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Remembered Today:

Romanian Campaign of 1916,Defending the Carpathians


razu

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On an edge of a hill ,in the outskirts of Valea Babei Village,under the crushing fire of the enemy ,Colonel Piperescu Nicolae ,the Commander of the 37th Brigade ,falls hit deadly by a bullet in the forehead ,when he was in the first line of shooters .The Colonel finds enaugh strengths to address words of spirit to their terrified soldiers ,then he asks and is brought the flag ,which he kisses with holly ,of the 69th Regiment ,which he drove with honour from Dorohoi to the heart of Ardeal and on the ridges filled with blood of Oituz.After few days ,he gives his soul in Pitesti Hospital ,leaving the memory of a soldier of breed ,harsh and unforgiving at duty ,heroic in the face of death .But the War is decided on other fronts .The invasion spread also from West and from South.It threatened the back of the troops fighting at Olt.The resistance has become now unuseful and also dangerous .Olt Corps had to break the fight and to start the retreat towards Pitesti.

At 25th of November ,Rimnicu Vilcea ,evacuated in the eve by Romanians ,is occupied by the enemy ,and the next day ,Topologul was crossed and the Alpine Corps was making the entrance into Curtea de Arges(Arges Court).

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The fall of Olt pass

Olt Valley is now ,finally,in the hands of the Germans .There are two months from the day in which Falkenhayn has started the battle of Sibiu ,which was supposed to open imediately Turnu Rosu Pass and the road of Olt.He needed ,however,two months of heavy fights ,for the German Kaiser 's soldiers to be able to pass in a free will on to the old road ,on which many invasion armies have been.And Olt River ,which along the centuries have rejected in his water waves,one by one ,the Roman aquila,Hungarian tufts ,Turk iatagans(Turkish curved-swords) and mirrors now the hat with spear of the German ,hits stronger than ever the "old wall of Cozia Monastery" and stories to the holly shadow the sad history of the hood which prepares the rising to the Sky by martyr and pain.Curious and characteristic twist of times!After more than five centuries ,were passing in front of the voievod(medieval King) the soldiers of the hood of those who fought as camarads of arms ,together with the Roman soldiers.The Chevaliers of Frederic de Zolern ,dressed in armours and with the cross on the chest ,have come at 1396 in an elan of sacrifices ,to defend the Christianity at Nicopolis(Battle of Nicopolis) ,together with the flower of French Nobility and by the wariors of Mircea cel Batrin(Mircea the Elder),against the Semy-moon which rose up invadatory.Today,their descendands ,smelling the rich prey ,were coming ,greedy ,to strangle the nephews of their former camarads of arms,which were defending their Kingdom.Time changes the souls of nations.,as those of individuals.

Entering in the old Capital(Arges Court) of the first Basarabs ,the German Commander ,from the Kaizer order ,puts a crown of flowers on the grave of King Carol of Romania,in Arges Cathedral .This act meant,less an injure brought to the old and wise King ,by the trial of showing that a crowned head could have had other interests and feelings than those of his people ,as it was more a demonstration against the nephew and successor of the King.The Germans could not forgive to King Ferdinand of Romania his Romanian attitude ,worthy of chevaliery traditions of his ilustruous nation.

Three days behind,the avanguards of Kraftt Group enterd Pitesti.The official German communicates pretends that in the fights on Olt Valley ,Kraftt Group has made a total of 14 451 prisoners,of which 101 officers and have taken 14 cannons.

The Romanian Group at Olt has been eaten slowly and slowly and defeated in the inequal fight which he sustained against the formidable adversary ,but his resistance of almost two months remains one of the most evocative evidence of the heroism and martyr of Romanian soldier.

