Romanian 2nd Fortress Brigade commander, 1941

[CNE503]

Hello,

Does anyone know the name of the Romanian officier who headed this brigade in June-July 1941?
Thank you in advance for any help provided.

Regards,
CNE503

[VJK]

Hi,

According to my records it was Ioan P. Arbore 22.06.1941-20.02.1942

Best regards,

VJK

[CNE503]

Hello VJK,

Thank you for your answer.
If I read the Romanian wikipedia page about this general (https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioan_Arbore), he was in command of the 3rd mixed brigade in 1941, and was assigned as CO to the 2nd Fortress Brigade in 1942: "La 10 mai 1941, cu puțin timp înaintea intrării României în al Doilea Război Mondial, a fost înaintat la gradul de general de brigadă. A fost numit comandantul brigăzii a III-a mixte, iar un an mai târziu, în 1942, comandantul brigăzii de fortificații nr. II. A devenit șef de stat major al Armatei a III-a între 1942-43, apoi, numit general de divizie, subșef al Marelui Stat Major."
Which could be translated by: "Shortly before Romania entered the war, on May 10th, 1941, he was promoted to Major General. He took command over the 3rd mixed Brigade and, a year later, in 1942, over the 2nd Fortress Brigade. He became chief of staff for the 3rd Army between 1942 and 1943, then was promoted to Lieutenant General and deputy to the chief of the general staff".
If my understanding is correct, he was not CO for the 2nd Fortress Brigade in 1941.
What do you think?

Regards,
CNE503

[VJK]

Hi,

I have the following:
Ioan Arbore (1892-1954), militar de carieră român. Absolvent al Şcolii militare de ofiţeri de
artilerie, geniu şi marină (1909-1911) şi al Şcolii Superioare de Război (1919-1920). Intră în
armată cu gradul de sublocotenent (1911), participă la primul război mondial. Comandant al
Brigăzii 2 Fortificaţii (22.06.1941-20.02.1942); şef de Stat Major al Armatei a 3-a (03.03.1942-
15.02.1943); subşef al Marelui Stat Major (15.02-14.07.1943); subsecretar de Stat pentru
Aprovizionarea Armatei şi Populaţiei Civile (14.07.1943-23.08.1944); pus la dispoziţia
Ministerului de Război din 23.08.1944, este trecut în rezervă la 24.03.1945. Arestat de
autorităţile comuniste în 1946 ca fost membru al guvernului Ion Antonescu, este condamnat în
06.02.1948 la 10 ani temniţă grea şi degradare civică. Moare în detenţie în penitenciarul
Văcăreşti. Colonel (din 16.10.1935); general de brigadă (din 10.05.1941); general de divizie
(din 10.05.1944).

Source: https://www.academia.edu/31666512/Ottma ... e_militare

So it would seem that our sources contradict each other, but which is correct?

Best regards,

VJK

[Steen Ammentorp]

Hi,

I don't think that the wiki article in this case treats its sources properly. The source given in regards to Arbore's appointments is A. Duțu, F. Dobre, F., L. Loghin: "Armata română în al doilea război mondial (1941-1945). Dicționar enciclopedic", Editura Enciclopedică, București 1999, p. 27-28
However if you look at Arbores entry on these pages, there is no - no references to him commanding the 3rd Mixed Brigade only that he commanded 2nd Fortress Brigade 22.06.1941-20.02.1942. However on page 64 same book you will find that 2nd Fortress Brigade, was briefly designated as 3rd Mixed Fortress Brigade between 29 sep. 1941 and 19 Oct. 1941.

[CNE503]

Gents,

I think your inputs solve the case.
General de brigada Ioan Arbore was without doubt commanding the 2nd Fortress Brigade at the start of operations "Barbarossa" and "München".
Thank you very much for your help.
It looks like the Romanian wikipedia should update Arbore's file...

Regarding the other question I asked about Romanian officers (general Dimitriu and colonel Correcu) that headed the 21st Infantry Division in late June and July 1940, have you some information?

Best regards,
CNE503

[VJK]

Hi,

Regarding your question about the 21st Inf. Div., I have a couple of options:
General de brigadă Sotir DUMITRU - he commanded the division in 1936/37 and died in 1940, but I don't have any more detailed info regarding his dates of command. (https://ro.scribd.com/doc/120315179/Cro ... lui-Vaslui)
Colonel (later General de divizie) Romulus S. DIMITRIU - he was Deputy CO of the division from 28 May 1941 - 26 Jun 1941, but I don't have any info on his commands before that date.
As regards this mysterious Col. Correcu, the nearest I could find was Ştefan CORCIU, but I have no info placing him with the division.

That's the best I can come up with, I'm afraid.

Best regards,

VJK

[CNE503]

Ok, thank you VJK.
I'm looking for someone that was dismissed because of his poor leadership in the evacuation of Bessarabia. It could have been the first one, probably not the second (it is doubtful that he was relegated as deputy of the same division).
Doubtful too that the general Mircea Dimitriu, deputy commander of the 15th Infantry Division in 1941-1942, was our Dimitriu too.

CNE503

[steppewolf]

I have a recent history study about evacuation of Bessarabia and I remember I read something there...but will take few days to make time to look into it, it's quite a big book.

[CNE503]

Steppewolf, it would be awesome!
I read something about it in Deletant's "Hitler's forgotten ally", but no name for this general officer.
Regards,
CNE503

[CNE503]

For your information, I found these small clues on https://books.google.fr/books?id=nLpsJy ... RU&f=false

Apparently, the author identified a General de brigadă S. Dimitriu as commanding the division in 1939 and possibly 1940.
It could have been your Sotir Dimitru.

CNE503