Romanian Campaign (1916-1919)

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Romanian Campaign (1916-1919)

#1

Post by dragos » 25 Mar 2004, 01:06

The articles I post here belong to www.worldwar2.ro website (the articles are not published at this moment).

Note: some dates are recorded after the old calendar. Romania adopted the new calendar (Gregorian calendar) in 1919. Between the old calendar and the new calendar there is a difference of 13 days. For example, in the article below, the date of 13 August is actually 26 August.
Last edited by dragos on 25 Mar 2004, 01:37, edited 1 time in total.

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The offensive of the 2nd Romanian Army in Transylvania

#2

Post by dragos » 25 Mar 2004, 01:12

The offensive of the 2nd Romanian Army in Transylvania (27/28.08 - 26.09.1916)


According to the Operational Directive no. 1 and to the orders of High General Staff, No. 2766 and 2767 from 13 August 1916, at 15 August the forces of the 2nd Army launched the offensive, starting from the land strip between the Slanic Valley and the Piatra Craiului Mountains. In the moment when the military operations started, the 2nd Army (commanded by the general Alexandru Averescu) consisted of the 2nd Army Corps (3rd and 4th infantry divisions), 3rd Army Corps (5th and 6th Infantry Divisions), 1st Cavalry Division and other units, subunits, special formations and services. The offensive of the Second Army was supported from the right flank by the “Oituz” Group, belonging to the “North” Army. The “Olt-Lotru” Group, belonging to the First Army, supported the left flank.

The combat disposition of the Second Army was the following: the 3rd Army Corps between Vrancea Mountains and Baiul Mountains, the 2nd Army Corps from Baiul Mountains to the Fagaras massifs, and the 1st Cavalry Division was in reserve, in the Curtea de Arges area. The 2nd Army consisted of 78 infantry battalions, 71 artillery batteries and 12 cavalry squadrons.

Facing the direction of attack of the Romanian 2nd Army was the 71st Austro-Hungarian Infantry Division (commanded by the general Anton von Goldbach), with 9 infantry battalions, 8 artillery batteries and 1 cavalry squadron.

During the first stage (15 – 20 August), the Romanian divisions advanced along the following directions:

- The “Putna” Group (5 battalions, 2 batteries) from the 6th Infantry Division penetrated into the Lepsa, Putna, Naruja and Zabala valleys, and at 16th of August, after it crossed over the Vrancea Mountains, it penetrated into the Tirgul Secuiesc depression, reaching the Ghelnita – Zabala alignment, succeeding the junction with the “Oituz” Group, which reached the line at Ghelnita, Targul Secuiesc.

- The “Buzau” Group (7 battalions, 6 batteries) from the 6th Infantry Division advanced along the Basca Mica (“The Small Basca”), Basca Mare (“The Big Basca”) and Buzau valleys. They repelled the 43rd Austrian Regiment at Covasna and reached Borosneul Mare (“The Big Borosneu”) – Dobarlau – Teliu alignment.

- The “Tabla Butii” Group (3 battalions) from the 5th Infantry Division conquered Vama Buzaului, were the enemy mounted a strong resistance. The enemy losses were 132 dead and wounded, and 492 prisoners.

- The “Bratocea” Group (6 battalions, 6 batteries) repulsed the enemy in the Teleajen Valley and in cooperation with the “Predelus” Group (3 battalions, one battery) entered in the Brasov depression, were on 17th of August they reached the Zizin, Carpinis, Sacele alignment. Both groups were parts of the 5th Infantry Division.

- The 4th Infantry Division with the “Predeal” Group (9 battalions, 9 batteries) penetrated during the night of 14-15 August in the Predeal custom house, and annihilated the frontier guard pickets from Susai, Timis and the Rasnov Valley. After heavy fights in the narrow path between the massifs of Piatra Mare (“The Big Stone”) and Postavarul, at 16th of August the troops of the 6th regiment “Mihai Viteazul” (“Mihai the Brave”) entered in the Brasov city. During the period of 16 – 20 August, the 4th Infantry Division maintained the Predeal gorge, and on 20th of August conquered the Feldioara and Vlasceni villages, repulsing the enemy beyond the Olt River.

