The Battle on Vrancea Hills in Romania , August 1917

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The Battle on Vrancea Hills

The retreat of the front of 12^th Romanian Division

The great battles of Marasti and Oituz were in full development. Situated between the two troubled sectors ,Vrancea sector ,occupied by the II-nd Romanian Army Corps, has been quiet on the line where it has stopped on 31st of July,after the end of the Marasti Offensive.It was a very arched line,which started lower than Magura Casinului heading South,over the ridges of mountains which guard Vrancea Country from West,until it reached Putna Valley;from there it curved to east and then North-East,to connect with the front of the IV-th Russian Army at Sarii Valley.The line of the Romanian front was thus making a protrusion very pronounced and dangerous in the depth of the enemy objective.The two offensives started by the enemy at Oituz and Marasesti,were-as we know-two actions of flank,which tended to close the bag, in which the II-nd Romanian Corps baged itself ,and capturing it.That is why ,the eye of the supreme commander of thr Romanian –Russian Army,was sighting with worry the progression of the two enemy armies and was foreseeing the moment in which the troops of the II-nd Romanian Corps will have to leave their positions, too advanced ,to loock behind for a safer line.

In the mean time, an important change has produced in the composition of the frontof the II-nd Romanian Army.At 1^st of August ,immediately after the finish of our offensive at Marasti, the 6^th Division was taken out from the positions occupied at Peaks Zboina Neagra,Tiua Neagra and Tiua Golasa, and send to Oituz front. In its place was brought the 12^th Romanian Division,from the Reserve of the I-st Army;she was intercalated between the sectors of 1^st Division(at left) and 8(at right).At 12^th of August ,the situation became dangerous on both flanks of the II-nd Corps. On the front of Marasesti, the VIII-th Russian Corps has been defeated ;the plateaus of Panciu and Stranoare were conquered by the enemy, the communications in Susita Valley were masterd by him, those of Zabrautu Valley dominated by the German cannon .On Oituz front ,the enemy was near Trotus, in front of Tirgu Ocna and the Romanian front was sounding from all parts .The double surrounding seemed to succeed. The maintaining of the II-nd Corps on its advanced position was impossible .General Averescu was ordered to retreat his troops on a rear line, leaving thus the arch and occupy its line. The aim of this operation was not only tactic: Occupying a position less exposed ,but also an important economy of forces .The line being shorter ,could be kept by less soldiers ;the troops thus becoming available could constitute the reserve, to be used on neighbor fronts, in places of danger.

A series of changes begun on the front of the II-nd Corps.At its right,the 3^rd Division had to push its reserves on South-Wes heights and north –East of Varnita to guard the flank of II-nd Romanian Army,threatened by the advancing of the Germans towards Muncel.At the center the 1^st Division was taken out and brought to reserve. The 12^th Division, which had occupied the most advanced line,had to retreat on the line of Vizantea Stream, prolonged North-West in Magura Casin direction. The retreat operation was made in the night of 13^th-14^th of August. It was,in a small style,an analogue operation with célèbre retreats in history of warfare ,full of examples[1] .The leaving of the positions and the retreat of our troops had not been noticed by the enemy, mislead by a strong curtain of artillery fires, and harassed by numerous patrols attacks. Thus ,the retreat was executed in perfect order on a depth of 10 km, approximately ,undisturbed by the enemy, behind the troops,the arierguard have destroyed the works of art ,to difficult the enemy advance.