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(Mircea the Elder,Wallachian Voievod(ruler) 1386-1418,Commander in the Battle of Nicopolis against the Ottoman Empire,25th of September 1396)

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b)The Breakthrough At Jiu

Preparing the great German offensive

The new endeavour made by the German Commandment at Jiu ,was the last card played on the Romanian War Theatre .If it would fail,the winter campaign would have to be considered as ended and the troops put to shelter for winter ,with all the incalculable consequences of such a measure .That is why ,the Big German Headquarter ,made yet another effort and send to Falkenhayn few more Divisions .A new Group has been cretated for the new battle ,decisseve.It was made,firstly,of the two German Division ,the 2nd Bavarian and the 301st ,of the dissolved Group Kneussl ,beaten at 27-30th of October ,at which it has been aded two new Divisions of Infantry brought from Riga Front ,where it was now quiet.It was the 41st Division of Infantry Prusian ,one of the best German units ,Commanded by General Schmidt von Knobelsdorff,former Chief of Staff of Kronnprinz ,at Verdun and the 109th Division ,under the Command of General von Oettinger.The Command of the Cavalry Corps ,made out of the two Cavalry Divisions ,6th and 7th ,strengthend with four armoured cars, remained handed to General von Schmettow.The Reseve of the Group was made by a new Division ,the 115th ,General von Kleist and a Brigade of Cyclists.The Command of the entire Goup -with a total of over 800 000 men and 30 000 horses -the most imposant force to operate till now on the Carpathians front ,has been handed to General Kuhne ,the Commander of the General Staff without troops of LIV-th Corps,which has been send on Transilvania some time ago,with the intention to take an offensive on Oituz Front ,to wich it gave up,eventually.The day of the attack has been set for 11th of November.

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The new offensive has been prepared in great style,with a method and minutiosity characteristic for Germans.Numerous troops of Pioneeres and big masses of population raised from the neighbour regions ,have been used at roads mending through the mountains and for the bridges of driveway Jiu.The cover material of the driveway has been strengthened to be able to support heavy cannons ,moved with tractors ,armoured cars and trucks.The deposits of food and ammunitions have been established through the mountains ,through different points of the pass.The troops have been provided with mountain dressings and equipment . Unended files of trains disembarked in train stations troops ,munnition,animals for hard work,provissions and all kind of material of war.The driveway in Jiu Defile which,unfortunately,was in the German's hands until the middle of the distance between Lainici and Bumbesti,has been used for the transport of the heavy artillery and light one and of some part of the troops.The railway Decauville,installed during the neutrality to serve for the transport of grains ,was also of great help to the Germans,as well.

When ,at 10th of November ,the masses of enemy troops have set in move ,the most rigorous measure of police ensured the order of the transports.Each detachment ,each vehicle ,each horse ,had the well established place in the columns of marching,but also for the stationary points.Lights instalations and of signalling ,telephone posts ,officers for special assignements,geandarmery posts.served at maintaining the discipline with a steel energy ,after special regullations.At the slightest of deviation of one's duty ,the punishment followed with severity;when a waggon went out of the marching column ,was mercylessly thrown in to the river.The exempar Germanic order made its effect;in the morning of the fatal day of 11th of November ,all the enemy forces were in attack position ,assigned.The desaster was redy to be unleashed over our heads.

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The surprise

During this time ,the Romanian positions were maintained by the troops of the Jiu Group constituted by a single Brigade of the 1st Division;the other Brigade of the Division was at Cerna.The reinforcements received from the neighbour sectors ,during the first Battle of Jiu,have been send back ,at their units.At our Commandment ,by a missjudgement,nobody was expecting for the enemy to repeat the strike in the same place where he has been defeated ,and the concentration of the formidable Army of Kuhne was made so descrete ,such that, ours ,did not notice anything.With cleverness,the German Commander was looking to distract the attention of Romanians over the preparatives made at Jiu.Falkenhayn installed himself ostentatively at Brasov ,were he kept a noisy activity ;he received guests,he organized military parades ,was making frequent visits to Predeal Front,making everything that, all these to get to the ears of our Commanders.Convinced thus ,that on Jiu Front it has been reestablished calm,the attention of the Romanian Commander went again over the other points of the Carpathian Front where the enemy ,looking always to mask his decissive strike prepared at Jiu ,gave violent attacks.Especially towards Arges were fixed our unrested eyes.To dam here the strong pressure of Krafft Group ,our Supreme Commander has taken measures to concentrate at Pitesti the Strategic Reserve,made up of the Divisions withdrew from Dobrogea Front and Moldavia ,and remade with the aid of deposit elements.This manoeuvre mass was supposed to take up the offensive simultaneously with the Russian offensive ,planned for so long, on Moldavian Mountains Front.In the midst of these preparatives ,unexpectedly,the lightninstrike fell at Jiu.

