Acts of Bravery

[Victor]

Maybe this will refresh your memory :wink:
http://www.worldwar2.ro/operatii/?article=...e=5&language=en

[Florin]

[quote]Maybe this will refresh your memory :wink:
http://www.worldwar2.ro/operatii/?article=...e=5&language=en[/quote]

Hi Victor,

Thank you for the interesting link. What a pitty that much more people read von Manstein's memories, and nothing else from the "Allierte". Fortunately, what you mentioned are not the only mistakes inserted in "Lost Victories", so if somebody by chance read the Romanian version of the Crimea campaign, it may sound credible when it is in opposition with a von Manstein quote.

Your article starts the naration with the end of December 1941. According to what do I understand, Sevastopol was kept by the Russians during 1941, and it was lost only once, in 1942. Also I see now that when the German-Romanian final attack started to "clean" Crimea, it was not from the narrow isthmus line, but from more advanced positions. Thus I got another thing: the Soviets never recuperated Crimea completely, in 1941-1942.

From a ink seal mark I can say that my grandfather was in the "15th Battalion of Mountain Unit". But what division? The clue I have:
1. His unit was in Zalau. After the Vienna/Wien Treaty (August 30th, 1940), they relocated to Deva.
2. He was in the Caucasian Mountains. I guess not all of the Romanian mountain units "travelled" as far as that.
3. My grandfather was countinuously on the front lines, Eastern Front, from June 22nd, 1941, to April 25th, 1944 - when the barge "Leo" lest Sevastopol
4. To check my memory about what I heard as child: The name of divison's commander was "Dumitrache" or "Dumitrana".

I can attach a photo with the staff of the unit (Staff of a battalion, or a regiment? I don't know.) At the back of the photo it is written just "1942".
I don't know how to do it, from a technical point if view. It is already scanned, and I have it as jpg.files (full size or reduced) in my computer.

Something funny, for all people here... After Romania became Communist, in the early 50's, Soviet Union ordered us to disband the mountain units from the Romanian Army. The Russians had so many bad memories from them... So, as far as I know, this really happened, for some years.

So, thank you for creating this interesting site, together with Dragos.
Regards,
Florin :?

[Florin]

In stead of "lest Sevastopol" please read "left Sevastopol".

Florin

[Victor]

[quote]
Your article starts the naration with the end of December 1941. According to what do I understand, Sevastopol was kept by the Russians during 1941, and it was lost only once, in 1942. Also I see now that when the German-Romanian final attack started to "clean" Crimea, it was not from the narrow isthmus line, but from more advanced positions. Thus I got another thing: the Soviets never recuperated Crimea completely, in 1941-1942.[/quote]

There is an article about the 1941 Crimean campaign in the same Operations section.

[quote]
From a ink seal mark I can say that my grandfather was in the "15th Battalion of Mountain Unit". But what division? The clue I have:
1. His unit was in Zalau. After the Vienna/Wien Treaty (August 30th, 1940), they relocated to Deva.
2. He was in the Caucasian Mountains. I guess not all of the Romanian mountain units "travelled" as far as that.
3. My grandfather was countinuously on the front lines, Eastern Front, from June 22nd, 1941, to April 25th, 1944 - when the barge "Leo" lest Sevastopol
4. To check my memory about what I heard as child: The name of divison's commander was "Dumitrache" or "Dumitrana".[/quote]

Maj. gen. (Ritterkreuztragger) Ioan Dumitrache was the CO of the 2nd Mountain Division, which took Nalchik, the southernmost city captured by the Axis in the Caucasus.

[quote]
I can attach a photo with the staff of the unit (Staff of a battalion, or a regiment? I don't know.) At the back of the photo it is written just "1942".
I don't know how to do it, from a technical point if view. It is already scanned, and I have it as jpg.files (full size or reduced) in my computer.
[/quote]

Send it to me via email and I will put in the article about the Caucasus Campaign in 1942.

[Florin]

Hi PogRomus,

In www.feldgrau.com, under "Allierte", there is the site "Romanian Knights Cross Holders of WWII". Mr. Nitu mentioned that the site has some imperfections. However, it is a good start for a foreigner interested in Romania.

