Romanian Land Forces
Encyclopedia
The Romanian Land Forces is the army
of Romania
, and the main component of the Romanian Armed Forces
. In recent years, full professionalisation and a major equipment overhaul have transformed the nature of the force.
The Romanian Land Forces were founded on . They participated in World War I, together with the Russian Empire
forces in actions against the Central Powers
and, despite initial setbacks, won the decisive battles of Mărăşti
and Mărăşeşti
. During most of World War II (until August 23, 1944) Romanian forces supported the Axis powers, fighting against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front
. From August 1944 until the end of the war, Romania fought against Germany under the control of the Soviet Union. When the communists seized power after the Second World War, the army underwent reorganisation and sovietization
.
Following the 1989 revolution, due to shortage of funds, many units were disbanded and much equipment was phased out. Likewise, Romanian military capability declined because of a lack of fuel as well as training. However, since the late 1990s, a number of positive changes have come about and the level of combat readiness is growing greatly; since 1996, the military budget
has grown more than four times - rising from 636 million dollar
s to 2.8 billion dollars in 2007. Conscription
has been abolished and professionalisation has been completed. The full modernisation of equipment ended at the end of 2007.
The first attempt to create an independent Romanian army was made by Gheorghe Magheru
during the 1848 Wallachian Revolution, and it was based at Râureni (now part of Râmnicu Vâlcea
). However, Magheru rapidly ordered his troops to disband when the Ottoman
forces swept into Bucharest
to stop the revolution.
The current Romanian Land Forces were formed in 1859, immediately after the unification of Wallachia
with Moldavia
, and were commanded by Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Domnitor
of Romania until his abdication in 1866. In 1877, at the request of Nikolai Konstantinovich, Grand Duke of Russia the Romanian army fused with the Russian forces, and led by King Carol I
, fought in what was to become the Romanian War of Independence
. They participated in the Siege of Plevna and several other battles. The Romanians won the war, but suffered about 27,000 casualties. Until World War I, the Romanian army didn't face any other serious actions.
against Bulgaria, allowing Romania to annex Southern Dobruja (also known as the Cadrilater). Although some 330,000 troops were mobilised, the Romanians met little resistance in Bulgaria and as such this is not considered a major conflict in Romanian history.
On August 27, 1916, Romania
declared war on Germany
and Austria-Hungary
, following the initial success of the Brusilov Offensive
(a major Russian offensive against the armies of the Central Powers
on the Eastern Front
). The Romanian armies entered Transylvania
(then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), together with Russian forces. However, German forces under the command of General Erich von Falkenhayn
stalled the attack in November, 1916, and drove back the Romanians. At the same time, Bulgarian and Turkish troops invaded southern Romania, forcing the country into a two-front war. The Central Powers drove deep into Romania and conquered the south of the country (Wallachia
, including Bucharest) by the end of 1916. The Romanian forces, led by Marshal
Constantin Prezan
, retreated into the north-east part of Romania (Moldavia
).
In the summer of 1917 however, Prezan, aided by the future Marshal, General
Ion Antonescu
, successfully defended the remaining unoccupied territories against German and Austro-Hungarian forces led by Field Marshal
August von Mackensen
. General Alexandru Averescu
led the Second Army in the victories of the Battle of Mărăşti
(July 22 to August 1, 1917) and the Battle of Mărăşeşti
(August 6 to September 8, 1917). As a result to the Russian Revolution, Romania was left isolated unable to continue the war, and forced to sign the Treaty of Bucharest with the Central Powers. Later on, in 1919, Germany agrees in the Treaty of Versailles
Article 259, to renounce to all the benefits provided by the Treaty of Bucharest in 1918. After the successful offensive on the Thessaloniki
front which put Bulgaria out of the war, Romania re-entered the war on November 10, 1918, a day before its end in the West.
.However ethnic Hungarians and Saxons(Germans)didnt voted and refused to be citizens of Romania against their will! As a result, in April 1919, the newly established Hungarian Soviet Republic
vowed to retake the region by force, and Hungarian troops made a counter attack on Romanian forces on the borders of Transylvania. The Romanian Army after months of fighting defeated the Hungarians and conquered Budapest
in August 1919 against the antant agreements.
From 1921 to 1939 in Transylvania Inspectorate General of Army no. 3 had subordinate the 6th and 7th Army Corps. By 1 April 1921, when he disbanded Forces Western Command, to order 6th Army Corps (and earlier structures) have been generals Prezan Constantin, Constantin Christescu Traian Mosoiu, Mardarescu George, Nicholas and Arthur Văitoianu petal. After 1 April 1921 to 23 March 1939, C. 6 A. was commissioned by General Nicholas Petal, Danila Pop Hanzu Alexander, John Prodan, Motas Dumitru Gheorghe Florescu and Christie Doe, prominent military leaders, whom Octavian Goga wrote that "in the interwar period, in Cluj in Transylvania, commanders have made a large-scale opera and unanimous praise. " Three divisions were part of 6th Army Corps: 16th (Dej), 17th (Oradea) and 20th Infantry Divisions (Targu-Mureş). With rapid and marked worsening international situation, especially in neighboring Romania, on 22 September 1939, the 4th Army, recently founded, became Army Group Command no. 1 of Transylvania.
After General (later Marshal
) Ion Antonescu
took power in September 1940, Romania
signed the Tripartite Pact
with the Axis Powers
and subsequently took part in Operation Barbarossa
in 1941. An expeditionary force invaded the Soviet Union in Bessarabia
and southern Ukraine
, alongside the German Wehrmacht
. The expeditionary force, 'Army Group Antonescu,' was composed on 22 June 1941 of the 3rd Army, the 4th Army, the 2nd Army Corps, and the 11th Infantry Division. The 3rd Army comprised the 4th Army Corps (6th and 7th Infantry Divisions), the Cavalry Corps, the Mountain Corps, two separate artillery battalion, a TA unit, and the Air Force's 3rd Army Cooperation Command. The 4th Army consisted of the 3rd Army Corps, the 5th Army Corps, the 11th Army Corps (two fortress brigades), and the 4th Army Cooperation Command. The army group-level 2nd Army Corps, under Major General N. Macici, controlled the 9th and 10th Infantry Divisions and the 7th Cavalry Brigade. Additionally the 1st Armoured Division was formed for service on the Eastern Front. The Army Group's first offensive, in conjunction with the Eleventh Army, Operation Munchen
, enabled Romania to retake the territory immediately east of the Dnister
, former part of Moldavia. The Romanian Armies saw their first major battles at Odessa and Sevastopol
, and in 1942 advanced with other Axis forces deeper into Soviet territory during Operation Blue
.