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The enemy attacks at 11th of November with four Divisions

As an introduction of the great battle ,even since the day of 10th of November ,Detachments of Kuhne Army attack the elevations in the left side of Jiu Valley.After fierce fights ,they managed to occupy Peaks Muncelu,Molidvisu and Urma Boului(the Trace of the Ox),making on this side ,in this way , a strong phallanx-guard.

In the morning of 11th of November ,a hurricane of fire unleashes from the mouths of over 250 cannons ,of all calibers ,over the Romanian positions .Under their protection ,started the atack of the four Divisions pf Infantry of the enemy.Unlike in the first Battle of Jiu ,the ax of the direction of the attack was not driveway Buliga anymore ,but even Jiu driveway itself.One side and the other of Jiu Valley have been placed the two Divisions ,fresh,of Kuhne Army ,which were supposed to force up the entering.On the West part of Jiu was the 41st Division ;on the Eastern part was the 109th Division.Behind the two Divisions,on Jiu driveway,were formed up for advance Divisions 11th and 301st.the Cavalry Corps was massed at the entering of North of Jiu Defile,waiting for the signall that the road is open,to begin the advance ,for invading the fields.At Petrosani was, in reserve the 115th Division .the attack was given on to a Front of 19 Miles ,from Molidvisului Peak -at East-until West of Buliga driveway.

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With all the pressure of this enormous mass ,the advance of the enemy was not so big in the first day.The brave resistance of Romanians brought to a stand still the elan of the enemy.At the right wing of 41st Division ,the Alpine Battalion Wurtemberger ,helped also by other enemy troops,fights all day to occupy Lesului(dead body) Hill ,height 1191 m,defended with bravery by two Companies of Gorj Regiment ,and only by evening they could seize it.The 41st German Division reaches in the evening Schela(scaffolding).From an elevation,North of Bumbesti ,from where he watched personally the fight,Falkenhayn notices that the advance at the wings was only about 1-2 Miles,as in the center the attack was obstacled by our position at Bumbesti and was almost on a full stop.A violent action of artillery had to be enterprized against Bumbestilor.At 11-12th of November ,during the wohole course of the days,the German mortiers throwed their enormous shells over the Romanian position,pulverizing the shelters and smashing the domes of the small 55 mm canons ,taken out from our declassed fortifications ,with which it was garnished the position.Only in the afternoon of 13th Romanians,exhausted and overwhelmed from all parts ,cedes to the enemy the ruins of Bumbesti.

On all roads and paths ,the unfinished columns of enemy descend and attack from all parts our few troops,which resist with superhuman efforts and do not leave the positions but only to occupy others imediate behind ,from where they start heroic counterattacks.The enemy himself confess to the bravery of our troops:"It is no doubt that Romanian Infantry fights bravely ;she shows daring and clever in defending her position in the mountains ,well organized ;ofcourse,she attacks with decissiveness in counteroffensive ;but it prooves very sensible to the artillery fire ,especially faced with the heavy calibers and not used with defence against the surrounding attacks , to which their artillery touching unsure ,cannot ensure in time the defence".

At 13th of November the troops of Jiu Corps have retreated on recollection line Valari-Rugi-Simbotin-barcaciu,mounted on Jiu.The Wutemberger Alpiners fight all day with a Romanian Detachment ,till they can master Valari.The two Romanian Companies ,defending Valari, have counterattacked the Alpiners Battalion Wutemberger three times and set him on the run;at the fourth attack ,the killing fire of the heavy artillery of the enemy forced the brave defenders to leave the position.For conquering Simbotinului,the Germans had to give seven consecutive attacks.

With the evacuation of Bumbesti and lossing line Valari-Simbotin-Barcaciu the principal driveway in the Defile of Jiu is all in to the hands of the enemy;by it, poured without interruption the artilley mass and the Infantry of Divisions 11th and 301st.Schmettow Cavalry begins the march to cross the Defile and enters the field North of Tirgu Jiu.The armoured automobiles ,with machineguns ,were running ,blasting the flanks of the Romanian columns.

