Romanian Generals KIA in WW1, names, career, photos

[mateias]

Romanian army lost several generals, KIA or wounded so severe on the battlefields that they died immediately afterwards. Among them are gen. Dragalina, gen. Praporgescu and gen. Stan Poetas. I'd like to know more facts about all of them and, if possible, where are their tombs.

Biography of Dragalina's family and his picture (his son, Corneliu, fought in WW2 and was Bukowina's governor) on this site:

http://www.invierea-domnului.org/images/4%...alina/index.htm

This post has been edited by mateias on January 15, 2008 10:02 am

[Victor]

Gen. Praporgescu's tomb is in Bellu cemetery. Here is an older post with a photo:

http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?sh...indpost&p=58960

[mateias]

I think gen. Praporgescu has another monument in Caineni area (place where he was wounded - Olt River valley). Any picture of it?

This post has been edited by mateias on January 15, 2008 07:16 pm

[Victor]

See this other post in the same topic:
http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?sh...indpost&p=49444

[mateias]

Circumstances related to assassination of Gen. Stan Poetas, commander of 21st Infantry Brigade on Jan. 7, 1919, in Unguri, Hotin country (Bessarabia)
In the night of 6/7 Jan., bolshevik troops cross Dniestr on ice at Atachi (north of Hotin) and Ocnitza (Soroca county), occupying several localities - including Unguri - and railway line connecting them with Hotin town. They contacted immediately local supporters and equipped them with weapons and ammunitions brought from Ukraine (supplied from stores left full and unguarded by German and AH armies, and by Ukrainean army from Moghilev which built for them a crossing bridge at Ocnitza). Due to lack of an efficient intelligence service in the area, Romanian border guards and troops from small units in those villages were massacrated. Ukrainean authorities provided ships able to build bridges carrying troops, weapons, ammunition and horses across Dniestr.
Romanian public opinion was shocked and Gen. Prezan issued on 9. Jan. a drastic order, demanding that Commanders of 4th and 5th Armies take proper measures against those commiting criminal acts.
On 10. Jan., aggressors entered Hotin town where they plundered and killed at random. They freed the inmates from local prisons and forced them to join their detachment. Sources estimate their figures: 4-5000 riflemen, 2-3000 horsemen and 8-10 canons.
Kiritescu describes the atmosphere in Hotin: "Bodies of Romanian soldiers were hanging from tree branches or telephone poles. On their faces, traces of blood, trickling from their mouth with cut tongues, paint red beards on white chests. ..."
Romanian army needed ONE MONTH to pacify the area (till 5. Jan, 1919) and the attackers retreated to Ukraine with 117 prisoners, quite a lot for those days).
Losses of Romanian army:
KIA: gen. Poetas, 2 officers, 156 troops
WIA: 2 officers, 91 troops
Disappeared: 117, captured and forced to go with attackers across Dniestr.
The inquest showed that local ethnic Russians and Ukrainians helped the invaders. Local Jews helped Romanian isolated soldiers by hiding them in their homes and in synagogues.
This tragedy was followed year on year by lots of other provocations, the climax being the Tatar-Bunar events.
Even today, Russian and Moldavian sources present events of those days as an Anti-Romanian uprising. In fact, it was concocted by Russian leadership, in co-operation with Communist Ukraine, by setting up special commission for Bessarabia, with lots of specialized paramilitary committees, dedicated to such activities.
Strangely enough, Romanian army arrested in the area 3 British officers who sent to London reports where attackers were described as victims of Romanian aggressions. This delicate issue affected relations between Romania and UK until these officers came to Bucharest and Gen. Greenley, head of UK military mission, informed gen. Prezan that the officers apologized for being disinformed.

This post has been edited by mateias on January 18, 2008 09:15 pm

[Victor]

Ion Dragalina was born on 3 December 1860 in Caransebes, which at the time was part of the Habsburg Empire. In 1876 he was admitted in the Cadet School in Timisoara/Temesvar/Temeschwar. He graduated in 1880 and was assigned to the 43rd KUK Infantry Regiment in his hometown of Caransebes. In 1883 he was promoted to the rank of 2nd lieutenant and later that year he went to Vienna to attend the classes of the War Academy and of the School of Geodesic Engineers. After graduation he returned to Caransebes.

On 1 December 1887 he resigned from the Austro-Hungarian Army and crossed the Carpathians together with his wife Elena. Ten days later he was hired in the Romanian Army with the same rank and assigned to the 21st Dorobanti Regiment Ilfov in Bucharest. One year later he was promoted to the rank of 1st lieutenant and moved to the 1st Dorobanti Regiment Dolj in Craiova. He then went on to serve in the 2nd Dorobanti Regiment, the 19th Dorobanti and the 7th Dorobanti Regiments and the 9th Vanatori Battalion. He was promoted captain on 10 May 1893 and major on 10 May 1899.

On 10 May 1908 he became lt. colonel and was appointed as CO of the Infantry School in Bucharest, until April 1911 when he was promoted to the rank of colonel and received the command of the 34th Infantry Regiment in Constanta. Three years later he took over the 9th Infantry Brigade in Ploiesti and in August 1915 he received the mission to oversee the fortifications the Predeal Group had to construct on the Prahova Valley. Later that year, on 23 November he became brig. general and was appointed CO of the 3rd Territorial Corps.

On 1 July 1916 he was moved to the command of the 1st Infantry Division in Turnu Severin. As the Romanian troops entered Transylvania, he assaulted and occupied Orsova and the Cerna Valley, from where the access of the enemy monitors towards Turnu Severin could be interdicted by artillery. He then went on to repulse the enemy attacks, even though 2 regiments had been transferred to the Jiu Valley.

Given the difficult situation developing on the Jiu valley, Dragalina replaced general Culcer at the command of the 1st Army on 24 October. He immediately ordered a counterattack in the open flank of the advancing German troops and, as he was inspecting the front the following day he was wounded in the right arm.

He passed away in Bucharest a couple of weeks later. He rests in the Bellu cemetery in Bucharest. Between 27 and 29 October 1916, the maneuver he envisioned led to the victory at Targu Jiu, despite the inferiority in numbers and equipment of the Romanian troops.

[mateias]

Very good, indeed, Victor !
Two out of three. Now, let's get more on gen. Stan Poetas and his burial place. I also asked on other thread if someone can post photo of his statue in Cernauti, demolished when Soviets took control. Thanks.