The greatest disaster for the Romanian expeditionary force on the Eastern Front
came at Stalingrad
, where, during the Soviet counter-offensive of November 1942, the thinly spread forces of the Third Army
(deployed north of Stalingrad) and of the Fourth Army
(deployed south of Stalingrad) were attacked by vastly superior Soviet
forces and suffered combined losses of some 158,000 personnel.
During April–May 1944 the Romanian forces led by General Mihai Racoviţǎ
, together with elements of the German Eighth Army were responsible for defending Northern Romania during the Soviet First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive
, and took part in the Battles of Târgu Frumos. In late August 1944, the Red Army
entered eastern Romania
. On August 23, 1944, a coup led by King Michael I of Romania
deposed Marshal Antonescu and set up a pro-Soviet government. It has been estimated that the royal coup shortened the war for Romania by six months. Romania soon declared war on Nazi Germany
, and the First
and Fourth Armies were pressed into action. After the expelling of the last Wehrmacht remnants from Romania, the Romanian Armies took part in the Siege of Budapest
and the Prague Offensive
of May 1945.
led to a complete reorganisation of the Romanian Land Forces under the supervision of the Red Army. At the onset, pro-German elements were purged from the Romanian armed forces. In 1944–45, two divisions were formed out of Romanian volunteers—ex-prisoners of war, trained and indoctrinated in the Soviet Union during the war, but also of many Communist activists. One was the Tudor Vladimirescu First Volunteer Division
, under the command of Colonel Nicolae Cambrea
, and the other the Horia, Cloşca şi Crişan Division
, under the command of General Mihail Lascăr
(who later served as Minister of Defence from 1946 to 1947). These two units formed the nucleus of the new Romanian Land Forces under Soviet control. The postwar reorganisation of the Land Forces included cavalry but the arm disappeared from the force with the disbandment in November 1954 of the 59th Cavalry Division at Oradea
.
After the Romanian Communist Party
seized political power, the sovietization of the army commenced, under the supervision of the new Minister of Defence, Emil Bodnăraş
. Thirty per cent of the officers and noncommissioned officers (mostly experienced soldiers, and a potential source of opposition) were purged from the military. This involved copying the Soviet model of military and political organisation, and changing the military doctrine of combat and defence, also in the context of Romania's integration in the strategic system of the Soviets, at the beginning of the Cold War
.
In the early 1950s the RLF reached a level of 12 rifle, one mechanised, and one tank division. Between 1960 and 1964 the rifle and mechanised divisions were converted to motor rifle divisions, and reductions in strength began; force size dropped to six motor rifle and two tank divisions by 1970. From 1970 to 1976, three more motor rifle divisions were formed, but one was deactivated in 1977, and the eight motor rifle and three tank division figure remained that way for the rest of the Cold War.
From 1947 to 1960 the country seems to have been divided into three major military regions: Cluj, Bacău, and Bucharest in the west, east, and south, respectively. In wartime the land forces in each military region would become an army corps with their headquarters in Cluj-Napoca, Iaşi, and Bucharest. Armies seem to have succeeded military regions in 1960, and three armies seem to have become four in 1980. What is known is that on 01.07.1947 Fourth Army
became 3rd Military Region, based in Cluj. The 3rd Military Region became the 3rd Army on 30 April 1960, and the 4th Army on 5 April 1980.
During the 1980s, the land forces numbered 140,000 personnel, of whom two thirds were conscripts. In 1989 four armies appeared to exist: the First Army
at Bucharest
, Second Army at Buzau
, Third Army at Craiova
, and Fourth Army
at Napoca
. In 1989 the land forces consisted of eight mechanised (infantry) divisions (1st
, Bucharest, 2nd
, Craiova, 9th
, Constanta, 10th, Iași
, 11th, Oradea, 18th, Timişoara, 67th, and 81st
, Tirgu Mureş) two tank divisions (the 57th Tank Division at Bucharest and the 6th Tank Division
at Tirgu Mureş), four mountain infantry brigades, and three airborne brigades. According to the 165-year 'History of Modern Romanian Artillery,' in 1989 the 1st Army consisted of the 1st Mech Div, 57th Tank Div., and the 2nd Mountain Brigade; the 2nd Army of the 9th Mech Div, 10th Mech Div, 67th Mech Div, and 32nd TActical Rocket Bde; the 3rd Army of the 2nd Mech Div, 18th Mech Div, and the 4th Mountain Bde; and the 4th Army of the 11th Mech Div, 81st Mech Div, 6th Tank Div., 1st Mountain Bde, 5th Mountain Bde, and 37th Tactical Missile Brigade.
Motorised rifle divisions were organized along the Soviet model with three motorised rifle regiments, one tank regiment, and a full complement of 12,000 infantry soldiers. The artillery, antitank, and air defence regiments of divisions provided specialised fire support that enabled motorised rifle and tank regiments to maneuver. The air defense regiments consisted of two anti-aircraft artillery battalions and one surface-to-air missile (SAM) battalion, each composed of several batteries. In late 1980s the artillery regiments of motorised rifle and tank divisions included two artillery battalions, one multiple rocket launcher battalion, and one surface-to-surface missile battalion.
Surface-to-surface missile
battalions were divided into three or four batteries, each equipped with one missile launcher. They operated thirty FROG-3 and eighteen SCUD
missile launchers. The FROG-3, a tactical missile first introduced in 1960, was being replaced in other non-Soviet Warsaw Pact armies. Proven to be fairly inaccurate in combat, FROG and SCUD missiles would be ineffective weapons carrying conventional high-explosive warheads. Tipped with nuclear or chemical warheads, however, they could be devastating. According to one former Romanian official writing in 1988, Romania produced chemical agents that could be delivered by battlefield missiles.
s into battalion
s. In mid-1990s, the situation of the land forces was critical: the military budget was three times lower than in 1989 (636 million dollars), 50% of the equipment was older than 30 years, and 60% of the armoured vehicles and 85% of the missile units were non-operational. Due to lack of fuel and training, the level of combat readiness and military capability was extremely low (only about 30% of the entire land forces were operational). However, after 1996 the government took serious action; the military budget was increased greatly, and modernisation of equipment commenced.
s, while ten combat, five combat support and two logistic brigades could be further mobilised in case of crisis. Many of these units have been restructured, however, as part of the 2007 Force Plan.
