Romanian Campaign of 1918 .Resurrection.

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Chapter III

RESURRECTION

The defeat of the central powers

The year 1918 had to bring the decissive.The nations could no longer withstand for a long while now the horrors and privations imposed by the Great War.Especiaaly the central powers were exhausted.austria was not hiding to anyone ,neither to the ally ,nor to the enemy ,that a new winter campaign was alltogether excluded from the domain of possibilities.bulgaria and turkey were at the end of their efforts.germania itself was carrying with great difficulty the burden of the War and the one of its allies ,which they had to support with man and materials.

Tired for more than three years of superhuman effort ,germania was decided that in this year to try the supreme effort to end the War[1].The taking out of the figth of Russia and Romania was making this task easyer.Numerous divisions which have become inutile on the Oriental Front ,have been brougth on the Western Front .With the army in this way considerable increased,equiped with a prodigious technic material ,with new tactical methods of figth ,Ludendorff gave in the spring of the year 1918 the big blow on the French Front."Die Kaiserschlacht "-the battle of the Emperor-unleashed in Picardia at 21st of March .One million german soldiers attack and smash the British Front ,on a width of 60 km.The germans have arrived in front of Amiens.A giant cannon [2] was bombarding Paris from 120 km distance.The emotion has been considerable.Without a doubt,the victory of the germans was a great one.But after thirteen days ,the conqueror had to stop,drained out of powers and blood loss,in front of the new French-British Front ,which has remade itself.

A second offensive have been started at 9th of April in Flandra with the same result ;great inital success ,then tiredness and full stop;the French -British Front shaken ,pushed ,bud solid remade.A third offensive ,started at 27th of May ,against the celebre "Chemin des Dames", brought again the germans at Marna ;the French troops ,surprised and defeated ,maneged this time as well to remake the Front around the great german outing which was threatening Paris from 80 km distance.

The lack of decission of the german victories ,with all the imense losses with which they were linked,have shaken the german moral.The untrust in the victorious ending was gaining terrain more and more.The foreign affairs minister Kuhlman had the courage to declare in Reichstag that the War cannot be waged on the field of battle anymore and thus had to be started the diplomatic tratatives.This sincerity has been ftal to him ;few days latter he had to leave the ministry.

But during this time the Entente ,barriering the blows of the enemy ,was finishing her preparations for the supreme strike.She manages to acomplish the ideea of unique Commandment :Foch will lead the reunited Armies to victory[3].The military organization of United States was beginning to give its fruits.With all the watching of the submarines ,huge convoys of ships were carrying over the ocean and disembarking on the French soil hundred of thousands of American soldiers every month.And the French-British technic has defeated the german one :thousands of tanks ,the newest weapon ,were crowding behind the Front line.Their apparition on to the figthing Front[4] will be decissive for the victory.The mastering of the air has begun also to be on Entente side.There could now be no doubt .The superiority of the Entente was now ensured.The War has reached its big turning point.

At 15th of July the germans begin ,in the presence of the Emperor ,the fourth offensive which had to bring them in front of Paris.But Marna have been for the second time fatal to them.At 18th of July unleashes Foch's counteroffensive .In powerful strikes ,the germans are throwed back over Marna and lose all the gained terrain in the third offensive.A month before ,the austrians tried a last offensive against the Italians ,but have been forced to cross back Piave[5].

The decline of the austro-german military power had started.Foch enterprized the series of blows which make the most formidable battle recorded in the history of states.At 8th of August ,Foch breaks the german Front on Somme .The blow is so strong ,the german defeat is so complete ,that Ludendorff loses his head.He announces the Emperor that the War cannot be won now.The blows flow one after the other .The germans retreat on Siegfried line ,which they think inexpungable ,but are repelled from there too.In unceasless figths ,when on a point when on another of the big field of battle ,French,British ,Americans attack and defeat the germans,conquering their positions ,take tens of thousands of prisoners .The german army has lost not only the offensive strength ,but is on the way of losing the resistance one too.The moral is shaken .The final defeat is sure.The soldier is fed up with War.The cancelaries on Berlin and Viena are waiting for a favorable occassion to offer the peace ,before the unfolding of the War to put them in front of the final desastre.

At once the catastrophe produces in the Orient.In the Balkans ( Balkans Peninsula) ,the Armies of the Entente were keeping for two years the Front in front of Monastir ,as it has been fixed at the ending of figths in the autumn 1916.It is known that the less importance atributed by Joffre and Kitchener to this Front ,had paralized the action of General Sarrail and have been one of the causes of the disastre of the Romanian Campaign of 1916.A better understanding of the importance of the Balkans Front from the part of Marshal Foch made possible the reorganization and strengthening of the Armies at Salonic.In front of the enemy ,made out of austro-hungarian troops in Albania ,bulgarians and germans in Macedonia ,general Franchet d'Esperey ,the new Commander ,had now a strong Army made out of French divisions ,British ones ,Italians,Serb and Greek[6], has streched a continuous Front from the Adriatic Sea to the Egee Sea .

At 15th of September ,Franchet d'Esperey attacks and breaks the center of bulgarian Front ,at Dobropolje;the bulgarians are alltogether demoralized.Incapable to opose resistance ,they begin a desastrous retreat ,which transforms in running.The whole enemy Front is disorganized.Franchet advances with the speed of ligthningstrike.Ten days after the beginning of the battle ,the French Cavalry entered in Uskub[7] .The bulgarians are surrendering in mass [8].The prey of the Allied Armies numbers 77 000 prisoners,three Generals ,1 500 officers ,400 cannons etc;the prisoner army is interned in a huge camp at Florina.The victory of the Allies is complete.At 29th of September ,the bulgarian delegates sign at Salonic the truce which meant the complete capitulation of bulgaria[9],and in a few days, latter ,Tzar Ferdinand of Coburg was abdicating in the favour of hi son Boris[10] and was running over the frontier ,accompanied by Radoslavov and the other accomplices with which they sawed his criminal politic.

