Proclamations

[dragos03]

In this topic i will post some proclamations issued by Romanian generals before important battles. I find this subject very interesting and maybe you can post more of them.

Proclamation issued at the start of WW2:

"Soldiers,
From the very first day of the new reign and of my national combat i vowed to lead you to victory. To wipe off the dishonour blemish from the book of nation and the humiliation shadow off your forehead and epaulettes. Now is the time of the holiest battle, the battle for our forefathers' rights and of the church, the battle for the Romanian abodes and altars of all times.
Soldiers, I order you: cross the Prut!
Crush the enemy from the East and North. Throw the red yoke of Bolshevism off your overrun brothers. Bring back to the country body the Bassarabian ancient native land and the voivode forests of Bucovina, your fields and realms."
General Ion Antonescu, 22 June 1941

[dragos03]

Proclamation issued at the start of WW1:

"Soldiers,
I called you to carry your flags over the borders, where your brothers are waiting for you with their hearts full of hope.
The shadows of the great voivods Michael the Brave and Stephen the Great, whose remains lay in the land that you are about to liberate, are leading you to victory, as worthy followers of the soldiers who won the battles of Razboieni, Calugareni and Plevna.
You will fight side by side with the great nations who are our allies. There is a tough battle ahead. We will endure with manhood all the hardships and, with God's help, the victory will be ours.
Show yourselves worthy of your ancestor's glory.
Throuought history, a whole nation will bless you and praise you."
King Ferdinand, 15 August 1916

[dragos03]

Proclamation issued by General Hoth before Operation Winter Storm:

"Soldiers of the 4th Panzer Army and 4th Royal Romanian Army!
The time to attack has come. West of Stalingrad, Germans and Romanians hold their positions for weeks now, encircled by the Russians.They are waiting for us. We will not fail them. Once again, the might of the German panzers will open the way for grenadiers and infantrymen behind enemy lines. The enemy will be attacked and crushed. We cannot wait any longer when the fate of our comarades is in doubt. They trust your valour and they will crush the encirclement with your help.
To victory!"
General Hoth, 12 December 1942

[Radu]

Cool topic but please post the Romanian text as well. Some things inevitably get lost in translation.

[Chandernagore]

My all time prefered short "proclamation" is that of Joachim Murat (at Eylau, I think) as he adressed his cavalrymen, 10 seconds before driving his horse toward the enemy line.

"Gentlemen, forward ! Direction : my ass..."

And so they did, galloping after him. Very inspiring speech

This post has been edited by Chandernagore on October 28, 2004 10:43 am

[dragos03]

Proclamation issued by general Erwin Jaenecke before the final phase of the battle for Crimea (the battles around Sevastopol):

"Soldiers of the 17th Army, the Fuhrer ordered us to defend the Sevastopol fortress and, by doing so, trusted us with a very important and serious mission. Our mission has a huge importance.
The enemy made the mistake of taking powerful forces and an overwhelming number of tanks from the important points of the Eastern front to send against Crimeea. This superior force succeded to break through our overextended front at Sivas, after a hard battle. The quick redeployement of our Army at Sevastopol succeded in stopping the enemy, forcing them to assault again against our determined defence, causing them terrible losses, they lost 602 tanks between 8 and 23 April. Everything they lose here they will lack in their Western offensive against the heart of Romania.
The actions of the brave German and Romanian soldiers here in Crimeea, through faithfull duty and bravery, serve a greater purpose.
The harder the enemy will struggle to conquer Sevastopol, the safer our country will be, shielded by our actions.
We are all aware of the tough battle that lies ahead. The Fuhrer will help us with weapons and reinforcements. But our strongest force is our interior force, the determination and unity proved by us in hundreds of battles in the Caucasus, Kuban and Crimeea, all of us, Germans and Romanians, ground forces, airforce and navy.
Our motto is: "No step back!". Victory is ahead while death lies backwards. We will stay here as long as the Fuhrer orders us, in this critical spot of the titanic battle. Whoever will try to leave this mission, who will leave his post, those responsible of the limited combat strength of our army, will be executed.
Let the Soviets come, they will be destroyed. Let their tanks advance, if you infantrymen cannot stop them, let them enter our positions, they will be easier destroyed there.
Every man able to hold a weapon will be sent to the front.
All the reserves are ordered to work day and night to fortify the positions in depth.
The 17th Army fights now in a place where thousands of our brave troops offered an example. We will succeed in our mission, like they did, for our country!
Long live the Fuhrer! Long live his Majesty King Mihai! Long live Marshall Antonescu!"
General Jaenecke, Sevastopol, 24 April 1944

[dragos03]

Proclamation issued by King Ferdinand on 10 November 1918 (old style) when Romania re-entered WW1:

"Soldiers,
The moment awaited by all Romanians and especially by you, my brave soldiers, has come after a long and painful delay. The crossing of the Danube by allied forces impose upon us the patriotic duty to take arms again and to chase away together the enemy from our country and to liberate the opressed population.
Your king is calling you again to battle, to accomplish our ages-old dream: the union of all Romanians, for which so many of you fought bravely in 1916-1917.
The souls of our soldiers who died in this war bless you for this last struggle, the eyes of our faithfull allies are watching you with love and trust our country and its sons; your brothers in arms from the victorious French and British armies have heard of your bravery at Oituz, Marasti and Marasesti, show them that the delay didn't weaken the arm of the Romanian soldier. Our brothers in Bucovina and Transilvania are calling you for this last fight, your bravery will liberate them from the foreign yoke.
Victory is ours and the future will bring peace and happiness to all Romanians.
Attack bravely like our ancestors did!
God is with us.
Ferdinand"

[Sturmpionier]

THis is quite intereeting topic.

Proclamation fom the 1877-1878 war :

" Romanian soldiers,
you know how suffered our Fatherland in the last 200 years. Now you have possibility to prove your barvery....everyone who has heart of a Romanian patriot- forward ! And let we have the responsibility for our act !
We must continue the glorious feats of arms of our forefathers which fought hand to hand with one of the strongest armies in the world. Let we cover our flags with military glory. Forward, Romanian soldiers, bravely forward ! Soon, saluted by the nation you will come back to the liberated by you fatherland. "

This post has been edited by Sturmpionier on September 01, 2006 07:21 am

[dragos03]

Proclamation issued by Carol I at Poradim, on 5/17 September 1877, after the capture of Grivita:

"Soldiers,
During the day of 30 August your bravery has carried the Romanian flags to victory. The 14th Dorobanti Regiment and the 2nd Vanatori Battallion, together with three battallions from the glorious Russian imperial army, took from enemy hands the redoubt so stubbornly defended and captured one flag and three guns.
These trophies, I order to be sent to our capital and remain there as a symbol of the bravery of the Romanian army. The flag will be kept in the Army Arsenal, until we will decide where to store it.
From the captured cannons, two will be placed on each side of the statue of Michael the Brave. Everybody will be able to see that the Romanian soldiers are the followers of the heroes that fought at Calugareni.
The third cannon will be displayed in front of the guard corps of the Royal Palace, and serve as an example for our glorious army.
Issued from the headquarters of the Western Army on 5 September 1877.
Carol"