Tank commanders

Another NCO: serg. maj. Atanase Manolescu, born on 26 November 1916 in Foisor, Dolj county. In 1942 he was a tank commander in the 1st Tank Regiment, most likely of a medium tank subordinated to slt. Gheorghe Budu's platoon.

On 20 November, during the fights near Winterlager farm, he destoryed two T-34 tanks and two AT guns. On 28 November, south of Chernichevskaya, during the attack on Height 302, he took out 4 LMGs and two AT guns. At Varlamov, he destroyed six MGs and one AT gun.

For his exploits he received the highest military award for NCOs: the Virtutea Militara Medal war version 1st class.

Is there a book on Romanian tank units? or a roster of tank commanders? I will try to find out some info on another grand-uncle of mine, CHIFULESCU IOAN. I have a photo of him from 1940, with tank insignia.

Thanks,
Barbosu

Hi B,
can you post the picture of your grand-uncle Chifulescu Ioan.

Dan.

I try to scan some pics today with all three Chifulescu brothers (Mircea, my grand-father, Virgil-Florea the pilot and Ioan, the "tankist").


I no longer have a scanner and I have to ask for help. Also I will try to contact my cousin (in the USA) to ask him for pictures of his grand-father.

Barbosu

Ok. I am back finally with pictures. As I said, one of my grand-father's brother was in a tank unit. Chifulescu Ioan (IIRC) was a captain, as seen in the picture. On his chest there is the tank insignia. I don't know the unit he was in. On the back of the picture is written: 15.XII.1940

Any info on him will be appreciated.

1.000s Thanks,

Barbosu

Attached Image

He doesn't seem to have taken part in the 1941 campaign, but since the spring of 1942 he appears in the 1st Tank Regiment. During the fighting in November 1942, cpt. Ioan Chifulescu commanded the 7th Tank Company of the 1st Tank Regiment.

Further on Ioan Chifulescu. While commanding the 7th Company, on 22 November 1942, during the 1st Armored Division's breakout of encirclement, he distinguished himself at Donchinsky, where his company took out a Soviet cavalry squadron and he personally destroyed two AT rifle sections.

Hi everybody.

I was away from this forum for a long time, but I'm glad to find you again. Thanks Victor for all information you found on my relatives and I am happy to find out that they were brave soldiers. Thank you also for the pages about pilot Virgil Chifulescu from Sorin Tulea's book.

I will come back as soon as I can to meet you all here, on the forum.

Barbosu

Did you recived the photos I sent you?

C-2, please keep the private discussions for PMs.

I have found out that cpt. Ioan Chifulescu was the commander of teh 1st Tank Regiment's AA Company during the 1941 campaign. So let's review all that information on him we have so far.

Cpt. Ioan Chifulescu joined the Army in 1929 and by 25 October 1939 he had reached the rank of captain.

In 1941 he was serving in the 1st Tank Regiment, as the commander of the regiment's AA Company, consisting of two platoons equipped with 20 mm Gustloff AA guns. During the fighting in July and August, his men have claimed 12 aircraft shot down (8 bombers and 4 fighters).

During the spring of 1942 he was in charge with the Tatra truck presentation course for recruits. For the autumn campaign at Stalingrad, cpt. Chifulescu received the command of the 7th Company/1st Tank Regiment, equipped with the obsolete R-2 tanks ( Pz-35(t) ). He led this unit in the fighting in November 1942, during Operation Uranus. On 20 November, during the 1st Armored Division's counterattack at Winterlager farm, the 7th Company was in the first line and was also the first one to reach the heights near the farm after crushing through the Soviet infantry positions. Cpt. Chifulescu destroyed a mortar battery that was firing on the Romanian infantry advancing with the tanks.

Two days later, during the 1st Armored Division's breakout of encirclement, during the fight with the Soviet 8th Cavalry Corps at Donchinsky, his company took out an enemy cavalry squadron and he personally destroyed two AT rifle sections.

Following the 1942 campaign, the 1st Armored Division returned back home to Romania. For one and a half years it was reorganzied and requipped anmd went into battle again in August 1944. Cpt. Ioan Chifulescu was assigned to the division's HQ in an administrative position. In October, when the division was disbanded according to the armistice requirements, cpt. Chifulescu was sent to the Mechanzied Training Center.

Salutare!
Victor,te rog frumos,ma poti ajuta sa gasesc informatii despre Sergent RADU ION contingent 1939 din Regimentul 1 Tancuri (Regimentul 1 Care de lupta).
Este,adica a fost,fratele bunicii mele.
Detin un Extras din Registrul starii civile pentru morti pe anul 1943 in care e specificat urmatorul lucru:"Mort in razboi la 20 noiembrie 1942,in UCRAINA,langa ferma Winterlager,ranit mortal de proiectil anticar."
Am rasfoit internetul si nu am reusit sa aflu unde a fost aceasta ferma Winterlager dar ma indoiesc ca se afla pe teritoriul Ucrainei si ca este o eroare in acest extras cu privire la locatia ei.
Sunt singurele informatii pe care le am despre el dar imi doresc sa aflu mai multe.

Victor,please can you help me find information about Sergeant RADU ION,1939 contingent,from the 1st Tank Regiment.
He was my grandmother's brother.
I have an extract from the register of civil status for deaths for the year 1943 in wich it is specified :'' Died in the war on 20 November 1942 in Ukraine near the Winterlager farm,mortally wounded by anti-tank projectile"
I searched the internet for information about the Winterlager farm and I didn't find anything but I don't think it was in Ukraine and that there is an error in the document regarding the location.I think the Winterlager farm was in Russia.
From the stories of those who were his comrades and survived,the family learned that on November 20,1942,they were engaged in battle at the Elbow of the Don Russia and that he died there.
Now reading your posts,I think that maybe he was part of Captain Chifulescu Ioan's company.
I really want to find out more information about him,anything,date of birth,etc.