At 14^th of August, the front of the 12^th Division was established on a line which was perpendicular on Vrancea Country, through her heart .Starting from West to East the line passed on Matei Hill-where it connected with the 8^th Division of the IV-th Corps –Rucar Hill(height 650),Boeni Hill,Cocosila Hill(height 604),crossed Susita Valley at her intersection with the drive way and railway, near Carpati Factory, climbed Boldeanu Hill and Rachitasu Mountain(height 896),followed the ridges of Hills Slatnei and Munteanu ,on the northern shore of Vizantea Stream, until height 482,over Vizantea Minastireasca Village where it connected with the 3^rd Romanian Division. The Front had a lengt of 16 km and with sinusoids of 20 km, was split into three sectors:Cocosila Sector, ntil Boldeanu Hill, was kept by 44/68 Regiment,and at the left, in th Munteanu Sector was the Regiment 45/60.The fourth Regiment of the Division,46/61,was sent as reinforcement to the IV-th Corps on Oituz Front, such that the reserve of the Division was made by the three Battalions of the 1^st Regiment of March(ing)The Commander of the 12^th Division was General Traian Mosoiu,which in the campaign of autumn 1916 commanded one of the brigades of the 23^rd Division and then the Division, in the bloody fights of Olt Valley.

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The enemy offensive

The retreat has been executed so clever, such that, the enemy ,not suspecting anything, has bombarded violently the whole morning of 14^th of August our old positions which have been left, as well as Soveja Village, supposed to be also behind the Romanian front. Only in the afternoon he observed that has in front of him empty trenches and send cavalry patrols in reconnaissance , which have occupied Soveja. By evening, an enemy battalion ,from Soveja, have closed to Carpati Factory and saw the new Romanian front..The retreat of our front has been considered by the enemy as a sign of weakness. The Austrian Feldmarshal von Ruiz,which was commanding the Southern wing of Gerock Group, thought it as an occasion for making up for the Marasti defeat. The General was Commanding the 218^th German Division, which in the wake of the defeat suffered is strengthen with two Regiments of the 117^th German Division ,with half of the 37^th Division of Hanovezi, Hungarian,and 8^th Brigade of Mountain Austro-Hungarian. He orders to his troops to start the pursue of our Romanian Army, which seemed to him that is running away from him, with the order to attack her wherever they ‘ll meet her. The German front starts to move without any delay. At 15^th of August the enemy makes contact with the Romanian Army in several points.

Early in the morning ,the firsts German columns appear in front of Carpati Factory and at the foot of Rachitasu. The artillery of the 12^th Romanian Division has just reached the new postions and have not yet accurated her aiming; the infantry has not yet occupied the positions assigned,aspecialy that the troops had to elongate the front towards left, more. Still the lively fires of our artillery have spread quickly the dearing enemy columns .A new endeavor of closing in, made through the settle of the two Rachitas ,had the same result. But the Germans want to use the advantage presented by some troops in retreat..As the troops of the 218^th Division reach the Romanian front, they attack without a minute of delay .At 4 ,the Germans give an attack on a larger front:Boldeanu Hill-Carpati Factory-Cocosila Peak.In the absence of artillery, which have not yet arrived ,the German infantry attacks directly at bayonet, new and surprising thing on their side; after half an hour, the attack progresses to the East, between Rachitase. The whole center of the 12^th Romanian Division, without the extreme wings,is in this way engaged in the fight. Our artillery fires with the few cannons seated in batteries ;the infantry men fight to the bayonet and the enemy attack cannot progress .At five in the evening ,the Commander of the Division .sends a Romanian Detachment through Saratelu Valley ,in the right flank of the enemy which have attacked Rachitasu. The surrounding move succeeds. The Romanian detachment falls in the enemy flank, attacks him with violence, produce him great losses ,and force him to leave the position and the fight ;at 5,40 the situation is completely reestablished.