Once out of the mountaineous region ,not a serious obstacle did not oppose anymore to the advance of the enemy.At 14th of November ,he is detained for a short time on stop,on line Turcinesti-Curtisoara,to cover the concentrations made by Romanians South of Tirgu Jiu.The enemy enters the City of Tirgu Jiu at 15th of November ,without fight ,as the groups at the wings have arrived in to the lateral valleys of Gilortului.

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DSC_0184-1.jpg

(Aerian photographic camera,made by Romanian Industry 1916-1918;binoculars which belonged to Brigadier General Alexandru Stoenescu ...etc)

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DSC_0100.jpg

(Mortier of great strength used by Austro -Hungarian Army ,for destroying concrete shelters,system Skoda ,model 1916,caliber 210 mm,prejectile 120 kg,range 500 m,quick firing;captured by Romanian Army during the Great War)

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DSC_0094.jpg

(Cannon ,quick firing,System Skoda ,150 mm,model 1915,used by Austro-Hungarian Army, for fire of interdiction at long distance ,firing range 11,4 Miles,weight 11500kg;the piece has been captured by the Romanian Army in 1918)

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(German militars captured during the fights at Jiu -November 1916)

The breaking of Romanian front

With the formidable mass of four Divisions of Infantry,Falkenhayn broke the Romanian Front line ,in a place where the guard was made by a Brigade !The breakthrough of the Romanian Front was made.The dam,which held for two months the might of the enemy ,broke and over it ,the furious wave went to the valley to drawn our fields.In unterminable columns ,Schmettow 's Cavalry started the march at the right wing of Kuhne's Army.Already ,Falkenhayn thought the game won.He took dispozitions for exploiting the success.The 11th Infantry Division was placed at the left wing of LIV-th Corps ;she will advance South-East ,to open up the road on Olt Valley in direction Dragasani,behind the Romanian Corps fighting at Olt River.The 301st Division will follow this one,as safety eshalon towards left,against some eventual attacks from Olt ,the LIV-th Corps -Divisions 109th and 41st -will continue the advance directly towards South,in Craiova direction.Ahead of them have been send the two Divisions of Cavalry which,in quick marchings ,will precede the marching of the Infantry ,in direction Filiasi-Strehaia.The role of the Cavalry is to cut the connections behind Romanian Cerna Group with the Kingdom and to clean the terrain,making thus easier the operations for the German Infantry.

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c)The Battle At Tirgu Jiu ,16-17th of November

The Romanian plan for Tirgu Jiu battle

The Battle of Tirgu Jiu has been concepted by the Romanian Commandment ,after a plan resembling much with the one of the first battle of Jiu.The place chosen for fight was the edge of elevations,which stretch South of Tirgu Jiu ,with general direction West-East,closing from South the bucket -the sub-Carpathians geographical depression -in which is placed the city(Tirgu-Jiu).The position is well chosen ;she follows on the Southern shore -a bit higher-of Armadiei Mici ,the line Capacioasa-Danesti-Cirbesti.At the left ,she leans over Jiu River;at the right ,on Gilort.If ,however,the positions were well chosen,the forces that General Vasilescu Paraschiv ,the Commander of the Ist Romanian Army,had at Jiu ,were not enaugh to dam the enemy wave.In complete ignorance ,about the formidable enemy he had in front,was made the plan for fight.At the center,the troops of Jiu Group will resist to the frontal attacks which the enemy will give against line Capacioasa -Danesti-Cirbesti,stretching towards West ,over Jiu River ,until Soimanesti.In the same time ,at the left wing ,a Mixt Detachment ,coming from Cerna through Baia de Arama (Copper Bath),will fall behind the enemy ,on his communication line .The principal manoeuvre will take place at our right wing ,on Gilortului Valley.A new Division ,the 17th Romanian*,brought from the remaking zone by trian,will advance in the flank and back of the enemy ,in Bumbesti direction ,towards the South mouth of the Defile ;a small Detachment ,coming from East ,from Olt Front,on driveway Babeni-Novaci ,will help the action of the 17th Division ,falling behind the enemy on this side.The plan was very good made and the situation adventurous ,in which the enemy placed himself,was well exploited .The success of the plan would have brought the complete destruction of the surrounding army and with the retreat line in this way cut.Only that,the raport of the forces ,situated face to face ,it was in absolute disadvantage for Romanians.Such a manoeuvre of surrounding on both flanks ,analogue with the one used by Falkenhayn at Sibiu ,asks from Romanians a strength ,at least equal with the one of the adversary,as ,in reality ,we had less than one third of his number:we had two uncomplete Divisions faced with seven enemy Divisions.And on top of this ,we had no luck at all.