Currently, about 75,000 military personnel and 15,000 civilians comprise the armed forces, for a total of 90,000 men and women. Out of these 75,000, about 45,800 are in the Land Forces.
Romania abolished compulsory military service on October 23, 2006. This came about due to a 2003 constitutional amendment
which allowed the parliament to make military service optional. The Romanian Parliament voted to abolish conscription in October 2005, with the vote formalising one of many military modernisation and reform programmes that Romania agreed to when it joined NATO in March 2004.
, the Honor Regiment, and a few independent supporting battalions as well as a series of instruction centers. In peacetime
, the commander of the land forces is the minister of defense, while in wartime
, the President of Romania
becomes the supreme commander of the armed forces.
The main three Romanian formations are the 1st Infantry Division Dacica, the 2nd Infantry Division, and the 4th Infantry Division Gemina. Before June 2008, these units were known as the 1st Territorial Army Corps and the 4th Territorial Army Corps and in turn they used to be called the 1st Army and 4th Army prior to the year 2000. However, due to restructuring, their personnel have been reduced considerably in order to reach compatibility with NATO standards. Among the structural changes was the disbandment in 2005 of the 2nd Paratroop Brigade (HQ Clinceni). As of 2010, a 2nd Infantry Division has been formed from units previously belonging to the 1st and the 4th Infantry divisions for a total of 3 Infantry Divisions.
The current chief of the Romanian Land Forces Staff is Brigadier General
Ariton Ioniţă, succeeding Lieutenant-General Dan Ghica Radu
on 16 January 2011. The Land Forces official day is celebrated each year, on April 23.
The structure as of 2007 and 2010 is as follows:
The 30th Guard and Protocol Regiment (Regimentul 30 Gardă şi Protocol "Mihai Viteazul") is the most famous and important honor guard
unit of the Romanian Land Forces. In 2008 the Regiment was reassigned to the Logistic Command.
The Romanian Land Forces has completely overhauled its equipment in the past few years replacing it with a more modern one.
The TR-85 M1 main battle tank
and the MLI-84
"Jder" infantry fighting vehicle
, comprises the most modern native made equipment of the Romanian Land Forces. Also 43 ex-German Gepard
anti-aircraft systems were commissioned in late-2004.
The Land Forces ordered about 100 US Army Humvees; the first eight were delivered to the military police
in December 2006. 31 Piranha III
armoured vehicles (LAV III
variant) and 60 URO VAMTAC
high mobility vehicles were also ordered and will be required for deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007.
Equipment Summary
within the Romanian Land Forces led to the establishment of the 1st Special Operations Regiment
on 1 August 2009, headquartered at Târgu Mureş.
The most famous and well trained unit is the 1st Special Operations Battalion which was legally created in late 2005, after several batches of graduates had already been selected. Members of the special forces battalion have benefitted from courses abroad, such as the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) course, the United States Marine Corps
Force Recon course, as well as other courses. The Special Forces battalion became fully operational during 2007, after a company had already been commissioned in early-2006.
The current Romanian reconnaissance
battalions (the 528th and the 317th) are considered special forces units, and were formed in the 1960s during the communist regime
. After the revolution, the two units suffered from a lack of funds which resulted in the disbandment of the 313th Battalion. However, their equipment was completely overhauled in the past few years and the combat readiness and capabilities have regained full strength.
DIR, Rapid Intervention Squad
of the Romanian Ministry of Defense is an elite special operations
unit currently belonging to the Romanian Military Police
. It is a special unit inside the military, formed of highly-skilled individuals, a very large percentage of its members being champions in martial arts
, kickboxing
, athletic disciplines and so on. DIR was, until December 2003, top secret.
The following troops are deployed abroad:
, Alba Iulia
and Breaza
), one military academy
(Sibiu
), one officers school (Piteşti
), 3 training schools (Sibiu, Piteşti, Buzău
) and 9 training battalions.
In the past few years, lots of training exercises took place in Romania with other Balkan
or Allied countries. Most of these exercises took place at Babadag
, which is one of the largest and most modern training firing ranges and military facilities in Europe, with a total surface area of 270 square kilometres. It was announced on December 6, 2006 that 1,500 U.S. troops
stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu
, which in time will form Joint Task Force East
, will be using Babadag as a training base.
rank can be given only in wartime by the President of Romania
; in fact, Romania had only three marshals coming from the officers` rank in its history: Ion Antonescu
, Alexandru Averescu
and Constantin Prezan
. Kings Ferdinand I
, Carol II and Mihai I also held the rank of Marshal of Romania. King Carol I held simultaneous ranks as Russian Marshal and German Field-marshal.
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and the main component of the Romanian Armed Forces
Romanian Armed Forces
The Land Forces, Air Force and Naval Forces of Romania are collectively known as the Romanian Armed Forces...
. In recent years, full professionalisation and a major equipment overhaul have transformed the nature of the force.
The Romanian Land Forces were founded on . They participated in World War I, together with the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
forces in actions against the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
and, despite initial setbacks, won the decisive battles of Mărăşti
Battle of Marasti
The Battle of Mărăşti was one of the main battles to take place on Romanian soil in World War I. It was fought between July 22 and August 1, 1917, and was an offensive operation of the Romanian and Russian Armies intended to encircle and destroy the German 9th Army...
and Mărăşeşti
Battle of Marasesti
The Battle of Mărăşeşti, Vrancea County, eastern Romania was a major battle fought during World War I between Germany and Romania.-Premise:...
. During most of World War II (until August 23, 1944) Romanian forces supported the Axis powers, fighting against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. From August 1944 until the end of the war, Romania fought against Germany under the control of the Soviet Union. When the communists seized power after the Second World War, the army underwent reorganisation and sovietization
Sovietization
Sovietization is term that may be used with two distinct meanings:*the adoption of a political system based on the model of soviets .*the adoption of a way of life and mentality modelled after the Soviet Union....