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Towards West the fir spreads containing not only the right wing of the 12^th Division, but also the front of the 8^th Division, neighbor. From morning till evening , the front of 8^th Division has attacked ,on Razboiului Mountain, as well as Slatinei Hill and Dealu Mare(Big Hill), in the junction zone with the 12^th Division. Starting with 4 in the afternoon, the Romanian positions are strongly bombarded by the enemy heavy artillery, installed on Plaiu Talimba and Masa lui Voda,and by 9 in the evening, the enemy troops, in force of two or three battalions ,have given a strong assault over our position on Muntele Razboiului(Razboiului Mountain)Although the position was strongly strengthened ,still, the tired troop by the carts of few nigts in a row, and by the unstopped works made for strengthening the position, enervated by the continuous enemy attacks ,has a moment of weakness and leaves the line. The enemy ,thus, occupies Razboiului Mountain(height 1014).Unfortunately ,we don’t have not even one company in reserve, to counterattack; we have though occupied strongly the neighbouring position :Culmea Razboiului and Slatina Hill(heights 833-962-855).

Between the 8^th Division and 12^th Division the enemy attack propagates along Dumicusului Valley,North of Cocosila Peak, while from the south are closing in,hidden through the corn field, the troops which have been rejected in the attack over the day.By nightfall,the enemy artillery,which have been put in position, is sustaining the attack with a storming bombardment. The troops of the 44^th Regiment, exhausted and with great losses ,are forced to leave Cocosila Peak and retreat a little.AT 2 n the night,though,with the help of a company from the 62^nd Regiment, counterattacking with violence the enemy,we reject him,and reconquer the peak on which the enemy has left a great number of dead. At 4 in the morning the line is completely reestablished. Cocosila remains in the hand of the 4^th Regiment soldiers, as Rachitasu remained in the hands of 62^nd Regiment.

In the evening of 16^th of August, taking advantage of a torrential rain which came across the field of battle,with a dark myst,the enemy has attacked again in two points. Along the driveway in Susita Valley awith the direction towards Carpati Factory and Cocosila,he attacked with three battalions of infantry of 5^th Landwehr and 20^th German Regiment and with cavalry.The attack ,made by surprise,without artillery preparing and with a desperate violence, did not succeed to inch our front and collapsed with great losses for the enemy, after three quarters of an hour ,of vainly forcing. In the same time ,another attack was given against Razboiului Height, on the front of 8^th Division, to exploit and complete the yesterday success. The height 962,has been attacked ,after an artillery preparing,by two enemy battalions: one Bosniac Alpiners and another of Hanovezi, disposed on three waves. They were left to close in to our wire fences ,than all of a sudden our artillery unleashed a barrier firing range sustained by shoot guns ,machineguns and grenades. The enemy has been rejected.Three times recame to attack, till 7 in the evening, and was always rejected, leaving on the terrain stacks of bodies

In the evening of 16^th of August, Gerock was convinced that the retreat of our front cannot be exploited in his favor .All the attacks have been rejected and our new line was well consolidated. He has to thank himself wit organizing his own positions, in his turn, in front of our front , waiting for better occasions.

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The attack of Rachitasu

20^th-22^nd of August

The German Offensive of 15^th and 16^th of August has not succeeded. In Ruiz opinion, because the attacks have been given not connected ,and without artillery prepare, without an unitary plan,with the first units arrived in the fighting zone, with the intention to pursue an enemy which was retreating and didi not had time to organize. The failure of this attempt ,made the Austrian General to noticed that he had wrong in his appreciations ,and convinced him that the success of attack cannot come unless is a an attack sufficiently prepared and methodically executed. The new attack over the center of the II-nd Army has been decided to be given immediately after the two attacks projected for the two neighbouring sectors: Marasesti and Oituz. The success of the two flank actions ,would have put the Romanian center in a very difficult situation and would have been determinant for the success of the German attack, which had to be given over Rachitasu, the central and dominant position of the 12^th Romanian Division.At 20^th of Augustin the morning, the German heavy artillery has started a violent bombardment over Rachitasu.Shells of great caliber have provoked damages to our positions the uncovered ridge of Rachitasu and big losses in the defending troops.The enemy attacks then with superior forces. The troops of three German Regiments:5^th Landwehr,294^th and 256 of the 218^th and 225^th Divisions, have given strong attacks to the destroyed positions of Rachitasu, while a secondary attack, demonstrative, was aiming Cocosila Peak.While the attack over Cocosila has been rejected, on Rachitasu the fights have been very ferocious and bloody. The enemy succeeded to occupy the peaks of Rachitasu, heights 891 and 895,but the Romanian troops have given in the afternoon three counterattacks.On the counter-incline of the peak ,our troops have managed to close in up to 40 m of the enemy trenches, where they remained pinned by the fires of his machineguns; on the ribs of the mountain our soldiers advanced ,to the left and also to the right,incercling almost completely the enemy; he was tus left with only one way to communicate with the behind ,namely through the height 767m,towards the settle of the two Rachitas. All through the night the adversaries remained in this position. Early in the morning,in the day of 21^st of August,the fight restarts in this position, immediately, with a very precise fire. The bombardment is violent, the positions are well sighted ,by both sides, the losses are great to us and to the enemy.

