28th Dorobanti Regiment

My grandfather, Nedelcu Radu, fought on the eastern front from the very beginning until Don's Bend battle when he was captured and sent somewhere in Siberia. He soon escaped and cross on foot all Russia to reach home during the last months of the war or perhaps even after. Unfortunately he died before I was old enough to question him about his stories. All I know is from my mother who, sadly for me, was not to anxious to quiz him about it. She remembered him saying that he, personally, had good relations with german soldiers (he even received a pair of german boots-excellent in his opinion) and that he was helped by russian civilians after he escaped.
After this long introduction, suited maybe for another thread, comes my questions. I found his military records which says that he was first incorporated from 20 nov. 1933 in 28th Dorobanti Regiment and relived on 1 nov. 1934. But on war participation page it is written that he participated from 22 June 1941 until 1 Jul. 1942 in the same 28th Regiment. His rank was "caporal - comandant de grupa" (sorry didn't know right english term). I would like very much to know more about regiment history because I wanna trace as much as possible my grandfather's steps and remember what he endured during those days.

About the lack of concordance between his papers and his story I think it will have some relevance that his papers were given to him in 1958 when officials did not want to recognize that "Big Brother" took romanian prisoners and to remember romanian participation on the eastern front.

The 28th Dorobanti Regiment Radu Negru was part of the 12th Infantry Division in the last years of the inter-war era. However, after the 1940 territorial losses, this division, along with the 16th and the 17th, were disbanded.

The regiment, from what I could tell, was transformed into a fortification garrison unit and was incorporated in the 2nd Fortification Brigade, manning the Adjud - Focsani - Namoloasa - Galati line. This brigade saw some action in the Bessarabian campaign, making several raids around Cahul and then crossing the Prut River on 18 July and taking Cahul on 21 July 1941. Afterwards it served as security force in Bessarabia and then in Trans-Dnestra. In February 1942, with some forces of the former 2nd Fortification Brigade, among which was also the 28th Regiment, was formed the 2nd Security Division (Divizia 2 Paza in Romanian), which also activated in Trans-Dnestra (see some details in the Order of Battle section of the website).

Your father was transferred to another unit in the summer of 1942 and with that he reached the area near Stalingrad. The 2nd Secutiry Division remained in Trans-Dnestra.

Thank you for information Victor.

You said that 2nd Security Division activated in TransDnestra. They were somehow involved in war crimes in that region? I hope not.

It was stationed on the seaside, not in the area of the camps. Its commander, col. Vladescu was retired from the army in July 1947 and died later that year (I don't know the cause). I think that if there would have been warcrime charges, he would have been put on trial in 1945-46, but I can't say for sure.

Is there a possibilty to find out what elements of 28th regiment were reassigned and reach near Stalingrad? And also in what units they were relocated?
Or it was more a kind of a personal transfer, in what only my grandather was implied?

It was a personal transfer. Maybe you can find some personal records for 1942, where the unit he was transfered to is mentioned.

Hi,BogdanAlex

Your grand father was great person,My grandfather was in Siberia after The War End,He was Cavarly officer of The Imperial Army
Mihai

Thank you Mihai for your appreciation.
Unfortunately a lot of good people got through tragedies in those dreadful days.

>BogdanAlex

Tody's Newspapwer,26000 man died in Siberia.My grand father send the letter to my father and family,This letter told the Rumanian POW in same pleace.
I make interested in Rumania by the letter.
regards

Mihai