Most of the distinctions were awarded to the generals for the bravery of the troops under their command. This was quite common regarding Axis Allies, and politically convenient.
A good example are the 2 Japanese KC's: admiral Yamamoto and general Tojo, if I am not wrong.
I think the admiral Horthy of Hungary also got a Knight Cross (please do not kill me if I am wrong), and also some Italian high ranks.

But under the "Romanian Knights Cross Holders of WWII" of the above site, you'll find 3 lower ranks: major Gheorghe Rasconescu, major Ioan Palaghita and colonel Ion Hristea. I am sure these gentelmen with lower ranks really deserved their Knight Crosses, and their acts of bravery were impressive even under German eyes.
Regards,
Florin :?

[Victor]

QUOTE

Mircea Vrânceanu is his name, Sublocotenent, (Lieutenant) Bomber pilot like his uncle. Bombed Odessa from what I heard. He recieved an Iron Cross I think, but that's just from what my grandmother tells me. He was young and he looked quite good. I have pictures of him and some of his planes, tough I'm not sure what plane he flew in battle.

Looks like my azure peltite theory was correct. Your grandfather was a recon pilot. Pilot's License no. 2274/13.04.1941. Now we just have to find his unit.

[Bernard Miclescu]

In Bacau lives mr Mancu T Tanase "comandor de aviatie". He made all the war like an observer on the obsolete observation planes IAR 39. He was an officer (slt then lt) of the "escadrila 19 de observatie". When I met him he told me a interesting story about the "mission of his life"

It was in the middle of the battle of Odessa when he and his crew took off for an reconnaissance mission. He discovered and made photos of some important battle ships in the port of Odessa. The flak was terrible, but the "mos Neatza" landed in safe conditions bringging the news. Minutes after a Stuka squadron followed by Romanian bombers (Heinkels I think) bombed and distroyed some of those battle ship. Slt Tanase was decorated with Virtutea Aeronautica golden cross (I have a propaganda picture with him -- unfortunatly the last photo of the war that he still has (don't worry I took a photo of his picture -- Mr Bernad should have it also))
He also told me the mission near Galatzi, when he and the IAR 39 crew distroyed a russian canon which made some "dégats" in Galatzi.
In the magazine AIRMAG no8 is another mission of Mr Tanase.

After the war he established Bacau beeing a profesor of economy.
Well, please accept this small tribute in my bad English to a man who was part of the History.

Now, if someone knows something about the Odessa mission please do not hesitate to write it on this forum.

Salutations,
BM[/b][/i]

[Der Maresal]

[quote]Looks like my azure peltite theory was correct. Your grandfather was a recon pilot. Pilot's License no. 2274/13.04.1941. Now we just have to find his unit. [/quote]

Thanks Victor ...at least someone cares...

*Another small thing if you can find 109 pilot instructor..
This may sound funny but my grandmother goes to a Romanian doctor who's name is Michali . When i talked to me once he told me his father was 'Instructor on the Messerschmitt' :wink: - so, if you can find any pilot or flight instructor with the name Michali or Michale ..tell me.. ok?

:idea:

[USAF1986]

Another brave Romanian officer: Nicolae Dabija. Of note, he received the German Cross in Gold on 10 February 1944 while a Cǎpitan serving as Chief of the 5th Company of the 38th Infantry Regiment.

Courtesy of Victor from the TRF (thanks again!):

QUOTE

Order of the day no. 39/30 March 1943 The company of cpt. Nicolae Dabija, from the 38th Infantry Regiment distinguished itself especially at the beginning of February 1943, during the enemy landings in the Novorosiysk region. Because of the determined leadership of cpt. Nicolae Dabija of his soldiers, the company, although encircled held out for 4 days and 4 nights in front of enemy attacks carried out with superior numbers of men and supported by numerous tanks.   Being relieved by other forces, the company counterattacked and managed to destroy completely the enemy troops and to throw the remains in the Sea.   For its outstanding actions the company of cpt. Dabija Nicolae is cited by order of the day on the entire Army. ss. Ion Antonescu Marshal of Romania and Leader of the State Dabija also received the Mihai Viteazul Order 3rd class for this action. During 1945, he received the 3rd class with swords, but with the rank of major and for fighting against Germany (in the same 38th Infantry Regiment).