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The Battle of Tirgu Jiu

Muntele Negru=Black Mountain ;Paring=Paring Mountain Massiff;Pasul Surduc=Surduc Pass;D. Piva=Piva Hill;so Pasul=Pass;;Germani=Germans;Romani=Romanians;Jiu=Jiu River;1606=1606 meters(aprox 4800 feet)

Front German=German Front

arrows=directions of enemy attacks

Tirgu Jiu=Tirgu Jiu Town

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The battle cooks up in conditions of great inferiority

The Detachment(Romanian) coming from Cerna was made out of three Battalions of Infantry,with artillery ,put under the Command of Colonel Taut.The Detachment could not reach in time the theatre of foght.He had to turn from his way and fight for its own safety.Such a fate had also the Detachment coming from Olt.This one was even weaker;only a single Battalion with three Escadrons and a Section of Artillery.the Olt Corps,caucht itself,in very heavy fights ,could not send more.The Detachment,strengthened with too fewer troops of the Jiu Corps,was also stopped between Cerna and Aninisu,at West of Novaci by the troops of 301st Division ,which were strengthening the right wing of the enemy.

To the highest lack of luck,one of the train transporting towards Jiu the troops of the 17th Romanian Division ,derailed at Filfani Village ,near Stolnici ,between Pitest and Slatina .It have stopped and delayed the transport of the aid troops,which were so much needed.Because of this ,the troops arrived with great delay on to the fighting front and during the fight .In the morning of 16th arrived five Battalions and a field battery ;till the evening of the day disembarked,in all 6000 men.Because of this ,the Romanian offensive planned for 16th of November ,has been postponed for the next day,after the arriving of the whole Division.The delay was fatal.The enemy,in complete possession of his fighting means,started the offensive towards Carbunesti ,surprizing the troops in course of disembarking ,whithout finishing the concentration.The Romanian troops ,arrived in the second day had to be thrown in to fight package by package ,imediately as they were disembarked in Train Stations Barbatesti and Carbunesti.The rest arrived after the end of the battle ,when it was too late.

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The unfolding of the battle

The battle at South of Tirgu Jiu took place in the two days of 16-17th of November.It was a tremendeous snowing with big and dense snowflakes , wich melted as they reached the Earth ,in to a cold ice water.The wind was blowing strong and was throwing vertigos of snow in the eyes of the fighters.Rarely was a battle given in such conditions of unequality between adversary forces ,like the one engaged at South of Tirgu Jiu.

The mass of the three German Division has exited the Defile of Jiu and was at 16th of November on a line West-East ,from Tirgu -Jiu to Gilort;the 301at Division was a little behind ,making the phallanx-guard of Kuhne's Army.The German Cavalry ,ahead of the Infantry ,attacks the positions occupied by the troops of Jiu Group.At our left wing,the 7th Division of Cavalry,German attacks between Tismana and Jiu on the line Somanesti-Cirbesti and is repulsed.At the center ,the 6th German Cavalry attacks the center of Romanian position ,but cannot advance either,as little as possible;the fight unfolds very lively around Danesti Village.At our right wing ,in Carbunesti region ,the 4th Ulans Regiment and parts of the 11th Bavarian Division attacks the troops of Jipa Group ,which are covering the disembarking of the 17th Romanian Division;in violent fight ,the enemy is repelled towards Stefanesti.The enemy Commander realizes the failure of the try made with Cavalry ;it is ,though ,a passing one because the mass of his Infantry ,fighting with the dense snowing and with the water mixed with snow on the roads,has reached by evening the fighting terrain;it will ghange the face of things.Kuhne retreats the 6th Division of Cavalry from the Front ,brings it at Tirgu Jiu and sends it to the Western wing ,in Tismana Valley.There,is concentrated now the whole mass of Cavalry,of which mission is fixed now at executing of a marching around in left Romanian flank.

In the place of Cavalry,takes place the Infantry of the enemy.The blizzard have completely masked the move.It is the only success with which Kuhne can brag for the day of 16th of November.

At the right side ,in Gilort Valley ,the concentration of the 17th Romanian Division may not be made at Albeni anymore ,as planned.The troops have to disembark at Barbatesti and follow the driveway Rogojeni-Boia,climbing towards North.

The day of 17th of November will be decissive in the battle at Tirgu Jiu .All night has snowed.In the morning,the snow of two palms ,covers the hills and valleys.The concentration of the enemy on to the fighting line is today acomplished.The Attack Group is made out of the mass of the three Divisions:Division 41st it is at the right side,mounted on Jiu;the 11th Bavarian Division is at the left side ,on Gilort ;between them at the center is the 109th Division ,with the Wurtemberger Alpiners ,with the 4th Ulans Regiment ,with the Cavalry Detachments of the three Divisions of the Group and with all the artillery ,heavy,of the 109th Division.

In front of the strong enemy left wing ,the 17th Romanian Division begins the offensive move ,along Gilortului with direction Bumbesti ;she has only five Battalions ,of which two of them had barely the time to jump down from the carriages ,to haste in to the fight ;four Battalions gather at Vidin,to form up the Reserve.With all the massing of the enemy forces at this wing,the Romanian attack is progressing.The troops of the 17th Division ,placed on three columns ,fight bravely;at 10 ,the right has reached Licurici ,the center at Carbunesti ,the left has occupied Curmatura Hill.The enemy sends four columns of attack against the Romanians .The fight is outstandingly violent,especially at our right flank ,which the enemy is looking to veil,but in vain.Patrols of Cavalry are signalled on Amaradiei Valley;a Romanian Battalion occupies Rogoci and brings to a stand still the enemy Cavalry.

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The enemy unfoldsthe totality of his forces summoned by him,at the Eastern wing and overwhelms with number,artillery power and multitude of machineguns ,the Romanians,which fight hoplessly.

The fourth Battalion of 15th Razboieni Regiment,Romanian,which has occupied Curmatura Hill ,has been attacked by a whole Bavarian Regiment.All day and evening ,till late in through the night ,the soldiers of the Battalion,which have received the order to resist till the last man,have fought with fury ,not giving up a palm of terrain.At 2 in the night ,the Battalion was completely destroyed.Three quarters of it ,remained dead on the terrain and wounded ;the rest,besides some prisoners ,have retreated crossing Gilortul through the frozen water.Towards Boia Stream and Carbunesti ,the 4th Battalion of 27th Bacau Regiment,Romanian,have sustained all day the fighting and has left on the terrain more than a half of his officers and soldiers,as dead and wounded.It was the Battalion which at 20th of October took part at Tipchesului assault ,near Bicaz.At their right side,the 4th Battalion of the 75th Regiment,Romanian,poor militia men and dispensed from Ialomita County ,which have learned to use the trigger and weapon in terrain,from Urziceni to Jiu,have entered directly in to the magineguns fires and have been cut down to the ground.Only by evening,the enemy occupies Boia and Tupsa .He has advanced ,after a day of fights a little.The night finds him 2 Miles South of line Petresti -Carbunesti,across Gilortului,held in harness by the line of the 17th Romanian Division.

Unfortunately,at the Western wing and at the center ,the battle has taken a grave twist for Romanians.The troops of Jiu Group form a defence line very thin,stretched from Somanesti ,over Jiu River,until Copacioasa having in front the masses of Infantry Divisions 41st and 109th Germans,and in the left flank Divisions 6th and 7th of Cavalry,Germans.The masses of enemy Cavalry advance by West of Jiu ,along and across Valleys of Bistricioarei and Tismana,going around or rejecting the weak Romanian Detachments and arrive in Motrului Valley ,at Brosteni and Rosia ,executing thus in the left Romanian flank a large move of going around.The wing of the principal Romanian position ,leaned over by Jiu at Cirbesti ,was completely turned . German Detachments of Cavalry were in the evening of 17th of November at Farcasesti,on the right shore of Jiu River,9 Miles behind Romanian position at Cirbesti.