- The “Bran” Group (9 battalions, 5 batteries), consisting of the Regiments 30 “Muscel” and 22 “Dambovita”, belonging to the 4th Infantry Division. They crossed over the Rucar-Bran mountain pass and conquered Giuvala mountain pass and the heights of Bran, Magura and Dealul Cetatii (“Fortress Hill”). On August 18 the villages Tohanu Vechi (“The Old Tohan”), Tohanu Nou (“The New Tohan”) and Zarnesti were conquered. On 20th of August the 4th Infantry Division reached the Halchiu, Vladeni alignment. The “Moroeni” Group (2 battalions, one battery) assured the link between the “Bran” and “Putna” groups.

At the end of the first stage of the operations, the Second Army was on the following line: Catalina (south of Targu Secuiesc) – Zabala – Dobarlau – Prejmer – Feldioara – Vladeni.

In the second stage of the offensive operation (21 – 28 August 1916) the goal was to reach the alignment Baraolt – Racos – right shore of Olt River, and to concentrate the main forces in the area: Covasna, Sf. Gheorghe, Feldioara, Vladeni, Brasov.

At 24th of August the 5th Division was taken from the 2nd Army and sent to the front in Dobrogea. In its place was brought the 22nd Infantry Division.

The 6th Infantry Division restarted its advance at 24th of August and in the same it conquered the Sf. Gheorghe city.

The 3rd Division advanced and reached the Sercaia – Sinca Veche line, repulsing the enemy positioned on the southern peaks of the Persani Mountains.

At 26th of August the general Grigore Crainiceanu was appointed commander of the Second Army. General Averescu was appointed commander of the Army Group “South”, intended to be used at Flamanda.

At the end of the second stage, the 2nd Army controlled the whole Brasov depression, having all its units at north of Carpatii Meridionali (“the Southern Carpathians”), with the exception of the 1st Cavalry Division. The enemy was repulsed beyond the Persani Mountains and the Olt River, and the Second Army reached the line Catalina – Arcus – Valcele – Feldioara – Sercaia – Sinca Veche.

In the third stage of the offensive operation (29th of August – 13th of September 1916) the goal was to take the Olt and Homorod valleys, between Meresti and Fagaras. After reorganizing the big units, which lasted until the September 1st, the offensive restarted as following:

- The 3rd Army Corps, with the 6th and 22nd Infantry Divisions and the 3rd Brigade “Calarasi”, started their offensive between Racosul de Sus and Rupea (on the northern shore of the Olt River). The 3rd Brigade “Calarasi” took the enemy positions at Meresti. The 6th Infantry Division advanced in the area between Olt and Homorodul Mic (“the Small Homorod”), penetrating at September 3rd in the Homorodul Mic valley, between Meresti and Mercheasa. The 22nd Infantry Division forced the crossing of Olt at Rupea, liberated the locality and reached the heights at north-west of Rupea, where it remained until the 4th of September.

- The 2nd Army Corps, with the 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions and the 2nd Brigade “Calarasi”, started their offensive in the area Crihalma, Fagaras. The 3rd Infantry Division forced the crossing of Olt at Crihalma, Venetia de Jos (“the Lower Venetia”) and Halmeag, and obtained a bridgehead by conquering the Daisoara locality. Here the Romanian troops benefited from the support of the local people. A young woman from Parau village guided a Romanian subunit in the rear of enemy positions. At Voila, the attempt of the 2nd Brigade “Calarasi” to force the crossing of Olt was unsuccessful. This unit regrouped at Margineni and it was later replaced by the 4th Infantry Division.

At 5th of September the 21st and 22nd Infantry Divisions were taken from their subordination to the Second Army to be sent to the southern front. The Second Army remained with 3 infantry divisions (the 3rd, the 4th, the 6th) and 2 cavalry brigades (the 2nd and the 3rd), on an alignment almost 300 km in length. In the same time the enemy was strengthen with new units (the 19th Brigade-Landsturm, the 1st Austro-Hungarian Cavalry Division), which together with the 71st Infantry Division started to resist in a better and better organized manner. Under these conditions, at 6th of September the Second Army got the order to operate in defensive, along the alignment they reached:
Odorheiul Secuiesc – Palos – Fiser – Daisoara – Ticusu Nou – Toarcla – Sasaus – Nou Roman – Cartisoara – Avrig.