Regards,
Shawn

[Victor]

The list of examples of winners of the MV Order continues:

Cpt. Marcel Marinescu (10th Mountain Battalion) awarded the Mihai Viteazul Order 3rd class posthumously:
For the heroism with which he resisted with his company to the swarm of Russians in the battle of Malaya Belosyorka, in the days of 27 and 28 September 1941, thus halting the enemy which was trying to brake through the battalion.
Although wounded twice, he refused to be evacuated and continued to fight until 28 September, when the troops fell back to another position and he formed the second echelon in the brake through from the encirclement. He was wounded once again, this time mortally.

Cpt. medic Constantin Cosma (16th Mountain Battalion) awarded the Mihai Viteazul Order 3rd class posthumously:
For the heroism he displayed in the bloody battles carried out by this battalion between 24 and 27 September 1941, when the command post of the mountain group was surrounded, by his own initiative he counterattacked with a handful of men from the command post and the pioneers, managing to flank and get behind the enemy and retake the guns of the mountain artillery battalion.
Returning to the battalion he took over the right wing of the counterattack, which was attempting with the remains of two companies to take for the 3rd time the part of the village in the hands of the enemy. He managed to occupy the northern outskirts.
He then thought of the wounded who had fallen in the last counterattacks and tried to rescue them, but was captured. The following day, when the village was reoccupied, he was found shot.

Lt. Constantin Husarescu (CO of the Recon Group of the 1st Armored Division) awarded the Mihai Viteazul Order 3rd class posthumously:
For the exceptional courage displayed on 6 August 1941, when during a recon of Mikhailovka he personally entered the village, surprising an enemy battalion. He opened fire, engaging it, and with the arrival of another platoon, which maneuvered around the enemy, they forced them to retreat after suffering many casualties. During this fights, the brave officer was killed.

[Victor]

Lt. Tudor Iordanescu (4th Mountain Artillery battalion) awarded the Mihai Viteazul Order 3rd class posthumously:

For the courage and skill with which he led his battery, during the fighting at Malaya Belosyorka, firing directly at the enemy, until the last round. Although surrounded he managed to brake through with his men. He then counter attacked and again reached the artillery position, where he was killed.

[mabadesc]

Getting back to Romanian recipients of the Mihai Viteazu Order 2nd class, I find it surprising that HALF of the recipients were officers of the Mountain Corps (actually, the number is 6 out of 10 if we count Lascar, who originally commanded the 1st Mountain Brigade in Crimea). This seems disproportionate...
Why was this? I find it hard to believe it's purely coincidence. The only reason I can think of is that some of the officers may have been initially in the Mountain Corps, but received the award later on, when they were part of different units...

Here is the list of recipients, as posted by Victor:

Romanian officers awarded with cl. II:

General Gheorghe Avramescu - commander of Mountain Corps
Lieutenant-colonel Dumitru Carlan - commander of 9th Mountain Battalion (cl. III in WW1)
General Corneliu Dragalina - commander of 6th Army Corps (cl. III in WW1)
General Ioan Dumitrache - commander of 2nd Mountain Division
General Petre Dumitrescu - commander of 3rd Army
General Mihail Lascar - commander of 6th Infantry Division *also 1st Mountain Brigade*
General Leonard G. Mociulschi - commander of 3rd Mountain Division
Lieutenant-colonel Ioan M. Palaghita - commander of 94th Infantry Regiment (post-mortem)
Lieutenant-colonel Florin M. Radulescu - commander of 7th Mountain Group (cl. III in WW1)
General Corneliu Teodorini - commander of 6th Cavalry Division

[aerialls]

on topic:

http://www.hobby.ro/roarmy/photo/big/u3.jpg

[mabadesc]

Could you please re-post picture or send us a link? It's not displaying in your message. Thanks a lot...

[Dénes]

See below: