Romanian army and Wehrmacht, 1-st elements of Wehrmacht in Ro.

What was the general attitude in the Romanian army at the arrival of the first "training troops" of Wehrmacht in Romania, in october 1940? I mean, after decades of alliance with France and England...

Come on!
What was the 1-st German unit to put its feet on Romanian territory in 1940? Where?

I think the relations between the Romanian and German military were generally good, as they were not seen as invaders, but came for cooperation.

The first group (Vorkommandos), together with the chief of the military mission, General Erik Hansen, and the chief of the air mission, General Wilhelm Speidel, arrived in Bucharest on 12 October and established their offices in the Military Academy (Scoala Superioara de Razboi)

From 24 October elements of the German 13th Division started to arrive for training the Romanian troops. Its HQ was initially situated in Brasov.

In mid-December arrived the 16th Panzer Division, in Sibiu.

The air mission consisted of a reinforced AA division, two AA regiments, a fighter group, searchlight units and engineers. Their activity revolved around the oilfields of Prahova Valley. A small experienced group of fighter and bomber officers was training the Romanian airmen, AA gunners and air alarm servicemen part of the ARR.

You mean "elements" of the division, right?

It appears that the entire division was transfered to Romania:
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1289

However, Hillgruber talks about the 13-th motorized division in october and the 16-th Panzer from mid-december. I'll have to look more into this...

That's exactly what I said.

Motorized Division, future Armored Division. Its headquarter moved in many locations to emphasize the "training role" of the German troops. As Hitler stated, "the real mission of them, not to be disclosed even to Romanians or their own troops were:
a ) to defend the petrol-extracting region from the attack of another power, as well as from destruction (like in ww1, I guess)
b ) to upgrade the Romanian army to a such level of instruction that it would be able to fulfil certain tasks, according to a strict plan, german-interests oriented
c ) during a war "imposed" by the SU, to prepare the conditions for mobilizing the german and romanian forces from the romanian territory." (A. Hillgruber, Hitler,Konig Carol und Marschal Antonescu)
Will follow...

This post has been edited by MMM on February 01, 2009 08:13 am

The first day I found in the archives, when a German airplane of the would-be DLM (German air force mission to Rumania) landed in Rumania was 11 Oct. 1940, when Ju 52, DUETJ (sic!), landed in Brasov (Kronstandt).
Three days later, 8 Bf 109Es coming from Germany landed on the soaked airfield of Balomir (3 destroyed, 3 damaged and 2 OK).

Gen. Dénes

This post has been edited by Dénes on January 31, 2009 06:21 pm

I was referring to the land forces, but regarding Luftwaffe, I didn't know they wrecked their planes on our "great" landing fields! Where did you find this info, please? I may use it next week at my PHD studies, as well...

This post has been edited by MMM on January 31, 2009 06:29 pm

I found the info in the hand written notes I made in 2007, at the archives in Pitesti.

Gen. Dénes

Of course it would be great if you remembered the reference number (aka Fond nr. XXX, Dosar YYY, Fila ZZZ). Today I'm leaving for the Bucharest archives and I might go to Pitesti as well, if I don't find what I need in Bucharest. And the Bf109's - were destroyed as in exploding or could they have been salvaged for parts, at least?

Here is a picture of 16th Panzer Division in Sibiu (Panzers III in foreground, Panzers II and IV in background?)
http://www.cartula.ro/forum/Concurs-organi...-IST-t5405.html

the Panzers III are in Sighisoara, not in Sibiu!

It's SIghisoara, not Sibiu. I'm not sure but I think Sighisoara fell into the Hungarian part of Transylvania after August 1940.