The victory in the Balkanic Peninsula was of a considerable importance for the High Leadership of the War.The strategy and politic of the Entente have found themselves at one of the greatest cross roads of the War and went on the good direction.In the big controversy between the "Westerners" and "Easterners" of the Entente,the latter ones have won.The reality of the facts gave them the most brilliant satisfaction .The fate of the War was decided in the Balkans!The victory of Franchet was a decissive one also for the fate of turkey.Exhausted by the lenght of the War and by the defeats suffered in Palestina and Siria [11] ,separated by the two central Empires which were procurring the means of figth and infussioned in an artificial way the force of resistance ,turkey was condemned to leave in its turn the War, and from the alliance, and capitulate.This has even happened in the second half of October[12].

The defeat of bulgaria and taking her out of the figth ,was uncovering completely the flank of the central Empires from the South and opened the large gate to the invasion.Then ,the austro-hungarian armies ,which were retreating through Albania and Serbia ,the Armies of Franchet d'Esperey were advancing victorious ,liberating Serbia and were closing in Danube River.The central powers were garhering in haste whatever they had available to send imediately towards South ,with the intention to reconstitue a new Front.Franchet was at the Danube [13] and was making preparatives to advance towards Budapesta.But at Paris and London ,the politic took again the step ahead strategy.In an imperious telegram ,the first French prime minister Clemenceau invites Franchet d'Esperey "to end his personal initiatives" and to suspend the marching towards Budapesta.The British troops of the Allied Army pass under the Command of a British General and are headed towards Constantinopol[14].

Even during the day of the bulgarian desastre ,austria has made to America the proposition to enter peace tratatives.Face with the catastrophe which was closing with quick steps ,at 5th of October,the two central Empires address to president Wilson the request of closing of a truce on all Fronts ,for the purpose of peace.The agony of the central Empires have started.It will end in a month with the collapsing of the two Empires,with the falling of the Thrones,with the triumph of the rigth one and freedom of the martyr nations.

The events in Europe repercutated in Romania

Romania was watching with her breath taken away of emotion,the unfolding of the events on the French theatre of War.It was without any doubt that the cannons on Lys,Somme,Oise and Marna will decide the validity or invalidity of the Treaty of Bucharest 1918 .On the fields and hills of France of North-East ,and not at Iasi and Bucharest ,was written now the page ,most decissive,of the history of Romania.

The successes of the german offensive in the spring of 1918 brought a deep consternation amongst people in the country.The Romanians were reliving the days of unrest and pain in the autumn of 1916.It seemed as if a catastrophe of Entente is eminent and that the ground is condemned to suffer the german domination.In Bucharest ,the evening communicates ,of german origin,were postered on to the walls of the Post Pallace,and were awaited with unrest by a huge crowd.The triumphants ,showing their satisfaction with insollence ,german officers were giving reading in a loud voice to the telegrames which were announcing the victories:"Bapaume ist gefallen.Peronne ist gennomen..."[16] .They were falling like hummer blows in the hearts of Romanians ,which were listening in quiet and without hope in their souls .In two central points of the Capital huge maps of the War theatre were indicating ,with the help of a red cord ,the progresses of the german armies and the widening of the conquered terrain.The cord has become for Bucharesters the barometer of recording the storm in the West ,and each pushing of it ,corresponding to a new leap of the german Front ahead,was obliterating an illussion and drawned a hope.Cursed cord!With how much missfortune were looking it the Bucharesters and hated it to see it hanged on the neck of the german which was adjusting it with the finger ,with a grim of satisfaction!

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But over the summer the content of the telegrams starts to change.The throwing of the germans over Marna ,the breaking of the german Front on Somme ,are revelator phenomenons.It was the beginning of the end.Changes also the aspect of the street in Bucharest .In front of the communicate at the Post Palace ,the german militars throw sneaked glances ."Vorlesen!"(Read loud) they shout irroniclly Romanians from behind,repeating the scenes from the spring ,with roles and changed intentions.But the germans leave in haste some mombling with threat,others gasp.And on the maps ,the red cord ,so quick before ,gets stubborn to keep a revolting imobility!Romanians make jokes or protest .The germans infuriates and become brutal.There are made arrests in public and the arrestees are carried in punches to the military police section .One day ,in the same time with the collapsing of the Siegfried line,the maps dissappear.It is a pitty that the red cord is not to be found in one of our museums windows of our War ;it drew ,with its red line ,many missfortuned hours from the War life of the enslaved Capital.

In Iasi, the spiritual atmosphere was becomming burden like.The Capital of the resistance starts to hesitate.The Peace of Bucharest and the defeats on the Western Front were starting to leave without hope the stong ones.The leaving of the French Mission left the the Romanians without they strongest support.The polemics of the new newspapers and the campaign of Marghiloman government against the "authors of the War" were producing a discouraging effect ,which a chained press could not neutralize.Still,the political leaders ,Ententophils were at their figthing posts.

