Barbarossa and Army Group Antonescu

[Cartaphilus]

Dear friends, according to some sources, on the Order of Battle of Operation Barbarossa there was a Romanian "Army Group Antonescu" that included Romanian 3rd and 4th Armies, and that was subordinated to AGerman Army Group South (Gerd von Rundstedt). On some places I've read even that German 11th Army (Ritter von Schobert) was part of this Romanian Army Group.

But according to other sources, both Romanian armies were not grouped and were subordinated directly to Rundstedt, without a Romanian common commander (Antonescu).

What is the truth about this matter?

[Jeff Leach]

'Army Group Antonescu' existed in reality on paper. The Romanian 4th Army was under Romanian control, the Romanian 3rd Army supported the German 11th Army and they worked in close cooperation with each other (It may as gone so far the the Romanian 3rd Army was nomially under the German 11th Army Control). There were also a number of Romanian forces integrated into the German 11th Army, which was under the control of Army Group South. During short periods German units operated under Romanian control (the 239th Infantry Division was subordinated to the Romanian Cavalry Corps for a short time).

The German didn't do with the Romanian forces as they wished. There was a lot of consultations with Marshall Antonescu, where the German did respect at least some of his wishes. Romanian and German forces cooperated quite closely, especially the artillery. Alot of German attacks had mixed German / Romanian artillery groups supporting them (XI Corps' crossing of the Prut River and Dniester River among other)

I haven't read all the documents yet but it appears that this command structure changed rapidly. The above should be true up to the crossing of Dniester River after that some of the Romanian forces started to drift south for the Odessa Operation. I am also unsure about the degree of support and cooperation between the German LIV Corps and the northern wing of the Romanian 4th Army.

I guess best to say the Romanian 3rd and 4th Armies and German 11th Armies were under control of Army Group South but that politics demanded that the German pay a certain amount of respect to the wishes of the Romanian head of state. There was no intermediate headquarters between Army Group South and these three army during combat operations but Marshall Antonescu was consluted in the use of the Romanian forces under German control.

Hope that makes sense.

[rocky456]

My impression is that antonescu was a competent general.

[georgica]

Hi Rocky, Marschall Ion Antonescu was indeed after Romanian Revolution in 1989 recognized accordingly. He was placed in Book of Honor of Romanian History. Before His execution by the communists in Baneasa Forest He refused to be blindfolded His last words were: Long live Free Romania !.
He did not sell Romania to Axis like others say , He just simply did not wanted Bolschevics and Jews in Romania and He made the best choice He could at that time! GREAT GENERAL !!!

[Ifor]

Could anyone tell of any elite units within the Romanian Armed Forces?

[georgica]

Not known of any so called Elite romanian troops but one thing is for sure.. Romanians along with other small Axis soldiers fought in front first lines against Soviets and many died bravely.

[Ironmachine]

Could anyone tell of any elite units within the Romanian Armed Forces?

Defining what is "elite" can be difficult, but AFAIK the mountain troops and the cavalry were highly considered. Maybe also the Guard Division and the paratroopers (though the paratroopers were few in numbers).