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The attack of our infantry is given with an elan and despise for death through the clouds of smoke and dust, which cover the ridge of Rachitas; at 12 o’clock both heights of the peak,891m and 895m are re-conquered by the soldiers of the 62^nd Romanian Regiment. But the Germans do not give up; they counterattack with grenades and machineguns. The Romanians are responding with bayonet. The artillery quiets, because she cannot distinguish between friend or foe in this furious crowds. The positions are conquered and lost ,one by one. The fight follows deadly till night fall, in a continuous move of advancing and rejecting. By evening, a Company of the 62 Regiment takes definitely the 891 height. The Company is conducted by the Reserve Lieutenant C.Constantinescu, actor of the National Theatre of Bucharest who dies of heroes death ahead of his troops. At nightfall, in the middle of the plateau ,covered with bodies and wounded which are moaning, the two adversaries have split the ridge: the Romanians are occupying height 891-from now on Height Lieutenant Constantinescu,-and the Germans height 895,at 40 steps ones in front of the others.

This situation could not convey for us. It would have kept the troops in a apprehension and continuous nerve racking and would have made that the complete loss of Rachitasu peack to hang by the success of a sudden attack, given by the enemy by surprise. Possessing the Peak was of great importance. t was-together with the twin peak of South-the dominant height of the region, mastering all the surroundings, excellent observation post from where the eye moves freely ,at North over Susita Valley and toward South until Putna Valley. To take full possession of the Peak ,it was decided ,for the day of 22^nd of August, to continue and intensify the action. During the morning, the troops were tidy up, from the mixture in the eve fights and were completed with troops of the Marching Regiments. It was also brought for strength a Battalion of the 28^th Regiment and a heavy battery(four cannons) of 120mm.The attack has to begin at 7 in the evening, under the Command of Colonel Grecescu ,the Commander of the sector. At 11 ,our artillery has started the firing range, which went increasing slowly in intensity. For not to hit our own troops, which were very close to the enemy position, our trenches have been evacuated at height 891,retreating the soldiers a little backwards. The enemy artillery has started to bombard ,strongly, with heavy cannons ,at 5,45.At 7 our infantry starts on several columns to attack convergent Rachitasu Peak, height 895.Over the column which advances through North ,the enemy throws a storm of fire ,but the column advances towards height 895.The Germans are formidable stronghold-ed on this height ,where they have built rows of trenches and of wire nets, which our artillery could not destroy. From their shelters ,well defended ,they throw like stone rain, machinegun fires ,which harvest the attackers pinned in front of the nets, while the heavy enemy artillery does not stop for a moment the killing barrier fire. The Romanian attack column remains isolated in the storm of fires ,because the columns to the West and South are a little behind, fighting with the bad terrain, of steeps and forests .The enemy tries a counterattack, which our troops reject ,but neither ours cannot advance, and at 9,30 in the evening they remain drained of powers and decimated by the infernal fire of the enemy in front of the stronghold of height 895.