At 7th of September the Second Army received the order to fortify 3 echelon lines: first on the already reached alignment, second at northern entrance of the Brasov and Fagaras passes, and the third was the alignment as it was before the offensive started. Each echelon was supposed to consist from few fortified lines. During the 6 – 13 September period the Second Army organized its defense, in the same time with the first attempts of the enemy to break through the Romanian lines.

During the 29 days of the operation, the Second Army succeeded an advance through the enemy lines 120 km in depth, in the right wing (between Vrancea Mountains and Ticusu Nou locality). The advance was 90 km in depth in the left wing (between Bran and Avrig). At the end of the operation, the front of Second Army stretched for about 100 km, between Odorheiul Secuiesc and Avrig.
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#3

Post by Orok » 25 Mar 2004, 01:44

Thanks Dragos,

There is virtually nothing written in the English language of this campaign, let alone from the Romanian point of view. Thank you for starting this most interesting topic and share all this information with us!

Best Regards!

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#4

Post by Kaan Caglar » 25 Mar 2004, 16:52

Nice!
I heard that the battle around the Persani Mountains were some kind of fierce and both sides had heavy losses. Is that true? Can you access the real numbers?
Thanks in advance!
Kaan

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#5

Post by AJK » 25 Mar 2004, 18:07

Hi Dragos,

Do you have a list of the Division commanders of the Romanian Army during WWI?

Thanks in advance for any help that you can provide.

Regards,

AJK

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#6

Post by dragos » 25 Mar 2004, 20:17

Hi everybody and thanks!

KaaN - Sorry, I don't have more info on the battles at Persani Mountains.

AJK - I have the full list only for WW2, but if you're looking for a specific division in WW1, maybe I can help.

I will add here further operations as soon as I finish them.

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#7

Post by AJK » 25 Mar 2004, 23:07

Hi Dragos,

I will send you a PM showing the gaps in my WWI Romanian order of battle.

Best wishes,

AJK

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#8

Post by AJK » 26 Mar 2004, 15:35

Hi Dragos,

I tired to send you a private message, but unsuccessfully, so I am posting this on the forum.

Please find below a listing that shows my extent of knowledge about the major commands of the Romanian Army during WWI. If there is any additional information that you could provide, I would be most grateful.

Thanks in advance, and best wishes,

Andris


ROMANIAN ARMY ORDER OF BATTLE, 1900 - 1918

Chief of the General Staff
1 Apr 1901 - 1 Apr 1904: General de Divizie Alexandru CARCALETEANU
1 Apr 1904 - 1 Apr 1907: General de Divizie Nicolae TATARASCU
1 Apr 1907 - 1 Nov 1909: General de Divizie Grigore CRAINICEANU
1 Nov 1909 - 31 Mar 1911: General Adjutant Ion ISTRATI
31 Mar 1911 - 18 Nov 1911: General de Divizie Vasile ZOTTU
18 Nov 1911 - 2 Dec 1913: General de Corp de Armata Alexandru AVERESCU
2 Dec 1913 - 1 Apr 1914: General de Corp de Armata Constantin CHRISTESCU
1 Apr 1914 - 25 Oct 1916: General de Divizie Vasile ZOTTU
25 Oct 1916 - 5 Dec 1916: General de Corp de Armata Dumitru ILIESCU
5 Dec 1916 - 1 Apr 1918: Maresal al Romaniei Constantin PRESAN
1 Apr 1918 - 28 Oct 1918: General de Corp de Armata Constantin CHRISTESCU
28 Oct 1918 - 20 Mar 1920: Maresal al Romaniei Constantin PRESAN

Armata 1
1916: General de Divizie Ion CULCER
1916: General de Divizie Ion DRAGALINA
1916: General de Divizie Nicolae PETALA
1916: General de Divizie Paraschiv VASILESCU
1916: Maresal al Romaniei Constantin PRESAN
1916 – 1917: General de Divizie Gheorghe STRATILESCU
1917: General de Corp de Armata Dumitru ILIESCU
1917: General de Corp de Armata Constantin CHRISTESCU
1917 – 1918: General de Corp de Armata Eremia GRIGORESCU