.
Following the 1989 revolution, due to shortage of funds, many units were disbanded and much equipment was phased out. Likewise, Romanian military capability declined because of a lack of fuel as well as training. However, since the late 1990s, a number of positive changes have come about and the level of combat readiness is growing greatly; since 1996, the military budget
Military budget
A military budget of an entity, most often a nation or a state, is the budget and financial resources dedicated to raising and maintaining armed forces for that entity. Military budgets reflect how much an entity perceives the likelihood of threats against it, or the amount of aggression it wishes...
has grown more than four times - rising from 636 million dollar
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
s to 2.8 billion dollars in 2007. Conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
has been abolished and professionalisation has been completed. The full modernisation of equipment ended at the end of 2007.
Mission
- The Land Forces represent the most important component of the Romanian Armed Forces and they are destinated for execution of various military actions, with terrestrial or aeromobile character, in any zone or direction.
- The Land Forces must, independently or together with other Romanian military branches, conduct operations and defensive or offensive battles, for capture, or destruction of the invadingInvasionAn invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
enemy, being part of national, or multinational military structures. - A part of the units which compose the current operational structure of the Land Forces, must be able to conduct military operations outside the national territoryGeography of RomaniaWith an area of 238,400 square kilometers, Romania is the twelfth largest country in Europe. Situated in the northeastern portion of the Balkan Peninsula, the country is halfway between the equator and the North Pole and equidistant from the westernmost part of Europe—the Atlantic Coast—and the...
, together with the international military forces.
Beginnings
Gheorghe Magheru
General Gheorghe Magheru was a Romanian revolutionary and soldier from Wallachia, and political ally of Nicolae Bălcescu.-A Pandur and radical conspirator:...
during the 1848 Wallachian Revolution, and it was based at Râureni (now part of Râmnicu Vâlcea
Râmnicu Vâlcea
Râmnicu Vâlcea is the capital city of Vâlcea County, Romania .-Geography and climate:Râmnicu Vâlcea is situated in the central-south area of Romania...
). However, Magheru rapidly ordered his troops to disband when the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
forces swept into Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
to stop the revolution.
Romanian War of Independence
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
with Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
, and were commanded by Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Domnitor
Domnitor
Domnitor was the official title of the ruler of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia between 1859 and 1866....
of Romania until his abdication in 1866. In 1877, at the request of Nikolai Konstantinovich, Grand Duke of Russia the Romanian army fused with the Russian forces, and led by King Carol I
Carol I of Romania
Carol I , born Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was reigning prince and then King of Romania from 1866 to 1914. He was elected prince of Romania on 20 April 1866 following the overthrow of Alexandru Ioan Cuza by a palace coup...
, fought in what was to become the Romanian War of Independence
Romanian War of Independence
The Romanian War of Independence is the name used in Romanian historiography to refer to the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish war, following which Romania, fighting on the Russian side, gained independence from the Ottoman Empire...
. They participated in the Siege of Plevna and several other battles. The Romanians won the war, but suffered about 27,000 casualties. Until World War I, the Romanian army didn't face any other serious actions.
Second Balkan War
The Romanian Army entered the Second Balkan WarSecond Balkan War
The Second Balkan War was a conflict which broke out when Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share of the spoils of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies, Serbia and Greece, on 29 June 1913. Bulgaria had a prewar agreement about the division of region of Macedonia...
against Bulgaria, allowing Romania to annex Southern Dobruja (also known as the Cadrilater). Although some 330,000 troops were mobilised, the Romanians met little resistance in Bulgaria and as such this is not considered a major conflict in Romanian history.
World War I
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
declared war on Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
and Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, following the initial success of the Brusilov Offensive
Brusilov Offensive
The Brusilov Offensive , also known as the June Advance, was the Russian Empire's greatest feat of arms during World War I, and among the most lethal battles in world history. Prof. Graydon A. Tunstall of the University of South Florida called the Brusilov Offensive of 1916 the worst crisis of...
(a major Russian offensive against the armies of the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
). The Romanian armies entered Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
(then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), together with Russian forces. However, German forces under the command of General Erich von Falkenhayn
Erich von Falkenhayn
Erich von Falkenhayn was a German soldier and Chief of the General Staff during World War I. He became a military writer after World War I.-Early life:...
stalled the attack in November, 1916, and drove back the Romanians. At the same time, Bulgarian and Turkish troops invaded southern Romania, forcing the country into a two-front war. The Central Powers drove deep into Romania and conquered the south of the country (Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
, including Bucharest) by the end of 1916. The Romanian forces, led by Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
Constantin Prezan
Constantin Prezan
Constantin Prezan was a Romanian general during World War I and after the war a Marshal of Romania....
, retreated into the north-east part of Romania (Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
).
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
, successfully defended the remaining unoccupied territories against German and Austro-Hungarian forces led by Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
August von Mackensen
August von Mackensen
Anton Ludwig August von Mackensen , born August Mackensen, was a German soldier and field marshal. He commanded with success during the First World War and became one of the German Empire's most prominent military leaders. After the Armistice, Mackensen was interned for a year...
. General Alexandru Averescu
Alexandru Averescu
Alexandru Averescu was a Romanian marshal and populist politician. A Romanian Armed Forces Commander during World War I, he served as Prime Minister of three separate cabinets . He first rose to prominence during the peasant's revolt of 1907, which he helped repress in violence...
led the Second Army in the victories of the Battle of Mărăşti
Battle of Marasti
The Battle of Mărăşti was one of the main battles to take place on Romanian soil in World War I. It was fought between July 22 and August 1, 1917, and was an offensive operation of the Romanian and Russian Armies intended to encircle and destroy the German 9th Army...
(July 22 to August 1, 1917) and the Battle of Mărăşeşti
Battle of Marasesti
The Battle of Mărăşeşti, Vrancea County, eastern Romania was a major battle fought during World War I between Germany and Romania.-Premise:...
(August 6 to September 8, 1917). As a result to the Russian Revolution, Romania was left isolated unable to continue the war, and forced to sign the Treaty of Bucharest with the Central Powers. Later on, in 1919, Germany agrees in the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
Article 259, to renounce to all the benefits provided by the Treaty of Bucharest in 1918. After the successful offensive on the Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
front which put Bulgaria out of the war, Romania re-entered the war on November 10, 1918, a day before its end in the West.