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Unshaken in feelings ,their ideeas and hopes ,the men of state which have declared and led the War were keeping a ferm attitude ,sustaining the moral of the public and cultivating the most tight connections with the representatives of the Entente,which continued to consider us as their Allies.The legations of the Allied countries became a sort of oasis of hopes and courage in the spiritual desert which started to surround us.Here came the political men ,which have remained faithful to the politic of the War ,to keep the contact with the governments which they represented and to refresh the courage.Around them the people were crowding ,to read the real news ,escaped by the censure of the government.The rapports of the foreign ministers of marghiloman government were cold and strict protocolary;the political matters were dealt with Bratianu ,and the military ones with Prezan ,although these ones had no official situation.

The Sovereigns of the country were keeping the same dignified attitude and patriotic ,enduring with bravery all trials ,believing in the final victory of justice and of the cause of their nation.In the hour when it was imposed to receive the peace which was unbirthing the Army ,H.M. the King was going ostentativelly at Husi to receive the oath of the new recruits ,which would be trained to increase and strengthen this Army ,for the turn of the War which was expected.Before they went to their homes ,the soldiers of the I-st Romanian Army and II-nd Romanian Army ,the Mountain Hunters ,the Hunters of the 9th Regiment ,have seen once more their beloved King ,with the looks overwhelmed of sadness ,with slow talk ,drawned in tears ,but with relentless spirit ,bringing them the manhooding word.And when in the heroic Iasi have installed the german military mission in the crowds of friends ,accomplices and vasals ,H.M. the King has retreated at Bicaz ,to not see the odious sight.

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This dispozition was repercutating over the activity of the government .The government was looking to fulfil its public and secret obligations ,contracted to the occupant.Figthing between two extremes,on one hand the effort to be liked by the occupant ,and on the other the fraid to not uncontent and hurt too much the national feelings of the country ,foreseeing the complications which started to be prefelt ,the Marghiloman government started to be suspected by the central powers .The intrigues of the camaradery Carp-Beldiman and of the prusian junkers did not contribute with less to this.It was imputed to Marghiloman delays in surrendering the War material and transporting it in the occupied territory ,hesitations in the judging and punishing of the former Government ,unexecuting the obligation to give amnisty to the desertors and traitors ,toleration of public agitations also through press against the central powers .Because of this delay and hessitations ,the change of ratifications of the treaty of Bucharest ,which was supposed to take place at Viena ,has not been executed.

The press and the governments of the central powers started to become threatening."Herr Marghiloman muss deutlicher werden"(Mr Marghiloman must be more clarified),was the word of order .Towards the end of August ,the governments and general staffs,germans and austro-hungarians started the tratatives with the goal of constraining by army force of "Rebell Romania'.Ludendorff proposed the reopening of a military campaign against Romania.All the competent factors agreed:the foreign ministers Hintze[17] and Burian ,the austro-hungar generalisim von Arz .The troops in Ucraine ,which were available ,have been attentioned to make preparations for the eventuality of an attak over Romania from behind.Romania,disarmed by the treaty of Bucharest ,surrounded from all parts ,would have given to the austro german armies the occassion of an easy victory ,to golden their prestige ,erased by the defeats in the West ,with a cheap shine of false polish.But Emperor Carol of Austria opposed categorically to any movement of troops .he was preparing to make to Wilson an offer of peace and it was indispensable to convince him by deeds of the sincerity of His inttentions ,pacifist ones;a new offensive against a disarmed state would have souned all together discordant with this undertaking .That is why ,the central powers made, only a very strong diplomatic pressure ,of which echo was sounding in press attacks .Marghiloman ,intimidated ,gives in and takes a series of measures which satisfy the occupants ,giving them the impression of a reentering on the way of good intentions.

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At 25th of September ,the delegats of the four states of the enemy was signing at Berlin the protocol by which Dobrogea ,which by the Peace of Bucharest has been attributed to the enmy powers in condominium ,was given entirely and without any restriction to bulgaria.The bulgaro -turkish litige ,which has delayed this solution ,has been overcome.Four days before ,the bulgarian delegate Kolusev was arriving at Sofia with the pretious document in his wallet.But during the same day ,at Salonic was signed another act more important .bulgaria was capitulating and was leaving the figth .Dobrogea belonged to bulgaria just the time needed for the document to travel from Berlin to Sofia!

The leaving of bulgaria of the figth ,in conditions which the central-powers qualified as treason ,changed not only the ballance of the War ,which was inclining more and more on the Entente side,but modified radically also the attitude of the central powers face with their former allies .At Bucharest ,the bulgarians were becoming odios to the germans ;hard words were thrown to them.The bulgarian firms and flags started to be descended.Doma bulgarski ofitiri i vointi from Capsa restaurant was in liquidation .The bulgarians were leaving the country.

A new situation was created both for the austro-german army of occupation ,as for Romania .One and the other feel that they are in the eve of important and decissive events.

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The Allied Armies at the Danube

The truce of Salonic was eliminating in fact the central powers from Danube River.The allied army ,germano-austro-bulgarian did not exist anymore.All that could be found as bulgarian army at West of the meridian passing through Uskub-90 000 men -put the arms down and has been made prisoner.The rest of the soldiers entered the country ,demoralised set to uprising[18].The austro-hungar divisions were retreating towards Danube ,abandoning to Franchet d'Esperey terrain ,material and prisoners .At 30th October ,Serbia was eliberated.The germans retreat through bulgaria ,harass with the bulgarians and cross the Danube in Romania.The Balkans Campaign of the central powers has ended;the Balkans Peninsula was lost for the politic of the two Empires.