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In the same time ,the troops of the German Divisions 41st and 109th attack by front the Romanian position at Cirbesti -Danesti-Copacioasa.The Romanian troops fight with a heroism which defies any description.The enemy suffers heavy casualties,but strong by its numbers ,advances impetuous over the handful of defenders.The elevations on the Eastern shore of Jiu ,between Cirbesti and Poiana -especially Bran Hill -are the theatre of very bloody fights ,given by both sides with savagery.Villages Danesti and Urechesti ,East of Cirbesti ,are defended without hope by soldiers from Regiments 18th and 58th Gorj,43rd and 59th.Five times are occupied by the Germans and as many times taken back by our undefeated soldiers.What remains in the hands of the enemy ,are broken pieces of units ,decimated ,overwhelmed by the invasioneers which pour in now from all directions.

In the afternoon ,the Romanian Front has been broken in the middle on a large length;the 41st Division advances in direction Vacarea-Pesteana ,the 109th Division on direction Sasa-Bratuia .The remains of the Romanian center retreat through Cioiana Valley ,in direction Rasina -Tunsi.The heads of the enemy columns have occupied on the left shore of Jiu,Pesteana ;they shake hand with the avanguards of Cavalry columns which descend on the right shore of the river.The enemy circle closes thus behind our positions at Cirbesti ,where Colonel Obogeanu,the Commander of the Sector ,wages disperate fight against the attacking columns from the North ,from Draganesti ,from East ,from Urechesti,and from West fro over Jiu River,by an enemy column which descended from Bistritei Valley.With all the dug out road by rains and snows ,the artillery manoeuvres precisely and keeps at respect the attacker.By evening,though,the retreat line is occupied by the enemy ;officers send in reconnoitring are received by enemy with fires .The situation is extremely critical;a catastrophe seems now eminent.

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Obogeanu evacuates the back of the hill at Cirbesti and starts the retreat towards South,placing his artillery in the middle ,framed by infantry;some small Detachments are left to retain the enemy ,sacrificing for saving the thick.The column ,advancing towards South ,finds Vladuleni Village ,at the half way of the road between Rovinari and Pesteana ,occupied by enemy forces .A ferocious fight begins at 7 in the evening ,Romanians attacking the enemy with energy of disperation,to make way.But the enemy positions are dominant and strengthened with numerous machinegun nests and strong artillery.From behind ,three armoured automobiles and infantry troops of the enemy pursue and attack the Romanian column ,and from over Jiu ,beggins to receive fires of heavy artillery;at Farcasesti ,in front of Vladulenilor ,have arrived a Brigade of Infantry and one of Cavalry ,Germans.So,surrounded from all parts!Hours of tightness of nerves are passing by.The Romanians do not succeed to force the way over.There is no hope of escape.On the right side of Jiu though,the Germans in safety of victory and of the eminent capture,do not take to much precaution measures.A ruined bridge over Jiu is unoccupied by them.Under the protection of a Battalion ,which makes face to the enemy towards Farcasesti ,Obogeanu saves the entire artillery ,crossing it over the bridge ,as the infantry crosses part on the bridge ,part through fords ,through the freezing water.It is a tremendeous frost ,the night is foggy.The crossing of the river is made in a complete silence ;not even a horse opened his mouth.All through the night the enemy fired and throwed with rockets .The next day,in the morning ,his metal circle tightened around the empty space ;on the theatre of drama was only the Battalion of sacrifice ,left there,gathered around his boxes of cartridges!The thick of the column of Obogeanu ,with intact artillery ,was at 11 miles away South ,on Filiasi road.

The fate of the battle was now decided.With all the heroic defence of the right Romanian wing,the situation was threatened because of the retreat of the left wing on line Pesteana-Rasina-Tunis,from where the enemy threatens to take in flank the positions at South of Petresti-Carbunesti.Overwhelmed by the imense superiority of the enemy ,which was pouring from all parts in unfinished masses ,the Romanians found themselves forced to break the fight also at the right wing and to retreat during the night on to the Eastern shore of Gilortului ,towards South.The fields ,hills and woods covered in snow ,were scattered with dead bodies of the heroic defenders and by the multitude of wounded ,which have been left by the unhuman enemy to die ,after days of torments and carelessness.