Hungarian-Romanian War of 1919
After World War I, Transylvanian ethnic Romanians proclaimed union with the Kingdom of RomaniaUnion of Transylvania with Romania
Union of Transylvania with Romania was declared on by the assembly of the delegates of ethnic Romanians held in Alba Iulia.The national holiday of Romania, the Great Union Day occurring on December 1, commemorates this event...
.However ethnic Hungarians and Saxons(Germans)didnt voted and refused to be citizens of Romania against their will! As a result, in April 1919, the newly established Hungarian Soviet Republic
Hungarian Soviet Republic
The Hungarian Soviet Republic or Soviet Republic of Hungary was a short-lived Communist state established in Hungary in the aftermath of World War I....
vowed to retake the region by force, and Hungarian troops made a counter attack on Romanian forces on the borders of Transylvania. The Romanian Army after months of fighting defeated the Hungarians and conquered Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in August 1919 against the antant agreements.
From 1921 to 1939 in Transylvania Inspectorate General of Army no. 3 had subordinate the 6th and 7th Army Corps. By 1 April 1921, when he disbanded Forces Western Command, to order 6th Army Corps (and earlier structures) have been generals Prezan Constantin, Constantin Christescu Traian Mosoiu, Mardarescu George, Nicholas and Arthur Văitoianu petal. After 1 April 1921 to 23 March 1939, C. 6 A. was commissioned by General Nicholas Petal, Danila Pop Hanzu Alexander, John Prodan, Motas Dumitru Gheorghe Florescu and Christie Doe, prominent military leaders, whom Octavian Goga wrote that "in the interwar period, in Cluj in Transylvania, commanders have made a large-scale opera and unanimous praise. " Three divisions were part of 6th Army Corps: 16th (Dej), 17th (Oradea) and 20th Infantry Divisions (Targu-Mureş). With rapid and marked worsening international situation, especially in neighboring Romania, on 22 September 1939, the 4th Army, recently founded, became Army Group Command no. 1 of Transylvania.
World War II
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
) Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
took power in September 1940, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
signed the Tripartite Pact
Tripartite Pact
The Tripartite Pact, also the Three-Power Pact, Axis Pact, Three-way Pact or Tripartite Treaty was a pact signed in Berlin, Germany on September 27, 1940, which established the Axis Powers of World War II...
with the Axis Powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
and subsequently took part in Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
in 1941. An expeditionary force invaded the Soviet Union in Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
and southern Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, alongside the German Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. The expeditionary force, 'Army Group Antonescu,' was composed on 22 June 1941 of the 3rd Army, the 4th Army, the 2nd Army Corps, and the 11th Infantry Division. The 3rd Army comprised the 4th Army Corps (6th and 7th Infantry Divisions), the Cavalry Corps, the Mountain Corps, two separate artillery battalion, a TA unit, and the Air Force's 3rd Army Cooperation Command. The 4th Army consisted of the 3rd Army Corps, the 5th Army Corps, the 11th Army Corps (two fortress brigades), and the 4th Army Cooperation Command. The army group-level 2nd Army Corps, under Major General N. Macici, controlled the 9th and 10th Infantry Divisions and the 7th Cavalry Brigade. Additionally the 1st Armoured Division was formed for service on the Eastern Front. The Army Group's first offensive, in conjunction with the Eleventh Army, Operation Munchen
Operation München
Operation München was the codename of a joint German-Romanian offensive in World War II, with the primary objective of re-capturing Bessarabia, ceded by Romania to the Soviet Union a year before. The operation concluded successfully after 24 days of fighting.Axis formations involved included the...
, enabled Romania to retake the territory immediately east of the Dnister
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
, former part of Moldavia. The Romanian Armies saw their first major battles at Odessa and Sevastopol
Battle of Sevastopol
The Siege of Sevastopol took place on the Eastern Front of the Second World War. The campaign was fought by the Axis powers of Germany, Romania and Italy against the Soviet Union for control of Sevastopol, a port in Crimea on the Black Sea. On 22 June 1941 the Axis invaded the Soviet Union under...
, and in 1942 advanced with other Axis forces deeper into Soviet territory during Operation Blue
Operation Blue
Case Blue , later renamed Operation Braunschweig, was the German Armed Forces name for its plan for a 1942 strategic summer offensive in southern Russia between 28 June and November 1942....
.
The greatest disaster for the Romanian expeditionary force on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
came at Stalingrad
Romanian Armies in the Battle of Stalingrad
Two Romanian armies, the Third and the Fourth, were involved in the Battle of Stalingrad, helping to protect the northern and southern flanks respectively of the German 6th Army as it tried to conquer the city of Stalingrad, defended by the Soviet Red Army in mid to late 1942...
, where, during the Soviet counter-offensive of November 1942, the thinly spread forces of the Third Army
Romanian Third Army
The 3rd Army was a field army of the Romanian Land Forces active from the 19th century to the 1990s. It that fought as part of the German Army Group B during World War II, in Ukraine, Crimea, and the Caucasus...
(deployed north of Stalingrad) and of the Fourth Army
Fourth Army (Romania)
The Fourth Army was a field army of the Romanian Land Forces active from the 19th century to the 1990s.-History:The Fourth Army fought in the Romanian Campaign of World War I, under the command of General Prezan...
(deployed south of Stalingrad) were attacked by vastly superior Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
forces and suffered combined losses of some 158,000 personnel.
During April–May 1944 the Romanian forces led by General Mihai Racoviţǎ
Ioan Mihail Racovita
Ioan Mihail Racoviţă was a Romanian Major General during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.He may have commanded the First Army ...
, together with elements of the German Eighth Army were responsible for defending Northern Romania during the Soviet First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive
First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive
The First Jassy–Kishinev Offensive, named after the two major cities in the area, was fought between 8 April and 6 June 1944 by the Soviets and Axis powers of World War II...
, and took part in the Battles of Târgu Frumos. In late August 1944, the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
entered eastern Romania
Battle of Romania (1944)
The Jassy–Kishinev Operation, named after the two major cities, Iaşi and Chişinău, in the staging area, was a Soviet offensive against Axis forces, which took place in Eastern Romania from 20–29 August 1944...