Armata 2
1916: General de Corp de Armata Alexandru AVERESCU
1916: General de Divizie Grigore CRAINICEANU
1916 – 1918: General de Corp de Armata Alexandru AVERESCU
1918: General de Corp de Armata Artur VAITOIANU


Armata 3
1916: General de Divizie Mihail ASLAN
1916: General de Corp de Armata Alexandru AVERESCU
1916: General de Divizie Gheorghe VALEANU


Armata de Nord (Armata 4)
1916: Maresal al Romaniei Constantin PRESAN
1916: General de Corp de Armata Constantin CHRISTESCU



Corp 1 Armatã
1913 – 1916: General de Divizie Dumitru COTESCU
1916: General de Divizie Ioan POPOVICI
1916: General de Divizie Nicolae PETALA
1916 – 1917: General de Brigada Ioan PATRASCU
1917 – 1918: General de Divizie Nicolae PETALA


Corp 2 Armatã
1913 – 1916: General de Divizie Grigore CRAINICEANU
1916: General de Divizie Dumitru COTESCU
1916 – 1917: General de Divizie Constantin TANASESCU
1917: General de Corp de Armata Artur VAITOIANU
1917 – 1918: General de Divizie Gheorghe VALEANU


Corp 3 Armatã
1913 – 1916: Generale di Divizie Alexandru IARCA
1916: General de Divizie Constantin TANASESCU
1916 – 1917: General de Corp de Armata Artur VAITOIANU
1917: Generale di Divizie Constantin IANCOVESCU
1917: General de Divizie Aristide RAZU
1917 – 1918: General de Divizie Paraschiv VASILESCU


Corp 4 Armatã
1913 – 1916: General de Divizie Alexandru LAMBRINO
1916 – 1917: Maresal al Romaniei Constantin PRESAN
1917: General de Divizie Gheorghe VALEANU
1917 – 1918: General de Corp de Armata Artur VAITOIANU


Corp 5 Armatã
1913 – 1916: General de Divizie Ioan CULCER
1916: General de Divizie Gheorghe GEORGESCU
1916 – 1917: General de Divizie Constantin BURGHELE
1917 – 1918: General Adjutant Ion ISTRATI


Corp 6 Armatã
1916 – 1917: General de Divizie Gheorghe VALEANU
1917: General de Corp de Armata Eremia GRIGORESCU
1917: General de Divizie Aristide RAZU
1917 – 1918: General de Divizie Dumitru STRATILESCU


Corp 7 Armatã
1916: General de Divizie Ion RASCU



Divizia 1 Cavalerie


Divizia 1 Infanterie
?: General de Divizie Ion DRAGALINA
?: Colonel ANASTASIU


Divizia 1 Vânãtori
?: General de Brigada Aristide LECCA


Divizia 2 Cavalerie
?: General de Brigada Alexandru CONSTANTINIDE


Divizia 2 Infanterie


Divizia 2 Vânãtori
?: General de Brigada Gheorghe DABIJA
?: General de Brigada Aristide LECCA


Divizia 3 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada MARGINEANU


Divizia 4 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada SIMONESCU


Divizia 5 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada Constantin NECULCEA


Divizia 6 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada Gheorghe DABIJA
?: General de Brigada Stefan HOLBAN


Divizia 7 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada Traian MOSOIU
?: General de Brigada Constantin NECULCEA


Divizia 8 Infanterie
?: Generale di Divizie Iacob ZADIK


Divizia 9 Infanterie

Divizia 10 Infanterie
?: General de Divizie Henri CIHOSKI
?: General de Corp de Armata Artur VAITOIANU


Divizia 11 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada COCORASCU


Divizia 12 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada Traian MOSOIU


Divizia 13 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada Ion POPESCU
?: General de Brigada Alexandru SOCEC


Divizia 14 Infanterie
?: General de Corp de Armata Eremia GRIGORESCU


Divizia 15 Infanterie
?: General de Corp de Armata Eremia GRIGORESCU
?: General de Brigada Paul ANGELESCU


Divizia 16 Infanterie


Divizia 17 Infanterie


Divizia 18 Infanterie


Divizia 19 Infanterie


Divizia 20 Infanterie


Divizia 21 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada Nicolae LAMBRU