Concerned ,the governments and headquarters of the central powers have to seek to cover their Southern flank ,uncovered.A new line must be organized along Danube and Sava(Savei).Few divisions from Ucraine ,considered as not being absolutelly indispensable there ,are send in the South of austro-hungary and at the Danube,where have organised with nine divisions a new army under the command of marshal Koves.The occupation army in Romania strengthens with the XI-th german army ,retreated in Balkans Peninsula .Mackensen has to defend with this army the line Danube -Banat -Muntenia ,to cover the back of the central powers and maintain occupied Romania.The germans cannot give up the Romanian petrolium.

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The commander of the german troops in Romania starts to be tortured by great concerns .He is sure he is going to be attacked from the South.From one moment to another ,he is expecting the apparition of Franchet 's avanguards at Danube.He must confront though with a new threat .The capitulation of turkey is eminent.By the opened narrows ,the Entente could now send her fleet and Army in the Black Sea and to threat also from the flank the german army in Romania .The greatest threat for the army of the marshal was coming however from behind.There, in Moldavia ,was boiling the kneeled and defeated country .The germans were making now illusion about the feelings and intentions of Romania.Her exit from the war has been the effect of isolation in which she has been thrown by the events in Russia.The soul of Romania has remained with the Entente ,and the hostility of Romania towards the central Empires increased thus even more because of the tirany regime imposed to the country by the conquerer.It was to be foreseen that ,imediatelly when the isolation of Romania will cease ,against the protests of loyalism from Marghiloman government ,she will haste to retake her position together with the Allies by which she has been brutally separated .Mackensen knew that the eyes of Romanians are aimed with unrest over the Danube ,where he expects with emotion the apparition of the Allied Armies ,and the arms ,crossed over the chest ,start to open up and seek for the weapon.

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The german commander is making is calculations .He has in the occupied territory six figthing divisions and numerous troops of militia ,used in the economy services.Adding the troops in Dobrogea ,the ones brought from Ucraine ,the ones crossed this side of the Danube from bulgaria ,the ones disembarked from Caucaz and Asia Minor after the capitulation of turkey ,as well as the troops of the XI-th army from Banat ,Mackensen has a total of 170 000 men.On the mountaineous frontier of Moldavia ,the army of Archduke Iosif has disolved;there were there only weak detachments of frontier army.it is true that the Romanian Army from Moldavia could not acount for the time being as a threatening figthing force.According to the peace Treaty ,the Romanian Divisions have been reduced to peace effectives ,having fixed by the treaty a total of 20 000 men for Infantry ,3 200 at Cavalry and 9000 for Artillery.The only formations important were the troops in Basarabia :two Divisions ,old,with war effectives and other more recent formations.Great quantities of material and horses have been crossed in the occupied territory and surrendered to the germans.Still,Moldavia had great quantities of material and munitions in Russian deposits and,with all the hardships ,would have gathered quick around the existent nucleus an Army of which value Makensen was introduced to at Marasesti.

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The reentering into the figth of the Romanian Army ,together with the apparition of the Allied Armies at the Danube ,was thus an eventuality which opened many probabilities of acomplishing.It would have meant War on two Fronts,an ugly perspective for Mackensen and an impossible figth to sustain.At 12th of October ,marshal Mackensen has received from the great german headquarter the order which was clarifying his mission and was indicating the attitude he mast assume:"The circumstances ask that we keep further Romania ,as much as possible.For this,the group of armies will resist with the forces at its dispozition against the enemy attacks which will be made with weak forces at the Danube.If,however the Entente attacks with strong forces ,then Muntenia would have to be evacuated step by step"159.

Because the military means the germans were considered as insufficient ,Mackensen has been authorized to enter political tratatives,to delay or even obstacle the frightening intervention of Romanians.Romania has to be dizzied with diplomatic tratatives and tempted with gifts.The most important was Dobrogea.From the moment when the bulgarian mate broke the camaradery,germania was finding that is natural to take back the payment.Dobrogea has been again offered to Romania .Ofcourse,the germans were keeping further the railway line Cernavoda-Constanta and the harbour of Constanta.The Romanian government has been adviced to reoccupy Dobrogea from bulgarians which were helding her occupied militarily.The gesture of germany was less serious.On the brink of collapse ,she was offering what she was not capable neither to keep any more,nor even to offer.Marghiloman thought that he can continue his politic of attaching to the central powers ,changing only the form:it will be based on a friendly cooperation with these states.He started the tratatives ,not only for an amical reglementation of Dobrogea matter ,but also for reviewing of other conditions of the peace treaty ,in which the germans ,forced by the grave situation in which they were ,were now willing to give.

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But the tratatives of Mackensen with Marghiloman ,which were seeking to reach an understanding by which the first one to save his army ,and the second one the government ,did not reach any positive result.Against them rises,indignated ,the national conscience which,realysing better the reality of the situation ,did not understood to bargain with the oppressor which was collapsing ,nor to receive concessions from his part.

Romania martyrized will rise again by her own will and of her Allies .The great referee of the Mondial War assumed as well decissive position ,next to the older Allies ,for Romania and her revendications ,by the importance of the declaration of 6th of November of Lansing ,communicated by the Romanian National Council from Paris ,by which it was afirming the support of the government of United States at the realysing of political rights and territorial of Romania.

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The slaves shake the chains

The population of the Capital tasked herself to show in the most clear way which are the feelings towards to the germans and which are the perspectives of an amical liquidation of the occupation regime.

