This side of the valley, rise from the multitude of ridges ,between which the eye looses himself, the high peak of Razboiului(war) Mountain(962m) and of Seciu Mountain(1171m).The Commander of the 8^th Division ,General Patrascu, attacks Magura Casinului, in the day of 28^th of July,By a combined attack with the Russians. The Russian-Romanain artillery bombards the enemy positions in the morning of the day, for almost four hours.T hen the infantry starts to attack from three directions. From the north, fom height 112m,the Russians are supposed to attack.”Death Battalion” puts into march,but the comrades of arms which do not wann fight ,are stopping it and force it to retreat. The Russians are leaving the positions which they occupied in front of height 1167m,and by this ,are forcing us as wel to bend our right wing, retreating it on Arsita Mocanului. Two Romanian battalions are giving the attack against Magura, through Plaiu Magurii, by the front, and a third battalion attacks by the flank and behind, through Casin Valley, through Bicies and Cornu Magurii. The enemy resists ferociously from his strong positions,.The whole Magura is transformed in a formidable system of strongholds;each height is organized in a resistance central with cannons and machineguns;the trenches and shelters are armored .Our troops ,succeed to foot Plaiu Magurii ,where they are pinned by the killing fire of the enemy. At 9,30 in the evening the enemy has got out of his positions and attacks us with violence on plaiu magurii, but the Romanian troops have contained the attack with bravery and rejected the enemy, without giving an inch of the conquered terrain.Five attacks have given the Austrians on Plaiu Magurii during the night ;all rejected.

The Romanian Commander has moved the attack zone to the left, in the sector of 15^th Brigade. On Razboiului Mountain, the enemy did not have important works ,but the slope was so quick, that with few troops he managed to stop the enthusiast attack of our troops. The advance on Slatinei Hill was made hard because of the bad terrain and also the link with the 6^th Division was lost, from the left side.The next day,29^th of july, in Casin sector ,as the 16^th Brigade continued tu harass the enemy ,retrenched on Magura, the troops of south sector are constituted in to a manoeuvre mass,under the Command of Colonel Liciu,with the mission to turn to the south the enemy positionsThe marching of Colonel Liciu starts in the morning and is made with great difficulty on very bad roads. On the ridge of Chinusu Mountain it is only one path; the horses from the machine guns had to be left Slatinei Hill.

The enemy attacks by night fall twice, our positions on Plaiu Magurii.With the artillery we manage to resist and to reject him.The Russians are not giving anything; on the contrary, they retreat even their advance posts of height 1125m.

In the morning of 30^th of July,since in Casinului sector we continue to reject the enemy counterattacks,in the sector south of Liciu, we attack Seciu Hill, helped by the troops of 6^th Division and manage to conuer height 1171m,taking numerous Austro-Hungarian prisoners .The enemy runs in disorder. With all the difficulty of the terrain ,steep towards east, crossed by valleys and covered with secular forests of pines towards south and west ,the Romanians attacks concentric Razboiului Mountain with great enthusiasm conquer the whole ridge and reject the enemy towards west ,towards Frumoasele Mari Hill.

The next day ,with the help of the artillery ,unexhausted Romanain troops conquer Frumoasele Mari Hill and the entire Seciu Massif ,attacking without time, the enemy, which throws in disorder in the south of Casinului Valley, towards Poiana Incarcatoarea.

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Magura Casinului

Now the situation is favorable for us. We are mastering this side of Casinului Valley on all heights of the mountain massifs ,up to height 1234 m, where in connection with 6^th Division on Zboina Neagra. North of Casin Valley, Magura Casinului has been left like a pillar which makes a protrusion very pronounced at the middle of the troops of 8^th Romanian Division. Magura is attacked again in the day of 1^st of August, through a combined action :a front attack and a surrounding move from north. The Romanian artillery is bombarding violently Magura: the infantry attacks with elan, but the enemy resistance cannot be defeated. He has a very strong artillery which executes precise firing ranges of barrier, and his infantry counterattacks with violence. It is notticed ,once again that Magura, in the condition of our attacks given, is uncounquerable. The enemy strongholds are part, made in the rock, part made of hard concrete and armoured; over them the firing range of the Romanian artillery of field, has no effect whatsoever. In front of the trenches ,t he pines which fell down because of our bombardment, mixed with the nets of wire fences, these ones ripped off by the bombardment ,as well, have increased the zone of obstacles and strengthen the enemy defence. The enemy has also an extraordinary number of machineguns, disposed in rows and stacked one over the other; during our bombardments ,the enemy descend them with pulleys ,in underground shelters which are armoured. He has well knowledge of the terrain in front of his positions, on which his shrapnels and grenades fall with mathematical precision ,in the moment of our attacks.