Divizia 22 Infanterie



Divizia 23 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada Traian MOSOIU


Divizia 26 Infanterie
?: General de Brigada SILHOL


Divizia de Mare


Divizia de Dunãre

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#9

Post by dragos » 26 Mar 2004, 17:31

In addition I have found so far:

Divizia 1 Cavalerie
1916: General Ioan Herescu

Divizia 3 Infanterie
1916: General Marin Nicolescu

Divizia 4 Infanterie
1916: General Gheorghe Burghele
8 Sept. 1916: General Grigore Simionescu

Divizia 5 Infanterie
1916: General Petre Frunză

Divizia 6 Infanterie
1916: General Alexandru Costescu
8 Sept. 1916: General Nicolae Arghirescu

Divizia 22 Infanterie
1916: General Aristide Razu
Last edited by dragos on 26 Mar 2004, 18:59, edited 1 time in total.

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#10

Post by AJK » 26 Mar 2004, 17:57

Hi Dragos,

Thanks very much for the quick response. Any additional piece of information is most welcome.

Best wishes,

AJK

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#11

Post by AJK » 26 Mar 2004, 18:15

Hi Dragos,

I have a quick follow-up question: you listed the commander of the 22nd Infantry Division as General Aristide LAZU. I have as commander of the 3rd and 6th Army Corps a General Aristide RAZU. I have to presume that these are one and the same, and that one of the names is a typing error. Please could you confirm that which is the correct name.

Thanks, and best wishes,

AJK

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#12

Post by dragos » 26 Mar 2004, 18:57

It is Aristide RAZU. I will edit my previous post.

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#13

Post by Victor » 26 Mar 2004, 22:50

AJK wrote: ROMANIAN ARMY ORDER OF BATTLE, 1900 - 1918

Chief of the General Staff
1 Apr 1901 - 1 Apr 1904: General de Divizie Alexandru CARCALETEANU
1 Apr 1904 - 1 Apr 1907: General de Divizie Nicolae TATARASCU
1 Apr 1907 - 1 Nov 1909: General de Divizie Grigore CRAINICEANU
1 Nov 1909 - 31 Mar 1911: General Adjutant Ion ISTRATI
31 Mar 1911 - 18 Nov 1911: General de Divizie Vasile ZOTTU
18 Nov 1911 - 2 Dec 1913: General de Corp de Armata Alexandru AVERESCU
2 Dec 1913 - 1 Apr 1914: General de Corp de Armata Constantin CHRISTESCU
1 Apr 1914 - 25 Oct 1916: General de Divizie Vasile ZOTTU
25 Oct 1916 - 5 Dec 1916: General de Corp de Armata Dumitru ILIESCU
5 Dec 1916 - 1 Apr 1918: Maresal al Romaniei Constantin PRESAN
1 Apr 1918 - 28 Oct 1918: General de Corp de Armata Constantin CHRISTESCU
28 Oct 1918 - 20 Mar 1920: Maresal al Romaniei Constantin PRESAN
The ranks you displayed do not corespond to the ranks they had at the time they were chiefs of the General Staff

Here are the correct ones:
1 April 1901 - 1 April 1904: general de brigada Alexandru Carcaleteanu
1 April 1904 - 1 April 1907: general de brigada Nicolae Tatarascu
1 April 1907 - 1 Nov 1909: general de brigada Grigore Crainiceanu
18 Nov 1811 - 2 Dec 1913: general de divizie Alexandru Averescu
25 Oct 1916 - 5 Dec 1916: general de brigada Duimitru Iliescu (he had been the deputy chief of staff, but had in fact the command from the beginning of the war in the absence of Zottu)
5 Dec 1916 - 1 April 1918: general de corp de armata adjutant Constantin Prezan

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#14

Post by AJK » 26 Mar 2004, 22:55

Hi Victor,

Thanks for the clarification. My order of battle for the Romanian Army in WWI is still a work in progress, so I am not surprised that there are some errors and gaps. I was aware that the ranks that I posted were not necessarily those belonging to the listed officers at the time of holding the position of CGS, but were in fact the highest ranks they reached (to the best of my knowledge). I should have made that clear in my posting. Having said that, I am aware that General Averescu joined Presan in being promoted to Maresal, even though I did not reflect that in my listing.