Sunday,3rd of November ,it was a beautiful autumn day ,with sun.Calea Victoriei(boulevard) was full with people.A rumor,came from nowhere ,spreads in the public:at Athene -Palace(hotel in Royal Plaza) ,where is the headquarter of the group of armies Mackensen,O.K.M. ,would have arrived from Rusciuk a dellegation of French officers to negotiate the leaving or capitulation of the german army of occupation .The public realizes that the situation of this army was critical ;that at the Danube arrives the French Army ,and the retreat roads through Ardeal and hungary become more and more unsure ,because of the exiting of the War of austro-hungary[19] and of the revolution preparing.That is why, the news is believed.

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In front of the big hotel ,people are crowding ,wishing to see and salute the messengers of friendly and victorious France.The women have brought flowers ,the men cheer them for a long time.A Romanian officer appears in the balcony and affirms on his word of honour ,that the news is not exact ;there is no French officer in the Capital .No problem.The crowd remains to cheer ,not the men ,but the ideea .The triumph is near ,and this population ,which endures for two years a heavy burden ,has the right to enjoy ,salutting the aorora of liberty which is announcing.

In the garden of the Romanian Atheneum ,a german military music starts to sing a patriotic piece :"Ich bin ein Preusse..."[20] .But the public cannot allow any more .Protest rise ,first shy ,then vehemently.The mussicians are apostrofated with heavy words :"Sing the Marssilieze!Sing the anthemn of the victorious ,you defeated ones!"The indignated voice of the public ,which shouts ,chokes the sound of the music.The hands and the walking sticks begin to rise up in a threatening way.The daring of the slaves is unheard of ,but the moral of the masters is not the one before.The self estime and pride have vanished.The thought for tomorrow freezes the souls.An instinc of prudence ,neighbour with cowardice ,begins to make way.The mussicians gather their instruments and leave with skin on their teeth.

Strong aclamations salute the first victory of the enslaved Bucharests .From the middle of the crowd ,which now have filled the square in front of the Episcopy ,a voice begins:"Allons enfants de la patria !"[21].And strong ,great ,rise up from thousands of chests the impressionant accents of Marssilieze under the windows of the Great German Hedquarter.It is ,in the first hour of awekening of the enslaved Capital ,the omage brought to the liberator and defiance thrown in the face of the occupant.

German patrols on horses and pedestrians try to break and spread the crowd but the few soldiers are surrounded ,pushed and parallized in their moves.And then ,in the exalted crowd which have lost the sentiment of prudence and of their possibilities ,voices begin to be heard:"Ahead ,to Haupt -Wachel ,down the germans !"Like a torrent which nothing can stop now,the crowd starts to move on Calea Victoriei(boulevard) ,towards Military Circle ,where is the central guard ,Haupt-Wechel.The humiliation ,cowardice and accepting of things ,have vanished.Now there are only eyes which throw flames of hate and fists which rise up in threat .

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The crowd advances in aclamations for the Allies and shouts of hate against the germans.The pols with indicating inscriptions of the german authorities are ripped off and throwed away.Packages with "Gazeta Bucurestilor"(Bucharest Newspaper) are set aflame.The officers of the austro-hungarian army ,of Cech nationality ,Croat or Polish ,which carry the signs of the liberated nations ,are aclaimed and they shout together with the crowd:"Vive la France!".

The germans cannot comprehend the unexpected spectacle and anusual.How,this is the population of the so docile Capital? general Koch ,the military governor of Bucharests,comes to meet the manifestants ,but is apostrofated and hoot after .The automobile makes way difficult through the crowd and runs in full speed ; the general has taken out his sword whith which he cuts furious the air left and rigth.In the Theatre Plaza ,a double cordon of german officers meets the head of the column and tries to scatter it ,hitting with their fists.But the mass ,which follows ,pushes ahead .A short collission produces.captain Rechman ,the chief of military police ,which is in the middle of the cordon ,is put to the ground.But ,from Haupt -Wachel direction arrives now the troop ,with bayonets to arms ,in attacking step.From the lateral streets come in running other troops.The manifestants are scattered ,the troops make square formation ,isollating groups of manifestants and the arrestations begin.On the terras of the Military Circle of Bucharest are brought in fists between bayonets the more daring manifestants or less lucky.After a sumare inquiry they are thrown in the basements of commandature.

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The streets are emtying ,the manifestation is over,but the spontane demonstration has made its effect .The probe has been decissive.The germans did not succeed to kill the Romanian spirit .Compressed with brutality ,he was unleashing with viollence now,near the end which was closing in and was throwing in the face of the enemy all the hatered accumulated for two years of tirany ,robbery and humiliation.

The state of siege ,tigthened,is proclaimed in Bucharest ,even in the evening of the day .But the supreme commander of the german army has to notice that there is no terrain for a conciliation politic and that the foreheads facing down,and the bend backs ,which he met through the cancelaries of the german-romanian administration ,did not had behind the masses of the Romanian nation*.

In the same way ,elocvent ,in the same day has pronounced also the other Capital of the country(Iasi,Capital of Moldavia)).In Iasi ,the refugee from Ardel(people from Transilvania) make a demonstration at the statue of Cuza Voda ,followed by a crowd of thousands of people.They request to be drawn the national consequences of the Allies victory against the Central Powers .The crowd leaves in procession to the Royal Palace and applause long H.M. the King of today sacrifices and of tomorrow victories.Then starts to the legation of the Allies ,where they give free course to their feelings of gratitude ,of trust and hopes ,so long without aair.The two big friends of Romanians ,the minister of France Saint Aulaire and general Laffont ,witnesses of our efforts ,talk to the crowd about the great deeds which they are on the way to acomplish.