The Western column advances with difficulty and reaches ,only around 11,30 in the night in front of height 895,where it is stopped by the enemy in front of 200-300 meters of their lines. The column which was coming from the North ,gives three assaults ,very violent, but did not manage to defeat the strong force opposed by the enemy. But neither the attackers way back; they stay in front of the wire nets in the thundering bombardment ,bring in the first line the machine guns and fight with fury. Two machineguns are crushed ,the servants are part killed ,part wounded ,but the heroes remain on the fighting place, although all around them the night had fallen completely .

Two Worker Companies are sent to the position to bring barb wire, with which our soldiers construct strongholds,at 40-200m in front of the enemy lines. Only towards the morning, the order to cease the attack brings some quiet on the troubled ridge. The enemy has maintained the line which passes through the points 895 and 767,and in his front, the Romanian troops have preserved and strengthen the positions earned with so many martyrs .

Rachitasu has remained,also, before in the middle of the battlefield, cut perpendicular by the front line, rising the bloodied peak, tireless guard over Vrancea Country, for friend or foe.

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The attack of Cocosila Peak

The failure of trial to conquer Rachitasu Peak,had as result the quieting of Vrancea sector for a few days. The Romanians have used this break to strengthen the positions occupied by the troops of 12^th Division, and the Germans to regroup their troops for a new attack. Renouncing at the trial of forcing by the front the position on Rachitasu, von Ruiz decided to chance the game ,trying to turn the position through the flank .He is looking to North-West, over Cocosila Peak, which rises like an angle from the falling of Dumicusului in Susita Valley, dominating the valley with driveway and railway. Conquering the peak by the Germans would have meant the turning over of the Romanian line which was prolonging to South –East. Attacked in flank and behind, the position on Rachitasu shoud have been evacuated, and the Romanians could not have found a line of leaning but only in the back of Susita River. On 26^th of August, at 7,50 in the morning the heavy German artillery has started a strong bombardment over Cocosila peak and over the Dumicusului Valley. In one hour more than 700 projectiles have fallen over our lines. All the works on the peak are turned over, the barb wire nets are broken ,the soldiers of the 44^th Regiment are buried under the fallen works .Interrupted for a short time the bombardment is started again at 11 o’clock ,with all calibers ,then at 12.Two airplanes are setting the enemy firing range. The bombardment is so precise and crushing, that is of no use to sacrifice the Romanian troops ,maintaining them in the midst of this inferno.By order the men are retreated on the counter-slope of the North-East hill. When around midday, the three battalions of the 5^th Landwehr Regiment start to assault,they occupy with almost no fight the trenches at height 604.There the Germans are strengthening and await the counterattacks, wich cannot delay to much. Taking advantage of the intervals of softening of bombardment, our troops give vigorous counterattacks. Some of the attacks ,given by troops of 44^th and 45^th Regimentsare stopped by the barrier firing range of the enemy troops; others manage to retake the position but cannot keep it and are losing it again. Eight attacks and counterattacks have followed ,till late in the night, covering the ridges of the peak with dead troops At midnight arrives the Reserve of the II-nd Corps; the 2^nd Hunters Regiment and a 75 mm battery.Early in the morning it will be given a surprise attack-after the model of Marasti attack-by the whole troops of the sector, strengthen by a battalion of the of Regimnt45/60.

Together with the attack of Cocosila ,the enemy has given a violent attack for diversion against Raachitasu ,which has been rejected with great losses.