. On August 23, 1944, a coup led by King Michael I of Romania
Michael I of Romania
Michael was the last King of Romania. He reigned from 20 July 1927 to 8 June 1930, and again from 6 September 1940 until 30 December 1947 when he was forced, by the Communist Party of Romania , to abdicate to the Soviet armies of occupation...
deposed Marshal Antonescu and set up a pro-Soviet government. It has been estimated that the royal coup shortened the war for Romania by six months. Romania soon declared war on Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, and the First
Romanian First Army
The 1st Infantry Division Dacica is one of the three major units of the Romanian Land Forces with its headquarters in Bucharest. Until June 15, 2008, it was designated as the 1st Territorial Army Corps "General Ioan Culcer" .On 22 June 1941, the 1st Infantry Division, under BG Emanoil Bârzotescu...
and Fourth Armies were pressed into action. After the expelling of the last Wehrmacht remnants from Romania, the Romanian Armies took part in the Siege of Budapest
Battle of Budapest
The Siege of Budapest centered on the Hungarian capital city of Budapest. It was fought towards the end of World War II in Europe, during the Soviet Budapest Offensive. The siege started when Budapest, defended by Hungarian and German troops, was first encircled on 29 December 1944 by the Red Army...
and the Prague Offensive
Prague Offensive
The Prague Offensive was the last major Soviet operation of World War II in Europe. The offensive, and the battle for Prague, was fought on the Eastern Front from 6 May to 11 May 1945. This battle for the city is particularly noteworthy in that it ended after the Third Reich capitulated on 8 May...
of May 1945.
Cold War
The Soviet occupation of RomaniaSoviet occupation of Romania
The Soviet occupation of Romania refers to the period from 1944 to August 1958, during which the Soviet Union maintained a significant military presence in Romania...
led to a complete reorganisation of the Romanian Land Forces under the supervision of the Red Army. At the onset, pro-German elements were purged from the Romanian armed forces. In 1944–45, two divisions were formed out of Romanian volunteers—ex-prisoners of war, trained and indoctrinated in the Soviet Union during the war, but also of many Communist activists. One was the Tudor Vladimirescu First Volunteer Division
Tudor Vladimirescu Division
The Tudor Vladimirescu Division was a Soviet-organized division of Romanians that fought against Germany and Hungary during the final year of World War II.-Creation:...
, under the command of Colonel Nicolae Cambrea
Nicolae Cambrea
Nicolae Cambrea was a Romanian Brigadier-General during World War II. In 1942, heserved as Chief of Staff 5th Division. He was briefly a Soviet prisoner of war, but the following year joined his captors and became General Officer Commanding of the Tudor Vladimirescu Division...
, and the other the Horia, Cloşca şi Crişan Division
Horia, Closca si Crisan Division
The Horia, Cloşca şi Crişan division was created in April 1945 from Romanian volunteers, mostly prisoners of war, but also Communist activists such as Valter Roman. It was created by the Soviet Union at Kotovsk. Its first leader was General Mihail Lascăr, who had been taken prisoner in November...
, under the command of General Mihail Lascăr
Mihail Lascar
Mihail Lascăr was a Romanian General during World War II, and Minister of Defense from 1946 to 1947.After graduating from the Infantry Officer School in 1910 with the rank of 2nd lieutenant, he fought in the Second Balkan War and in World War I, being promoted to major...
(who later served as Minister of Defence from 1946 to 1947). These two units formed the nucleus of the new Romanian Land Forces under Soviet control. The postwar reorganisation of the Land Forces included cavalry but the arm disappeared from the force with the disbandment in November 1954 of the 59th Cavalry Division at Oradea
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
.
After the Romanian Communist Party
Romanian Communist Party
The Romanian Communist Party was a communist political party in Romania. Successor to the Bolshevik wing of the Socialist Party of Romania, it gave ideological endorsement to communist revolution and the disestablishment of Greater Romania. The PCR was a minor and illegal grouping for much of the...
seized political power, the sovietization of the army commenced, under the supervision of the new Minister of Defence, Emil Bodnăraş
Emil Bodnaras
Emil Bodnăraş was an influential Romanian Communist politician, an army officer, and a Soviet agent...
. Thirty per cent of the officers and noncommissioned officers (mostly experienced soldiers, and a potential source of opposition) were purged from the military. This involved copying the Soviet model of military and political organisation, and changing the military doctrine of combat and defence, also in the context of Romania's integration in the strategic system of the Soviets, at the beginning of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
In the early 1950s the RLF reached a level of 12 rifle, one mechanised, and one tank division. Between 1960 and 1964 the rifle and mechanised divisions were converted to motor rifle divisions, and reductions in strength began; force size dropped to six motor rifle and two tank divisions by 1970. From 1970 to 1976, three more motor rifle divisions were formed, but one was deactivated in 1977, and the eight motor rifle and three tank division figure remained that way for the rest of the Cold War.
From 1947 to 1960 the country seems to have been divided into three major military regions: Cluj, Bacău, and Bucharest in the west, east, and south, respectively. In wartime the land forces in each military region would become an army corps with their headquarters in Cluj-Napoca, Iaşi, and Bucharest. Armies seem to have succeeded military regions in 1960, and three armies seem to have become four in 1980. What is known is that on 01.07.1947 Fourth Army
4th Infantry Division (Romania)
The 4th Infantry Division Gemina is one of three major units of the Romanian Land Forces, with its headquarters in Cluj-Napoca. Until June 15, 2008 it was designated as the 4th Territorial Army Corps "Mareşal Constantin Prezan" .-Structure in April 2007 :This structure was in force when the...
became 3rd Military Region, based in Cluj. The 3rd Military Region became the 3rd Army on 30 April 1960, and the 4th Army on 5 April 1980.
During the 1980s, the land forces numbered 140,000 personnel, of whom two thirds were conscripts. In 1989 four armies appeared to exist: the First Army
First Army (Romania)
The First Army was a field army of the Romanian Land Forces, active from 1916 to 2000.The First Army took part in the Romanian actions during the First World War...
at Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Second Army at Buzau
Buzau
The city of Buzău is the county seat of Buzău County, Romania, in the historical region of Wallachia. It lies near the right bank of the Buzău River, between the south-eastern curvature of the Carpathian Mountains and the lowlands of Bărăgan Plain.The city's name dates back to 376 AD when the name...