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Romania reenters the War

Instructed by the feelings of Romanian people by the manifestations in the eve ,unrested by the proclamation of the truce closed by austro-hungary with Italy[22],which gave a term of 15 days for the pouring of the german armies through the territory of the Monarchy ,threatened by an attack from over the Danube which was eminent,as well as by the reentering of Romania in the War ,which seemed more and more probable ,Mackensen saw himself forced to ask to the great german headquarter the permission to start the retreat of his army endangered.The situation was getting worse every day for the marshal's army.In Transilvania and hungary broke out the revolution[23] ,the communications were unsure ,and the localities were in the mastering of the national guards ,newly formed.The great german headquarter decided the retreat of Mackensen army and gave the marshal the order that,in the case when he will not be able to organize a regulat transport ,to make his way with force through Transilvania .For eexecutng the order ,the marshal occupies Brasov and Sibiu ,making from these two cities cnters of gathering and replenishments.The transports of materials had to start at 5 ,and the ones of the troops at 12th of November.

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*An analogue feeling happened in Slobozia ,in Ialomita county,an episod,which deserves to be mentioned.Amongst the African prisoners of the French Army ,brought here ,was also a distingished mahomedan Gherainia Mahomed ,of the 7th Tiraliors Algeriean Regiment ,member of an old and noble Algerian family."the Arab prince" ,as he was called in the locality ,was very much estimed and loved by the foreign prisoners and by the Romanian population ,because of his distionction and his culture.He has made medical and farmaceutical studies at Paris and thus was the providence of the wounded and sick from Slobozia.At the news of closing of the French troops at the Danube ,he has started to encourage the population and advice it at organization ,for the figth.The germans have felt it though ;they stake him out and shot him.In the honour cemetery in Slobozia ,among the graves of the French ,British and Romanians ,the inhabitants of the little city take care of them ,and with outstanding piety the grave of the exotic hero ,which have martyred to bring the first ray of manhood to his fellows of sufferings and ideal.

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In the same time ,Mackensen intervened next to the Romanian government with the request that the retreat of the german armies from Balkan Peninsula and from Dobrogea ,through the Romanian territory ,to be let to be made without any pursue,either from the Romanians part ,or from Allies part.In the contrar case he will be forced to retaliate by making great damages ;amongst others ,he will blow up the bridge over the Danube River .In the same time ,in the case when the Romanian Army would croos the mountains of Moldavia ,in Transilvania ,to not advance over the line Brasov -Cluj.The marshal expresses the "sympathy " for the national cause of Romanians (sic!) the disgust for bulgarians and hungarians and whishes to say good bye to Romanians as to some friends!

But the leaving of the occupation army which drained out the country for two years ,was not to execute after the will and the program of the germans.There were others who had the right to mix up in this matter.And these were : the victorious ,which was setting them on the run and the victim of until now,which was rising from the ground the fallen weapon.

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After the capitulation of the bulgarian army ,Franchet d'Esperey has made a new project of campaign ,which was foreseeing:a principal operation for liberating Old Serbia and the entering in hungary ,with the intention to attack germania by South ;a secondary operation through Tracia against Constantinopol ,and finally an operation towards Danube River ,through bulgaria .The goal of the last one was,on one hand to cover the internal flanks of the Armies which were operating towards Belgrade and Constantinopole and on the other one to oppose to the intervention of the austro-german troops from Ucraine and Romania.For this aim has been constituted in Sistov-Rusciuk region ,the Danube Army ,composed of three Divisions :the 30th French Division ,the 16th Colonial ,the Hunters Regiment from Africa and the 27th British Division.The Command of these troops has been given to General Berthelot ,which has been called from Champagne Front of the great battle in France ,to lead the liberating Army of Romania ,to which he was so much connected by the action of reorganization of the Romanian Army.

The truce with hungary [24] and turkey has stopped the evolution of the action of the two wings of the Army in the Balkans.General berthelot started though the advance towards the Danube.But his Army was to weak for the given mission and he needed the absolute colaboration of the Romanian Army.

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For to make contact with the recognized leaders of the Romanian nation ,the French prime minister ,Clemenceau ,has send a confidential,verbal,message to Victor Antonescu -the former minister of the country ,set to disponibility by Marghiloman government -to be send to H.M. King Ferdinand and Ion Bratianu .After he made contact at Salonic with General Franchet d'Esperey and General Berthelot ,Antonescu under name and French uniform ,rove in a plane piloted by Louis Noel the distance Salonic -Iasi ,over the territory occupied by the german lines ,and landed at Iasi at 22nd of October .In the outter most secret ,Antonescu made contact first with Saint -Aulaire ,then with Bratianu and with General Prezan ,communicating them the action palan of the French:the advance of Franchet towards Belgrade and Budapesta and the one of berthelot towards Bucharests ;the Romanians have to attack the germans ,to end the Peace of Bucharest 1918.;the Romanian Army has to constitute the rigth wing of the Army of Franchet d'Esperey ,in the moment of crosing of Berthelot over the Danube River.Marghiloman government has to be taken down ,for that another government to take with the most discretion the general mobilization measures of the troops.By the makings of Misu ,H.M. King Ferdinand has been brought to knowledge with these propositions.With all the enormous hardships from the technical pont of view military,the resolution has been taken.The King has send two telegrams to Poinicare and Clemenceau ,announcing them the intention to retake arms next to the Allies.Bratianu ,in another telegram ,was expresing the profound emotion with which he was knowledged by the feelings and intentions of France ,manifested especially by the choosing of General Berthelot ,and was asking for details.All three telegrams has been expedited by the American legation ,via New York ,to Paris.