After a very agitated night, with strong patrols attacks and with panics for no reson ,the dawns of 27^th of August, begin to appear. In the enemy trenches the soldiers are tired and watch the position weakly. Our soldiers start to climb on belly ,the slopes of Cocosila Peak,sneaking man after man ,behind evry terrain crest and every obstacle. They reach few meters of the enemy trenches, where they stay lay on to the ground ,waiting for the moment of the attack. At 6 in the morning, the rows stand up, like a resort and throw themselves over the enemy. Surprised ,this one is getting back and leaves the ridge. But from behind ,he is sustained by numerous machineguns, which harvest our rows and cut our elan .Our artillery ,enters then into action ;her lively fire makes barrier behind the enemy. The drama scenario completes itself; enters also the German artillery and her projectiles fall blindly in the midst of the confused crowds ,in which German and Romanian bodies clash furiously, clenched in desperate fight. At the right an isolated house has been strongholded by the enemy, and transformed into machinegun nest; they hit into flank our positions ,producing us great losses.

At 11 o’clock ,one part of the 604 height is in our hands. The Germans are trying two counterattacks ,which are rejected .New attacks ,both sides ,fall without success .Our artillery has managed to set well its aiming; any advance of the enemy is now forbidden .She sustains well a very vigorous attack which the enemy gives by evening The machineguns nest is taken with assault, the enemy is run away. His entire resistance line is occupied, Cocosila peak is entirely in our hands.It is 9 in the evening; the enemy exhausted ,gives up and does not counterattack anymore. The winning is ours ;we payed it with 15 Officers and 900 Soldiers, dead and wounded.

A last trial to surprise us by a sudden attack, given in the day of 28^th of August ,is immediately discovered and stopped in barrier fires of the artillery and machineguns of th Romanians ,before reaching the strongholds line.

Ruiz has to stop the fight .the battle is over. The 12^th Division has not lost a palm of terrain of the line established after her voluntary retreat of the night of 13^th-14^th of August. he Austrian General ,defeated in defensive at Marasti ,has not been luckier in offensive.

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A hit on Oituz front

In the same day ,in Oituz sector, where for a week the silence has been reestablished, the enemy has given a surprise attack against the troops of 12^th Romanian Brigade, one side and the other of Grozesti. North of Grozesti, after a serious bombardment with all kinds of calibers and with bombards, which kept for three hours, the enemy has attacked and occupied the trenches on height 383m and Negroponte Castle. The Romanian position was kept by troops of completion ,not enough trained ,send with few days advance, to fill in the gap of 11^th Siret Regiment. They have retreated after a weak resistance, and the enemy has taken almost 400 prisoners .South of Grozesti, the enemy managed to take from 12thCantemir Regiment, Albert Hill-height 408.

In the evening of the day though, the Romanian troops , rejected, strengthen by small units from reserve, have rejoined counterattack to re-conquer the lost positions. South of Grozesti, the soldiers of 12^th Cantemir Regiment have managed ,by flank attacks to away the enemy and reconquer our old positions on Albert Hill. At North though, the fight was given in very disadvantageous conditions. The soldiers of 11^th Siret Regiment,helped by a company of 7^th Regiment ,Hunters and by three escadrons from Calarasi Brigade, had to advance in uncovered terrain, swept by artillery, bombards and machineguns of the enemy ,installed on the dominant height of 383meters.Negroponte Castle and the height have remained in the hands of the enemy ,and our troops had to stop in front of the enemy positions where they dug trenches and set barb wire fence nets. In this way, the local success obtained by the enemy had no other effect but to prove that the Romanian guard was getting better and that if some local successes could be obtained with hits given by surprise, they were efemer and without any possibility of further important development. The attacks of the 28^th of August were the last trials of the enemy on the front of Vrancea and Oituz.The tried blows have not succeeded .The Romanian front prove it was solid. The German commandment was left with only one hope .And to accomplish it,he moved again the war action towards East, in Susita Valley on the heights of Muncelu.

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[1] In August 1917,on the Western Front,for example ,Feldmarshal Hindenburg has made two strategical retreats-in the sectors Serre and Lassigny in February and March.In October 1918 on the theatre of operations in France,the Germans have evacuated the sectors between Aisne and Reims,but have resisted between Cambrai and St.-Quentin,then they evacuate the line Armetieres-La Bassee-Lens.