Research on Romania

[theauthor]

Greetings,

I am currently doing some research on Romania for a book that I am writing. A large portion of the story is set in Romania between the years 1929 & 1945. I have some questions regarding the period of 1943-1945, that I am hoping that the knowlegable folks on this forum can help answer (or point me to books or websites that may help)

1) Was there much partisan activity against the Germans/Romanian army during the years 1943-1944? Particularly in the regions of Walachia, Moldavia, and around Bucharest. If so, what was the makeup of these forces. What happened with them when the Russians were invading, then occupying Romania

2) I am having a hard time getting a sense for the military landscape particularly around the time that Romania changed sides to the allies in august 1944. My understanding is that the Russians penetratied the Moldovian front and that the Germans retreated throught Carpathian mountains (in which area?). I believe that this would leave a number of German/Sympathetic Romania forces in the Bucharest area cutoff. Is this correct? If so was there significant street fighting in Bucharest as the Red Army invaded? I am trying to get a sense of what was happening in the country. I am finding it hard to get a clear picture of what was happening in the country from the books I have been reading as they provide only small pieces of information.

3) In general were the Russians seen as liberators? I understand that this probably depends on which part of the country one speaks of; however, I am trying to get an overall perspective and am particulalry interested in the Walachia region and the Bucharest area

4) How much damage did Bucharest suffer, both from bombing and fighting, during the war:

5) Same as above for Iasi.

6) What was the disposition of German forces in Romania? I understand that there were elements of the Waffen SS and that there was a Romanian Waffen SS corps?

Thank you for you patience with my perhaps naive questions. Where I am living makes it difficult to find good research material on Romania during WWII

[mabadesc]

Hello Theauthor,

Wow, answering all your questions would take quite a long time. You may want to be more specific.
Just wondering, could you be more precise in stating the topic of your planned book? Are you a historian working in academia or is this a hobby?

Anyway, I hope you get your answers.

[theauthor]

Hi mabadesc,

I am a fictional novelist; however, I like to stay true to history as much as I possibly can. I would be happy with whatever bits of information folks can provide me, or any suggested readings

Thanks!

[Dénes]

Try to find Mark Axworthy's book, titled: 'Third Axis, Fourth Ally', published by Arms and Armour, in the UK. It offers a good general picture on the Rumanian army in W.W. 2 and might help answering some of your questions.
What else did you author?

[Victor]

1. There were no such partisans. Romania was not de jure an occupied country.

2. Only a part of the German forces managed to retreat to Transylvania through the passes in the Eastern Carpathians. The rest was encircled and destroyed by the Red Army in Moldavia.

In Bucharest and around it, the hostilities with the Germans started on early 24 August, when forces from the Ploesti area tried to gain control of the capital. By 26 August the Germans had been pushed out of the city and into the Baneasa forest, where the last resistance ended on 27. By the time the Soviets entered Bucharest the only Germans in it were prisoners.

3. Absolutely no. Liberators from what?

4. Bucharest suffered some damage especially during the USAAF bombing raids. The Germans also bombed the city a couple of times, but obviously caused much less damage. They did manage to damage the Athanaeum and the Royal Palace.

5. I have no idea about Iasi, but since it was not raided by the USAAF, it probably suffered less damage.

6. At the time of the offensive, the two German armies in Romania (the 6th and the 8th) were on the front in Moldavia. In the rest of the country there were strong groupings at Ploesti and at Constanta. There were also smaller (generally administrative) detachments all over the country. Some retreated to Hungary or Bulgaria without a fight.

[inahurry]

Regarding your question #1.

Partisans? Where did you get the idea from ?

Anyway, you asked about "partisans" opposing German/Romanian army. Why would exist a partisan force on Romanian territory, presumably composed of Romanian nationals to fight the Romanian army? Partisans refer to occupied territories, where there are no regular troops belonging to the side that had to abandon the respective territory.

If you may refer to the part of Romania’s Transsylvanian province that was occupied between August 1940-October 1944 by Hungary after the Vienna Diktat, there was no partisan resistance though there were other kinds of non-violent resistance. But then again, your question shouldn’t include Romanian army.

There was no other kind of armed opposition to the government. August 23, 1944 is sometimes referred as “insurgency” but the terminology is deceptive. The arresting of Ion Antonescu was the result of an internal, palace coup, no army unit or other armed force fought against the newly installed government. Some civilians received weapons but they were used as auxiliaries for the regular army as a preventive measure to increase the available forces in case the Germans attack (which they did).

In general, Romanians relied on regular forces, there was no policy (to my knowledge) to train and encourage guerrillas in the areas occupied by Hungary (after 1940) or Russia (during 1944 because of the Axis forces withdrawal ).

This post is just to underline an aspect, otherwise I think Victor’s “to the point” post is a good synthesis.

[Dr_V]

QUOTE

How much damage did Bucharest suffer, both from bombing and fighting, during the war:

As Victor said, the most damage was registered during the USAF raids that targeted the industrial sites. One problem was that they had no accurate maps on the exact locations of those targets and the results were poor in hitting them, but they inflicted civilian casualties (I don't have an exact number thaugh, maybe Victor can tell). Also the effectiveness of the defence ment that the precision suffered grately.
But Bucharest did not ended up looking like London or the German citys. The damage was painfull, but not so extensive.

QUOTE

Was there much partisan activity against the Germans/Romanian army during the years 1943-1944?

I don't need to add anything more to what the others told you, but I believe you've got that idea from a confusion that many men make because of the limited information available in the West about Romanian history.
What people call "partisans" were goups that activated after the war, against the Russians and the comunists in general. Their motivs, methods and fate are not related to WW2 in particular and would need a special forum topic if you're interested, as their activity was (and still is) controversed, there are many opinions and regard more the anti-comunist struggle in post-war Romania.
Truth is that the only occupation that took place here was the Russian one and the results are still to be seen today.

[theauthor]

Thank you all very very much for the great information you are providing. It is indeed very difficult to get an accurate picture in the west esp during the second world war timeframe.

A number of you have posted asking about my mentioning partisans. It is my error to call them partisans as it has rightfully been pointed out that Germany did not occupy Romania. By Partisans I really meant to ask if there was resistance, particularly armed resistance, against the German presence in Romania - however small scale this may have been. Or was it the case, that the poeple generally supported the government and the alliance w/Germany?

In answer to a question posed to me about what I have published. In the past I have written several short stories some of which have been published (others not). By profession I am a commercial/technical writer - It pays the bills . This is my first effort at a full sized novel, and it is very hard work!!! I wanted to set the story in Romania, because what I have read of the country is very intriguing/interesting, and I think that it has not been featured very much in many modern western fiction books. I really think that the people, culture and history lends it self well to being written about.

Thank you all again for helping to educate me

[hh13h]

a little help, for the athmosphere in your book. Around '43 and of course before august '44 ... american soldier and german soldier was sitting together drinking beer on Calea Victoriei (means the hertz of the town Bucharest in that time )open air restaurants.
Hertha