Seeing (the enemy) that in these circumstances we expose ourselves at bloody losses and futile, seeing also the absolute refusal of the Russians to cooperate at our right side ,and with this face, to surround Magura from all parts ,the Commander of the II-nd Army, renounced at the idea of conquering Magura, limiting himself with the taking of the heights of principal lines south of this one, which ensured us the domination of the mountain region up to the border and the observation of all the valleys.

In the evening of 1^st of August, the battle may be considered as ended on the whole front of the II-nd Army. Our troops are on the line Magura Casinului-Seciu Mountain(1171m)-Zboina Neagra-Tiua Neagra-Tiua Golasa-Tulnici-Birsesti-Sarri Valley, drawing a vast ark of circle, with the concavity towards north. From Sarii Valley forward ,was the Russian front of the VIII-th Corps, closing the ark north of Colacu, Ruget,Vidra,west of Voloscani, until Iresti,where it unites with old front of the XXX Mixt Corps,which continued over Clipicesti towards Siret.

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The evaluation of Marasti battle

The II-nd Romanian Army has reputed a brilliant victory. The enemy front has been smashed on a distance of 30km and pushed in a depth of 20km;30 localities (villages) have been reconquered by Romanians.

The army of General Gerock was disorganized and weakened as strength of fight for a while. In nine days of fights ,the II-nd Romanian Army has taken a number of 23 officers and 2746 soldiers prisoners, and the hills and valleys of Vrancea were seeded with a some thousands of dead. She (II-nd Army) has captured also 40 cannons,30 mortiers of trenches,22 machineguns and an immense war material of all kind. Taking into account the thousand of wounded ,the prisoners and war material, taken by the Russians in their sector, one can appreciate the gravity of the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Army.

With all the shining of victory,its strategic consequences could not be at the same height .Being part of the immense Russian front,the Romanian Army has been influenced, obstacle and annihilated in its action by the forsaken unfolding of the events on this front. At 24^th of July, in the glorious day of the assault over Marasti,it was produced the shameful retreat of the Russian Army from Tarnopol, and while the heroic elan of our troops were breaking the last barriers of Vrancei Mountains, and opened our perspective of crossing over the Hungarian frontier ,on the Northern Front, the Austro-Germans were entering Cernauti and threatened the frontier of upper Moldavia.

Our offensive at Marasti, stopped ,in full victorious development, could not be exploited from strategic point of view ,nor in connection with the offensive on Siret River-stopped before it could be set in motion-neither with the Russian offensive started on Galitian Front, finished in the most complete disaster.

A new situation ,of an exceptional gravity was starting to evolve at the borders of our Kingdom.Face with this threat, it must be given up at any velleity of attack over the enemy, which would have fewed us more, for defending the piece of Kingdom that we had left, against which, it was obvious ,that the enemy ,taking advantage of the Russian’s weakness ,was preparing to give the decisive assault. The idea of offensive had ,thus ,to be renounced. The mission of our army, from offensive, was becoming defensive.

The Marasti battle, set at a fatal turning point, of the unfolding of our war, was a brilliant episode of this war, a speaking probe of the chiefs capacities, of the qualities of bravery of the Romanian soldiers ,an elocvent example for this will of adapting and perfection .After the disaster of 1916 campaign, after the laborious work of remaking from the spring of 1917,it is the proof of vitality and energy of our nation.

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1^st Romanian Division has captured 1217 prisoners;3^rd Romanian Division has captured 1115 prisoners;6^th Romanian Division has captured 247 prisoners and 8^th Division 190 prisoners.The Russians have captured 434 prisoners so the total losses as prisoners of the Austro-Germans in Marasti battle is 3203 prisoners.

Our losses in Marasti battle 22^nd of July -1^st of August

1^st Romanian Division Officers that died 6,wounded 20;Soldiers that died 188,wounded 644 ,missing 54

3^rd Romanian Division Officers that died,20,wounded,37;Soldiers that died,500,wounded 1139,missing 134

4^th Romanian Division Officers that died ,6,wounded ,11;Soldiers that died 647,wounded ,806,missing,45

8^th Romanian Division Officers that died,5,wounded ,5;Soldiers that died 94,wounded ,390,missing ,134

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The total of our losses was thus of 110 Officers and 4775 Soldiers,dead,missing ,wounded and prisoners.Under this raport,the results of the battle are exceptional in the history of the Great War,because the attacker had less losses than the attacked one.