, Third Army at Craiova
Craiova
Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
, and Fourth Army
Fourth Army (Romania)
The Fourth Army was a field army of the Romanian Land Forces active from the 19th century to the 1990s.-History:The Fourth Army fought in the Romanian Campaign of World War I, under the command of General Prezan...
at Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
. In 1989 the land forces consisted of eight mechanised (infantry) divisions (1st
Tudor Vladimirescu Division
The Tudor Vladimirescu Division was a Soviet-organized division of Romanians that fought against Germany and Hungary during the final year of World War II.-Creation:...
, Bucharest, 2nd
2nd Infantry Division (Romania)
The 2nd Infantry Division is an infantry division of the Romanian Land Forces.It was part of the 1st Army Corps during the mobilisation of 1877, during the Romanian War of Independence. It was at the Battle of Plevna in 1877 as part of the 2nd Operational Corps. During the Second World War it...
, Craiova, 9th
9th Mechanized Brigade (Romania)
The 9th Mechanized Brigade "Mărăşeşti" is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Romanian Land Forces.The unit was initially formed in 1879, after the Romanian War of Independence, as Divizia Activa de Dobrogea ...
, Constanta, 10th, Iași
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, 11th, Oradea, 18th, Timişoara, 67th, and 81st
81st Mechanized Brigade (Romania)
The 81st Mechanised Brigade is a mechanised brigade of the Romanian Land Forces, established on 1 March 1995. The unit is subordinated to the 4th Infantry Division "Gemina". Between 1995 and 2000 its headquarters were located in Dej, and since December 2000 in Bistriţa...
, Tirgu Mureş) two tank divisions (the 57th Tank Division at Bucharest and the 6th Tank Division
Horia, Closca si Crisan Division
The Horia, Cloşca şi Crişan division was created in April 1945 from Romanian volunteers, mostly prisoners of war, but also Communist activists such as Valter Roman. It was created by the Soviet Union at Kotovsk. Its first leader was General Mihail Lascăr, who had been taken prisoner in November...
at Tirgu Mureş), four mountain infantry brigades, and three airborne brigades. According to the 165-year 'History of Modern Romanian Artillery,' in 1989 the 1st Army consisted of the 1st Mech Div, 57th Tank Div., and the 2nd Mountain Brigade; the 2nd Army of the 9th Mech Div, 10th Mech Div, 67th Mech Div, and 32nd TActical Rocket Bde; the 3rd Army of the 2nd Mech Div, 18th Mech Div, and the 4th Mountain Bde; and the 4th Army of the 11th Mech Div, 81st Mech Div, 6th Tank Div., 1st Mountain Bde, 5th Mountain Bde, and 37th Tactical Missile Brigade.
Motorised rifle divisions were organized along the Soviet model with three motorised rifle regiments, one tank regiment, and a full complement of 12,000 infantry soldiers. The artillery, antitank, and air defence regiments of divisions provided specialised fire support that enabled motorised rifle and tank regiments to maneuver. The air defense regiments consisted of two anti-aircraft artillery battalions and one surface-to-air missile (SAM) battalion, each composed of several batteries. In late 1980s the artillery regiments of motorised rifle and tank divisions included two artillery battalions, one multiple rocket launcher battalion, and one surface-to-surface missile battalion.
Surface-to-surface missile
Surface-to-surface missile
A surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from a hand-held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket motor or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving...
battalions were divided into three or four batteries, each equipped with one missile launcher. They operated thirty FROG-3 and eighteen SCUD
Scud
Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies...
missile launchers. The FROG-3, a tactical missile first introduced in 1960, was being replaced in other non-Soviet Warsaw Pact armies. Proven to be fairly inaccurate in combat, FROG and SCUD missiles would be ineffective weapons carrying conventional high-explosive warheads. Tipped with nuclear or chemical warheads, however, they could be devastating. According to one former Romanian official writing in 1988, Romania produced chemical agents that could be delivered by battlefield missiles.
Post-communist era
During the early 1990s, some major units were disbanded and a lot of equipment was phased out or scrapped due to a severe shortage of funds. The whole land forces structure was reorganized from armies into territorial corps, and from regimentRegiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s into battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s. In mid-1990s, the situation of the land forces was critical: the military budget was three times lower than in 1989 (636 million dollars), 50% of the equipment was older than 30 years, and 60% of the armoured vehicles and 85% of the missile units were non-operational. Due to lack of fuel and training, the level of combat readiness and military capability was extremely low (only about 30% of the entire land forces were operational). However, after 1996 the government took serious action; the military budget was increased greatly, and modernisation of equipment commenced.
Present organisation
Manpower
In 2005, the army comprised eight combat, four combat support and two logistic brigadeBrigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s, while ten combat, five combat support and two logistic brigades could be further mobilised in case of crisis. Many of these units have been restructured, however, as part of the 2007 Force Plan.
Currently, about 75,000 military personnel and 15,000 civilians comprise the armed forces, for a total of 90,000 men and women. Out of these 75,000, about 45,800 are in the Land Forces.
Modernisation
The Romanian military is undergoing a three-stage restructuring. As of 2007, the first short-term stage was completed (reorganisation of the command system, implementation of the voluntary military service). The year 2015 marks the end of the second stage (operational integration in NATO and EU), while 2025 is the date when the long-term stage is to be completed (full technical integration in NATO and EU). The stages aim at modernising the structure of the armed forces, reducing the personnel as well as acquiring newer and improved technology that is compatible with NATO standards.Romania abolished compulsory military service on October 23, 2006. This came about due to a 2003 constitutional amendment
Constitution of Romania
The 1991 Constitution of Romania, adopted on 21 November 1991, voted in the referendum of 8 December 1991 and introduced on the same day, is the current fundamental law that establishes the structure of the government of Romania, the rights and obligations of the country's citizens, and its mode...
which allowed the parliament to make military service optional. The Romanian Parliament voted to abolish conscription in October 2005, with the vote formalising one of many military modernisation and reform programmes that Romania agreed to when it joined NATO in March 2004.