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The overflowing of the invasioneers

The Battle at Jiu was ended.We have been defeated by the great numerical superiority and technical one of the adversary.Tha last barrier and which we thought we can held at South of Tirgu Jiu ,in our ignorrance of the forces with which presented himself ,this time, the adversary,has been wiped out.Nothing opposed now to the invasion of the Kongdom.

At West of Jiu ,by Motrului Valley and on the neighbouring roads ,the unnumbered masses of German Cavalry and his armoured automobiles were pouring down like an arson over the Romanian villages.Along Jiu Valley ,the remains of Jiu Group ,reduced at 1800 men of infantry ,tired and with lowered moral ,were retreating towards Filiasi ,resisting with artillery on to positions ,successively.Along Armadiei was retreating the 17th Division ,which numbered barely 2000 fighters.

At 18th of November ,the heads of the German columns and the armoured automobiles ,touched the railway Turnu-Severin-Craiova ,at Prunisor and Strehaia.The rail has been damaged in several points .The connection with Turnu Severin and with the Division from Cerna was cut.At 19th of November ,the resistance tried by the Romanian troops at Filiasi with the intention to cover the advancement of the reinforcements which the Great Romanian Headquarter wanted to send in Oltenia ,has been defeated by the overwhelming number of the enemy,which was pursuing close,drunk with the obtained success.

The enemy was descending with the thick of Khune Army -Divisions 41st,109th and 11th -Valleys of Jiu ,Gilortului and Amaradiei;at the Eastern wing ,the 301st Division which during the Jiu Battle remained stuck at Novaci,in front of the Rmanian Detachment send from Olt,was passing now ,as well,the Valley of Oltet and then in Cerna Valley with direction Dragasani.The 115th Division was exiting Jiu Defile and followed ,as reserve of the bulk of the Army.

A last and in vain resistance is tried at the crossing of Amaradiei,of which bridges have been destroyed.The lowered waters of the rivers favorized the advance of the enemy.

At 21st of November in the morning,an Escadron of armoured automobiles ,under the Command of Major Borke ,entered Craiova by West ,as by North were entering the avanguards of the 41st Infantry Division.

The land of Oltenia ,the region of the oldest Romanian-ism ,one of the most clean and proud places of Romanian energies ,was receiving first the insult of the German hoofs.The Romanian catastrophe begun[12].

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Notes

[1]Ever since the offensive in March,the Italians followed to conquer Grozia,but without success.During the 6th offensive on Isonzo,the Italians cross Isonzo and conquer Gorizia at 8th of August.The Austro-Hungarian Army executes an operation of general retreat on Carso(Kars),at 10th of August 1916.

[2] Brusilov Army has retaken the offensive on the Russian Front of South-West in direction Kovel at 28th of July 1916,continuing the advance towards this center and at South of Nistru till the end of the month,for then his offensive capacity to be epuisated.

[3]Eremia Grigorescu(1864-1919).

[4]Austrian Empress ,assasinated by anarchists in 1898.

[5]Carol Ist Robert,King of Hungary(1308-1342).

[6]Sigismund de Luxemburg,King of Hungary (1387-1437).

[7]Batlle of Posada between the Army of Romanian Country(Wallachia) and the Hungarian one ,took place at 9-12th of November 1330.

[8]Localities of Belgium and France of North-East occupied ,plundered and partially destroyed by German troops during 1914 campaign.

[10]During 1915 campaign ,on Russian German Front.

[11] In July August 1916,on Oriental Front _Russian Front of South-West).

[12] Fr this stage of military operations ,see A" page of our War.The Fight at Jiu 14/27 October ",Atanasiu I,,Bucuresti 1936.

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  • 7 years later...
Guest Florin Bosoteanu

Hello Andrei,

Thhank you for all this history and pictures, is really great.

I have study from several years on the battle fields all aspects of great war battles and I have been in many locations you mentioned, having now a little "museum" with artefacts I found in the ground.

I have a question, regarding fight in October 1916 in Asau, place named by you "Poiana Edera". I am close to this place, but nobody knows where is it. Can you help me?

Thank you!

Florin

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