The col. Ion Rotta Skier Detachment

[Victor]

During late 1941, the 3rd Mountain Brigade, which did not participate in the campaign that year, received the task to organize an expeditionary skier group. This detachment had to be capable of fighting isolated on the front, even behind enemy lines. It was also intended to use its superior mobility during winter to guard communication lines from partisans or Soviet paratroopers.

Two skier battalions were created: the 25th and 26th, from the 5th and 6th Mountain Battalions. Each had two rifle companies and one machine-gun company, a pioneer group and a communications platoon. They were the main fighting force of the detachment. In addition to these, it also had a mountain gun battalion (equipped with 75 mm pieces), an AT company (six 47 mm pieces), an AA platoon (four 20 mm pieces), a pioneer platoon, a transport column (60 sleds and 60 mules) and a motorized transport section (six trucks). Command was given to col. Ioan Rotta.

The detachment was ready in January 1942 and was immediately sent to the front to the 1st Mountain Brigade in Crimea. But the Soviet winter counteroffensive forced a reassignment and it was dispatched to the 17th German Army in the Izyum sector, where it was needed. It arrived at Krasnograd on 26 January and was subordinated to the German Mikosch Group.

For 12 days it covered a 15 km long line east of Novo Komo, repulsing all Soviet attacks in the Kechitshevka sector and intercepting the roads leading to Krasnodar. From 4 February the detachment counterattacked and forced the Orel River in the Pakrovka area. By 10 February it had some 65 km south of Kharkov. The Romanian skiers were then subordinated to the Koch Group, which used it to take the fortified positions near the Sivash farm on 17 February. Between 19 and 23 February it fought on the Orelka Valley, taking Kaspurovka and Novo Nikolaevna.

At the beginning of March, the Skier Detachment was moved to the Bereka Valley, 50 km south of Kharkov, where it assisted the German advance in the Gomoloshka Forest area. For the attack on 8 March, a Hungarian cavalry squadron was subordinated to col. Rotta. This was a very rare situation during WWII, as even though Romania and Hungary were technically allies, the two armies generally regarded each other as future enemies. However, the operation was successful.

On 28 March, the detachment was moved to the western bank of the Orel River where it took up defensive positions and held out until 14 May. It was reassigned to the German 454th Infantry Division and attacked, until 25 May, towards Andrievka and Volny. The Romanian mountain troops had been in combat continuously for 4 months and were exhausted. The Skier Detachment was put in the reserve of the 11th German Army, which deployed it in the Pavlograd area. Its mission was to guard and escort prisoners and to fight partisans in the Donetsk Basin.

In September 1942 the detachment returned home (they departed from the Ukraine between 4 and 6 September). 50 skiers received the Iron Cross for their actions during the battle of Kharkov. Col. Ioan Rotta was also awarded the Mihai Viteazul Order 3rd class.

In the spring of 1944, the Red Army on the offensive had reached Romanian soil. The 26th Skier Battalion was subordinated to the German 17th Corps and between 25 and 26 April it annihilated a Soviet rifle battalion, which had infiltrated in the mountainous terrain behind Axis lines. After 23 August, the remains of the 25 and 26th Skier Battalions were reunited into one battalion which was subordinated to the 103rd Mountain Division, an ad-hoc unit formed by the 2nd Ukrainian Front, which used it in the fights in the Ciuc and Gurghiu Mountains. It was much appreciated by the Soviet 7th Guard Army and eventually disbanded on 12 October 1944.

Sources:
Armata Romana 1941-45 by Horia Serbanescu, Cornel Scafes, Ioan Scafes & others, RAI, 1996
Armata Romana in al doilea razboi mondial (1941-1945) – Dictionar encyclopedic by Alesandru Dutu, Florica Dobre, Leonida Loghin, Editura Enciclopedica, 1999

[Victor]

It seems there was another Mihai Viteazul Order recepient in the Detachment: lt. col .Mihail Schuster, a battalion commander.

[mabadesc]

Very interesting narrative about the Col. Rotta Skier Detachment, Victor.

Unfortunately, it shows once again how some of the best and most specialized Romanian detachments/units were diverted to German divisions instead of remaining under Romanian operational command.

A bit off-topic, but since we're talking about detachments, what do you know about the "Schroder Detachment", a German unit which was put under the command of the Romanian Mountain Corps in '42 in Crimea?

What was its OOB? Were they motorized, did they specialize in a particular combat skill?

[Victor]

The Schroeder Coastal Defense Group had the task to defend the shore between Alushta and Yalta. It had under its command the Romanian 2nd Mountain Battalion. It also very likely included the German 240th Jaeger Battalion.

[mabadesc]

Thanks, Victor! Wow, you really know some obscure details!

Approximately what was the size of the detachment in number of troops? 1000, 2000, etc...?

Even an estimate or a guess from you would be helpful.

Thanks again.

One more question: Was the 240 Jaeger battalion considered second-rate for German troops, or was it up to par with other german units?

[Victor]

SInce I do not know the exact OoB, I can't estimate the number. However, if my presumption about the two battalions were correct, than it would be around 2,000 men.

The Jaeger were a sort of light infantry AFAIK.