A new aerian communication of General Berthelot brought by Romanians friend ,Robert de Flers ,was asking Romania to mobilize all Divisions which would be able to be gathered and equip with artillery.The Allied Army of Danube and the Romanian one had to operate ,coordonating their action ,in such a way ,to reunite at Ploiesti.The plans of mobilization and of military cooperations have been made by Prezan ,although the General,just as Bratianu ,had no official situation.

In this way Romaia was invited to retake her palce of right next to her glorious Allied ,next to which she nevere ceases to be with her hart not for one moment.And from over the Danube ,the Army of Berthelot was giving her hand.The great friend of Romanians was keeping his word given in the sad night of 12 th of March 1918.he was again next to us in this last hour ,which was to be the one of great score settings and of the decissive success.The Treaty of Bucharest took us out without our will from the ranks of the Allies and closed our way to the room of the Peace Conference.Berthelot was cutting with his sword the shameful seals of this treaty and,by the gate hard hit by the wall ,the Romanian soldier was entering with the weapon in hand to retake his place of right next to the friends since hard moment .Giving expression to this situation ,a poster, glued on to the walls of Iasi ,was representing a French soldier manhooding to figth a Romanian one:"Wake up Romanian ,you are not alone anymore .Remember Marasesti !".

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One thing was not possible anymore though.It was not possible that the destinies of the country to be presided by Marghiloman ,in this supreme hour of setting the score and of fulfilling of national aspirations.Marghiloman has been the negation of the colaboration with the Entente ,the underwriter of the treaty with the central powers ,one of the protagonists of our attachment to the politic of these powers ,their man of trust.

In the last hour still,he was making the mistake to deal a friendly understanding with the central powers ,although these ones were slipinng vertiginous on the incine of catastrophe.Starting from the belief that germania,although defeated will remain a great power still, and will discuss from equal to equal with the Entente at the Great Congress of Peace ,Marghiloman thought that he will be able to impose himself at the helm of the country obtaining ,with german support ,the realization of the national revendications of the country.That is why ,he has entered tratatives with Mackensen to review favorable to the Treaty of peace in the matter of Dobrogea ,and with the diplomatic attache of austro-hungary at Bucharest ,Demblin ,for the military occupation of Bucovina and Ardeal.The ratification of the peace treaty from Bucharest would have been the price of this well intended attitude of the central Emoires ,which were giving anything ,to not keep anything.

This politic was though unlogic and dangerous.Unlogic ,because was tending to the realizations of our national revendications under the protection just of those which,when they had the power in hand ,opposed with the greatest energy to those ideals and which brought us as enemies the deepest wounds .Dangerous,because this intention woud have risen against us our friends and Allies ,just now when the most complete victory was crowning the efforts made for four years and was making by them the referees of peace and of the Mondial politic.The entering of the Romanian Army in Bucovina ,as a result of an understanding between Marghiloman and austrians ,provoked even the energic protests of the representatives of the Entente at Iasi.

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With the collaps of the Central Powers ,the role of Marghiloman has ended.The dark period of the peace from Bucharest ,of which responsibility has taken over his shoulders ,in the hardest moments of our War ,has closed.The moor has made his duty ;the moor had to leave now.

At 6th of November ,the Sovereign requested for the resignation of Marghiloman government .The ministry has formed under the presidency of General Coanda .By two decrees laws successive were disolved the Chambers of Marghiloman and were annullated all the laws and works made by him .It was ripped from the history of the country by one of the pages of humiliation ,written under the threat and dictatorship of the enemy.The other page will be torn by the bayonet of the soldier.

At 10th of November ,H.M. the King ordered the mobilization of the Army :the decree was countersigned by the new minister of War ,General Eremia Grigorescu ,the hero of Oituz and Marasesti.There could not be found more favorable auspices for the new mobilization of Romanians .The head of the state was addressing them a proclamation by which he announced them the reentering in the figth ,next to the Allies "for that together with them to go definitive tovictory which will bring us the fruits of the entire martyr and of our life".To the soldiers,H.M. the King addresses in an emotional appeal:

Soldiers!

The long awaited hour by the entire Romanian breath and especially by you ,my brave soldiers ,has come finally after long and painful awaiting.The crossing of the Allied trrops over the Danube imposes us as a holly and patriotic duty to take again the arm in hand ,to take out together with them ,the enemy of the country and to bring peace and quiet to the enslaved population.

Your King calls you again to figth to fulfil our dream of so many centuries :Unification of all Romanians ,for which in the years 1916-1917 you fougth with so much bravery.

The spirits of those fallen on the field of honour blesses you for this last effort .The looks of our trustful Allies are aimed with love and trust to our country and her sons;your camarads of arms of the victorious Armies of France and England ,which come in our aid,know your bravery from Oituz ,Marasti and Marasesti;show them that the awaiting time did not weaken the arm of Romanian soldier.Our brothers in Bucovina and from Ardeal call you for this last figth ,that by your elan to bring them liberation from foreign slavery.

The victory is ours and the future will ensure the entire Romanian nation peaceful and happy life.

Ahead thus with our ancestors bravery!

God is with us.

Ferdinand

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In the same day ,at four in the morning,the military attache of the Romanian Government at Bucharest ,general Eremia ,was waking up marshal Mackensen to hand him a note of Coanda government.The note wa imputing to the marshal,that against the assurances given,this one has increased the strength of his army by incorporating of new units and proceeds to the building of strengthened positions,which has provoked the Allied Armies over the Danube to bombard the Romanian shore.The german commandment has not made serious preparations for the evacuation of the Romanian territory ,although he knew that,after the aurstro-italian treaty requests ,he only has 15 days to leave."To obstacle that Romanian becomes again War theatre ,it is absolutelly necessary that the german troops to leave the Romanian territory in 24 hours.After the pouring of this time ,the troops will have to put down arms and to restrain from any destructions or viollences,for which the german government will be held accountable.We are waiting for the answer until tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock ,being forced,in contrar case ,to appeal to force to reach this result".

It was the ultimatum which contained ,in fact,also the declaration of War.With an irritated gesture ,Mackensen answered by calling telegraphicly his military representative at Iasi and setting to the dispozition of the Romanian officers ,in Bucharest,a special train to lead them outside of the occupied territory.In the same time ,the marshal was ordering to his troops to start the evacuation even in the evening of the day,protecting his retreat by destroying the bridges and of the ,telegraphic communications .

The red dice came again.Romania was reentering the War .This time ,with the old Allies ,trialed and sure ,to clean the shameful stain of the enemy occupation and of the slavery treaty to step to the acomplishing of the great dream of the Romanian hood.

The new mobilization was for the time being ,in fact,almost a simple demonstrative gesture .The greatest part of the demobilized effectives ,officers,men ,horses ,were beyond the occupied territory , supervised by the enemy.The deposits were empty ,the soldiers could not be even dressed,or fed.The events will have to precipitate with such a speed , that the liberation of the occupied territory would acomplish before the intervention of the Romanian soldier.

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The retreat of Mackensen army and the liberation of Romania trritory

From 6th of November ,the Army of General Berthelot starts to concentrate on Danube ,between Rusciuk and Sistov.During the nigth of 9-10th of November ,Detachments of Regiments 146th anf 210th of French Tiraliors have crossed the big river arm of Danube ,in front of Giurgiu and retrenched in front of Ramadam Islet.German troops ,with machineguns,are posted on the shore of the public garden and of the communal park ;two machineguns are in the valley as advanced post(avanpost).An imense crowd ,the whole Giurgiu ,assists from the shore as to a show ;children of elementary school are around the machineguns.Because of this ,the French are in a difficult position ;of fraid to not make harmless victims ,they do not fire.Behind the hills ,behind Giurgiu ,the german cannons fire rare and without eficacity.

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The situation goes on like this until afternoon.At once arrives the news that the French have crossed the Danube River also further up the water stream ,at Slobozia .German soldiers appear shouting :"Die Franzosen kommen!"[25].The machineguns are lifted from positions and the germans retreat .Groups of school children haste then in to the valley and avallanche in to the French lines with shouts of "Vive la France!".The French begin to advance towards Giurgiu ,with the children mounted on machineguns and enter the city in the delirant aclamations of the population.A short figth takes place in the North of the city with the german arierguards ,which are repelled.Fall also three French soldiers,the first heroic victims of the noble liberating Army .Their bodies are led to the eternity place by the entire city ,which make them a great burial.

On the tracks of the retreating germans ,the French reach Copaceni ,on Arges,where they have to stop .The river has increased to much ,and the great bridge has been blown up by the germans .Other French Detachments have crossed the Danube River at Zimnicea and at Turnu Magurele ,in the nigth of 10-11th of November .From Giurgiu ,Berthelot addresses to the Romanian nation an appeal of manhooding.The French aeroplanes fly over Bucharets and throw the manifest,clipped with small flags in national colours .In spirited words ,the French Commander announces the Romanians that"the hour of justice has rang.All over defeated ,here and there smashed ,the enemy is all over scattering .It has come the hour to burn the piece of paper with which you have been enslaved at Bucharest ".And to the soldiers ,Berthelot addresses the appeal :"To weapons !It is the shout of Romanian patria for which you have suffered .It is the calling of your King ,which have sacrificed everithing for wholing Romania .It is the shout of your ancestors ,of the spirits of Mircea the Old ,Stefan the Great ,of Mihai the Brave .It is the shout of your sons and brothers ,fallen in bravery on the fields of battle from Oituz and Marasesti...And tomorrow you will see the British flag and the French tricolor floating in the wind of victory and unhangings ,next to your tricolor flag!".

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In the Capital ,the evacuation of the occupation army ,of the numerous military clerks and of the great deposits was made in the first days slow and methodically.In the afternoon of the day of 10th ,in the wake of the Romanian ultimatum ,started to be made in mass ,in disorder.The retreat has transformed in running .The streets are full of the multitude of trucks ,automobiles ,carriages ,which transport to the train station men and luggages.The whole nigth and the next day has lasted the exod.Great manifestations of joy brings the Romanian population in conflict with the military patrols which fire blind shots ,but sometimes in full .The plazas of the Royal Palace and Military Circle of Bucharest are the theatre of the most violent manifestations and repressallies .At the perifery of the city ,the population attacks and robs the deposits of the occupation army .The crowd is went crazy especially in the neighbourhood of Gara de Nord(Northern Train Station of Bucharest) ,where they attack daring the guards next to the train carriages with materials;the soldiers fire and kill many people .Tuesday ,12th of November ,the evacuation of Bucharests has ended .general Koch ,the military governor ,has rove Calea Victoriei in the running of his automobile ,with his revolver in hand .The last german soldiers -the guard at Haupt-Wachel -have been disarmed and made prisoners by Romanian Geandarms ,and the two machineguns ,which on the terras of the Military Circle kept in respect the crowd,are carried in triumph by highschool students to the Police Prefecture.

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