Regards,

AJK

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Flamanda

#15

Post by dragos » 29 Mar 2004, 21:57

The maneuver at Flamanda (Rahovo)

As a result of the involvement of Romania into war, at 14/27 August, 1916, and of the 2nd Army’s offensive in Transylvania, on 19 August/1 September Bulgaria declared war to Romania. The Bulgarian units from the southern border of Romania launched the attack during the night of 18-19 August/31 August-1 September 1916. On 22 August/4 September the battle of Bazargic started, the Bulgarian-German-Turkish troops taking the town. On 24 August/6 September, the 3rd Romanian Army troops were defeated at Turtucaia. Silistra was evacuated to avoid encirclement. The forces of the 3rd Bulgarian Army reached the Rasova, Cobadin, Topraisar alignment, where they were stopped at 3/16 September.

At 2/15 September 1916 the war council held at Peris decided to stop the offensive in Transylvania and to annihilate the enemy group on the southern front. The Army Group “South” was created for this (commanded by the general Alexandru Averescu). It was composed by the 3rd Army and by the Army of Dobruja. The 3rd Army consisted by the 10th, 16th, 18th, 21st and 22nd Infantry Divisions and by the 1st Cavalry Division. The Army of Dobruja was composed by 2nd, 5th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 19th Infantry Divisions, the 5th Cavalry Brigade, and the 47th Russian Corps, consisting of 61st and 115th Infantry Divisions the 3rd Cavalry Division. The forces of the Army Group “South” totalized 186 infantry battalions, 55 cavalry squadrons and 148 artillery batteries. The Bulgarian-German-Turkish group, commanded by the Field Marshal August von Mackensen, had available forces having the strength of 8-9 divisions (105 infantry battalions, 35 cavalry squadrons and 70 artillery batteries).

The plan of operations stipulated to force the crossing of Danube at Flamanda (Rahovo), in the area of the 3rd Army, with 5-6 divisions supposed to develop an offensive on the direction Flamanda, Acadinlar, Kurtbunar. In the same time the Army of Dobruja was planned to start an offensive on the direction Cobadin, Kurtbunar, succeeding this way the encirclement of the enemy forces at the south of Danube.

The operation preparing started immediately after the war council held at Peris and lasted until 18 September/1 October. A scaffold was built across Danube at Tabanul. Access roads were built toward the break zone. In addition to the materials required to build a bridge, 200 boats were prepared. A campaign airfield was built at Dadilov. The anti-aircraft defense was ensured by 2 AA batteries, and for defense against vessels 2 artilery batteries were installed at Gostinu, one of 150 mm.

At 18 September/1 October the forcing of Danube started, using the 10th Infantry Division (at 3:30 hours) and the 21st Infantry Division (at 10 hours). At 5 hours the construction of the bridge started. Before sunset the 2 divisions made a bridgehead 4 km deep and 14 km wide.

In the night of 18-19 September/1-2 October, a strong storm broke several times the bridge, and the increase of the level of Danube allowed to several enemy vessels (“Barsch”, ”Viza”, “Bodrog”, “Koros”) to pass over scaffold and bombard the bridge, but they did not damage it. The Romanian artillery answered with fire and damaged 2 of the monitors. The enemy vessels withdrew to the Persina channel. The storm also flooded all the forcing area, with disastrous effects for the future of the operation.

In the same time with the forcing of Danube at Flamanda, the forces of the Army of Dobruja started the offensive. The results were below expectations, and until 22 September/5 October only advances between 3 and 8 km were succeeded through the enemy disposition.

The flooding of the Danube in the forcing sector and the weak progress of the Army of Dobruja determined the General Averescu to ask the canceling of the operation, and the withdrawal of the Romanian troops to the north of Danube. The withdrawal started in the night of 20-21 September/3-4 October, and was finalized during the day of 21st/4th.

In spite of the ingenuity of the plan, and the good preparation of the operation, the failure of the maneuver at Flamanda had grave consequences for the further development of the war, in special because it led to the non-observance of the campaign schedule, by changing the objective and the main effort from one front to the other.
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