Russian awards to Romanian soldiers

Hello !
I have in my collection some Russian st. George crosses
of Romanian soldiers .
1) Demetre Jean . Receive this cross in 1877 for battle near Eski-Zagroja ( Stara Zagora )
2) unter-officer of 18 Rifle Reg. Kerciu George receive cross for battle 23/12/1916 near Geurgele

3) officer Mishka Saviu from 32 Rifle Reg.
&
4) feuerverker D. Georgesku from 105-mm heavy artillery divizion of 19 art. Reg.
for battle near Doage and Prisake 24.07.1917-2.08.1917 .
*
Halp me !
Somebody have some information about this soldiers or this regiments ?!
Somebody have Romanian awards group with Russian George awards -
Order og st. George , st. George cross or st. George Medal "For Beavery" ?
Somebody have photos of Romanian soldiers with Russian Awards ?
Send me please the scans !
*
Thank you very much !
Igor
geshem@bk.ru

This post has been edited by igor_ost on December 08, 2004 10:53 pm

I have some data - most of them with romanian cavalry units, but maybe i find some cavalrysts decorated...
Another topic is with weapons used in what we named Independence War. You may suply us with data for russian units armament used in this war?

Iama

The 19th Artillery Regiment was involved in the battle of Marasesti (6 August - 24 July 1917). It was positioned north of Prisaca forest and Doaga village. The 24th Russian Division was deployed north of the Romanian positions, with the Russian artillery deployed near the village of Padureni.

In the list of Romanian soldiers that received the St. George Order for actions in the 1877-78 War, I have found a serg. Ion Dumitrescu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment. He received the 4th class in silver. He very likely is your Jean Demetre. However, I find it strange that he is cited for actions near Stara Zagora, as Romanian troops did not venture south of Plevna too much, because of the poor logistics that required them to stay close to the Danube. That is why, after Plevna fell, the Romanian army headed west towards Vidin and Belogradchik, covering the right wing of the Russian advance to Adrianople.

In total 95 Romanians received the St. George Order. Only one received it twice.

Information from Russian Archive -
150 Romanian soldier was receive st. George crosses for 1877-78 y. war

http://img458.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sg4st8uo.jpg

This post has been edited by igor_ost on December 27, 2005 08:53 am

Well, in that case, I only have 95 of the 150.
Do you have numbers for WW1 also?

In WWI - 800 - 1000 soldiers receive st. George cross &
200 - st. George "For Bravery" medals !
Can you send me your list of Romanian soldiers that received the St. George
Order for actions in the 1877-78 War ?
Thank you !

This post has been edited by igor_ost on May 29, 2006 08:38 am

I don't have it in electronic format. It's from a book. I will write it down in the next couple of days and post it here.

Could you give some details on the order itslef: when was founded, the classes, conditions for awarding it etc.

Prince Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, commander of the Romanian army and of the allied Western Army at Pleven, Order of St. George 3rd class in gold

Officers:
brig. gen. Alexandru Cernat, commander of the Operations Army, Order of St. George 4th class in gold
mr. Alexandru Candiano-Popescu, commanded the 2nd Vanatori Battalion during the assault on the Grivice tabia on 30 August 1877, Order of St. George 4th class in gold
slt. r Matila Costiescu from the 3rd Artillery Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. r Eugen Costinescu, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. r Casimir Cugler from the 8th Line Infantry Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Alexandru Lens from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Ozar Lens from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Leon Leonida from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Ioan Marica attached to the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Ioan Nicolae from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Ioan Popovici from the 6th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Saul Scarlat from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Vasile Sturza from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Ioan Toncovici from the 7th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Dimitrie Trenc from the 7th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
slt. Theodor Zotoviceanu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver

NCOs:
serg. maj. Apostol Ionita from the 5th Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. maj. Horia Rosetti from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Constantin Brailoiu, from the 9th Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Ioan Bunea, from the 7th Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Nicolae Chiriac from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Nicolae Crihan from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Marin Croitoru from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Ioan Dumitrescu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. George Fotino from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Nicolae Frangopulo from the 6th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Vasile George from the 6th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. George Georgescu from the 6th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Constantin Grant from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Constantin Gradisteanu from the 6th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Ioan Grigore from the 2nd Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Alexandru Guta from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Vasile Herisescu from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Alexandru Iromescu from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. I. Lahovary from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. George Lambru from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Iordache Luceafaru from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Paul Lucasievici from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Constantin Manu from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver and 2nd class in gold
serg. Dumitru Manu from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Haralambie Milos from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Ioan Mitroi from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Nicolae Nicolescu from the 6th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. ? Nora from the 6th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Ioan Radulescu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Alexandru Rioseanu from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Grigorie Sandu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 5th class in silver
serg. Nicolae Stan Constantin Scarlat from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Constantin Sturza from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Mihail Vlahuti from the 2nd Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Simion Volani from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
serg. Petre Zeamaneagra from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Petre Bordescu, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Dumitru Candidatu, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Constantin Cimpoieru from the 5th Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Ilie Cioran from the 5th Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier George Danighi, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Ioan Efrem from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Ioan Marica from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Ioan Paun from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Vasile Pechianu, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Sterie Petrescu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Constantin Rosca from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Constantin Scarlat from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Vasile Scriitoru from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Theodor Teodorescu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Hariton Topala from the 5th Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
brigadier Dobre Vasiescu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver


Soldiers:
Ioan Bescu, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Frant Bredar from the ? Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Nicolae Burcea from the Flotilla Corps, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Radu Calicu, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Tanase Cioroiu from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
George Constantin from the 5th Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
George Craciun, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Ioan Crangaru, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Gheorghe Cuchi, unknown unit, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Constantin Dumbraveanu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Vasile Florea from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Daniil Grinea from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
George Madular from the ? Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Ioan Nicolae from the 3rd Calarasi Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Dragu Nuta from the 6th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Ioan Oprea from the 6th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Dobre Paraschiva from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Marin Petrica from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
George Preda from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Nicolae Strita from the 1st Vanatori Battalion, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Ioan Toma from the 7th Dorobanti Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Andrei Udrea from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Eduard Uritescu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Leonida Urseanu from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver
Anton Vasile from the 1st Rosiori Regiment, Order of St. George 4th class in silver


Source: Armata Romana in Razboiul de Independenta 1877-78 by Cornel Scafes, Horia Serbanescu, Corneliu Andonie and Ioan Scafes, Bucharest Sigma, 2001

Ranks:
Mr.= Major
Slt.=2nd lieutenant
Slt. r= 2nd lieutenant in reserve
Serg. maj.= sergeant major
Serg. = sergeant
Brigadier = Corporal (in the cavalry and chasseurs)

The Russian Order of St. George was founded by Empress Catherine on 26 November 1769. If I remember correctly, it was awarded in four classes exclusively to officers for extreme bravery in the face of the enemy. Hence, it was the Russian equivalent of the Romanian Order of Michael the Brave. For similar deeds, the NCOs and soldiers received the Cross of St. George (which was therefore much like the Romanian war badge of the Military Virtue).

It has to be mentioned that the Order of St. George was an order of merit (along with the Order of St. Vladimir) and as such nobody could qualify for it by birth only. Thus, if I remember correctly, the members of the Imperial Russian family received all the other Russian orders of knighthood, but not the Order of St. George or the Order of St. Vladimir (they had to qualify fairly for them).

To complete my previous post, Emperor Alexander I who revived the order in 1801 received only the fourth class of the Order of St. George on 13 December 1805 for his contribution to the Battle of Austerlitz. And Emperor Alexander III received only the second class of the order on 30 September 1877 for his service in the war against Turkey.

I really doubt that they were referring to the Order of St. George. There were only eight second classes awarded during the 1877-1878 war, one of them being the heir to the Russian throne (see above). It is thus quite unlikely that one of the other seven recipients was a sergeant of the Romanian Army (usually the recipients were Generals or Admirals - 121 or 124 of them).

Anyhow, the list is interesting, as it provides the names of the recipients. Thanks.

I was also very surprised by it, but that is what it has been printed. Maybe 3rd class? It can happen to loose an "I" during printing.

I was not questioning the class, but rather the reference to the Order of St. George. I guess the authors of the list did not make any difference between the Order of St. George (reserved for the officers) and the Cross of St. George (awarded to lower ranks). The confusion is understandable to a certain extent, as the awards were connected and had the same ribbon. Furthermore, during the 1877-1878 war both awards had four classes.

Take a look at http://nubirus.chat.ru/HomepageEnglish.htm for more information on the Cross of St. George. Unfortunately the author sometimes makes reference to it as to "an order", but that was not the Order of St. George. The Order of St. George had a white enamelled badge in gold, while the Cross of St. George had only a metal cross (golden for first and second classes and silver for third and fourth classes).

There is one more thing in the list Victor posted that puzzles me. It seems that the Order of St. George was certainly awarded to King Carol I (third class), Gen. Cernat (fourth class) and Maj. Candiano-Popescu (fourth class).

The confusion is about the awards for the other officers, all of them second lieutenants. The reference to the "fourth class in silver" suggests that in fact they received the Cross of St. George. The question then is why did they receive the cross and not the order? Did the Russian authorities not consider them officers? Were they NCOs which were raised to officer rank following their military deeds (I would be surprised if that was the case for all of them)?