Recruit Training in the Romanian Army

[dragos]

QUOTE

I think the supposed under-training of Romanian troops during WWII is exaggerated by German officers in their memoirs

The training was not too short, but rudimentary and out-of-date. However, several mixed Romanian-German training centers were established in late 1940, at Fagaras, Roman (infantry), Sibiu (cavalry), Ramnicu Valcea (armor), Bucharest (mechanics), Brasov, Campina, Buzau, Bacau (drivers), Brasov (services), Chitila (pioneers and railroad troops). In these centers, each Romanian instructor was assited by a German counsellor in tactics.

QUOTE

Dragos, do you have the number of romanian troops who participated in the war?

In the East: 911,193 men
In the West: 538,536 men

I have no figures for mountain troops, but here is what I have found on paratroopers. The company was formed on 10 June 1941. Recruits were volunteers of maximum age of 28. They had to know one foregin language, had at least 4 years of primary school, and signed on a 3 years contract.

[drillsgt]

Mabadesc, not from Bragg, no triple tabs, just 3 college degrees.Have been out of the Army for years. The US Army during WW2 was called a triangle Division because of it being organized around three Infantry, or Armor regiments. The only exception was and may still be the 1st Cavalry Division which still has the old square organization of the horse Cav. In an Infantry Division for example there are basically 3 brigades each organized around one of the three Infantry Regiments. A brigade is an Infantry ,or Armor Regt. with all its supporting units that make it self supporting It is like a Division in miniture, and is why it is used so much as an intervention tool. Garry Owen!!!!

[mabadesc]

Thanks for your answers, gentlemen.

QUOTE

In the East: 911,193 men   In the West: 538,536 men

So, approximately 1 million troops from a country whose general population was, what- about 13-14 million people?

My opinion is, under these circumstances, the training was fairly efficient - far from perfect, but ok.

[Victor]

Actually there were more men mobilized, than indicated here. In 1944 there were over 1 milion.

[dragos]

You are right, the figures I mentioned are men involved in operations during the entire war.