Structure
The current Romanian Land Forces are organized into three Divisions, the Bucharest GarrisonGarrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
, the Honor Regiment, and a few independent supporting battalions as well as a series of instruction centers. In peacetime
Peacetime
In politics, peacetime is defined as any period of time where there are no violent conflicts occurring. For example, the time after World War II is considered peacetime in Western Europe and the United States....
, the commander of the land forces is the minister of defense, while in wartime
Wartime
The term wartime could refer to:* Wartime, Saskatchewan, a small community in Saskatchewan, Canada.* Wartime Station, Saskatchewan, a small community in Saskatchewan, Canada.* A formal state of war, as opposed to peacetime...
, the President of Romania
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
becomes the supreme commander of the armed forces.
The main three Romanian formations are the 1st Infantry Division Dacica, the 2nd Infantry Division, and the 4th Infantry Division Gemina. Before June 2008, these units were known as the 1st Territorial Army Corps and the 4th Territorial Army Corps and in turn they used to be called the 1st Army and 4th Army prior to the year 2000. However, due to restructuring, their personnel have been reduced considerably in order to reach compatibility with NATO standards. Among the structural changes was the disbandment in 2005 of the 2nd Paratroop Brigade (HQ Clinceni). As of 2010, a 2nd Infantry Division has been formed from units previously belonging to the 1st and the 4th Infantry divisions for a total of 3 Infantry Divisions.
The current chief of the Romanian Land Forces Staff is Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Ariton Ioniţă, succeeding Lieutenant-General Dan Ghica Radu
Dan Ghica Radu
Lieutenant-general Dan Ghica-Radu was the chief of the Romanian Land Forces Staff from 17 March 2009 to 16 January 2011.-Education:*"Dimitrie Cantemir Military Highschool, Breaza - 1974...
on 16 January 2011. The Land Forces official day is celebrated each year, on April 23.
The structure as of 2007 and 2010 is as follows:
- General Headquarters - BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
-
30th Guard and Protocol Regiment "Mihai Viteazul" - headquartered at BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- 1st Battalion - BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- 2nd Battalion - BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- Military Police Battalion - BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- 1st Battalion - Bucharest
-
The 30th Guard and Protocol Regiment (Regimentul 30 Gardă şi Protocol "Mihai Viteazul") is the most famous and important honor guard
Honor guard
An honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...
unit of the Romanian Land Forces. In 2008 the Regiment was reassigned to the Logistic Command.
-
- 1st Special Operations Regiment1st Special Operations Regiment (Romania)The 1st Special Operations Regiment is a Romanian Land Forces regiment formed on 1 August 2009. It consists of the 1st Special Operations Battalion, the 60th Parachute Battalion, and the 498th Parachute Battalion...
- HQ Târgu Mureş- One special operations battalion, two paratroopers' battalions
- 265th Military Police Battalion - headquartered at BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- 500th Logistic SupportLogisticsLogistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
Battalion - headquartered at BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- 1st Special Operations Regiment
-
1st Infantry Division Dacica - HQ BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- 1st Mechanised Brigade "ArgedavaArgedavaArgedava was an important Dacian town mentioned in the Decree of Dionysopolis , and potentially located at Popeşti, a district in the town of Mihăileşti, Giurgiu County, Romania.- Decree of Dionysopolis :This decree was written by the citizens of Dionysopolis to Akornion, who traveled far away in a...
" - headquartered at BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- Two Infantry battalions, one tank battalion, one artillery battalion, one Anti-aircraft artillery battalion and one Logistics battalion.
- 2nd Infantry Operational Brigade2nd Infantry Brigade (Romania)The 2nd Infantry Brigade "Rovine" is an infantry brigade of the Romanian Land Forces, best known for its deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq peacekeeping missions....
"RovineBattle of RovineThe Battle of Rovine took place on 17 May 1395 between the Wallachian army led by Voivod Mircea cel Bătrân against the Ottoman invasion led by sultan Bayezid I. The Ottoman army, numbering approximately 40,000 men, faced the much smaller Wallachian army, which was about 10,000 men...
" - headquartered at CraiovaCraiovaCraiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
- Two InfantryInfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
battalions, one Logistics battalion, one artillery battalion and one Anti-aircraft artillery battalion.
- Two Infantry
- 2nd Mountain Troops Operational Brigade2nd Mountain Troops Brigade (Romania)The 2nd Mountain Troops Brigade "Sarmizegetusa" is a mountain troops brigade of the Romanian Land Forces....
"SarmizegetusaSarmizegetusaSarmizegetusa Regia was the capital and the most important military, religious and political center of Dacians...
" - headquartered at BraşovBrasovBrașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
- Three Mountain troopsVânatori de MunteThe vânători de munte |Huntsmen]]) are the elite mountain troops of the Romanian Land Forces. They were first established as an independent Army Corps in 1916 during World War I, and became operational in 1917 under Corpul de Munte designation....
battalions, one artillery battalion, one Anti-aircraft artillery battalion and one Logistics battalion.
- Three Mountain troops
- 61st Artillery Regiment - headquartered at SloboziaSloboziaSlobozia is the capital city of Ialomiţa County, Romania, with a population of 52,710 in 2002.-Geography:Slobozia lies roughly in the middle of the county, on the banks of Ialomita River, at ca. east of Bucharest and west of Constanţa, important port at the Black Sea...
NEW - 2nd Logistics Base "Valahia" - headquartered at TârgovişteTârgovisteTârgoviște is a city in the Dâmbovița county of Romania. It is situated on the right bank of the Ialomiţa River. , it had an estimated population of 89,000. One village, Priseaca, is administered by the city.-Name:...
- 53rd Mixed Anti-aircraft Missiles Regiment "Trophaeum Traiani"53rd Anti-aircraft Missiles Regiment (Romania)The 53rd Anti-aircraft Missiles Regiment "Trophaeum Traiani" is an air defense regiment of the Romanian Land Forces. It is currently subordinated to the 1st Infantry Division and its headquarters are located in Medgidia...
- headquartered at MedgidiaMedgidia-History:Archaeological findings show that Dobruja was inhabited since the Neolithic period. Starting with 46 BC the region was administered by the Roman Empire. A castrum was built in the Carasu Valley, becoming the cradle of the settlement....
- Two anti-aircraft missile battalions
- 49th CBRN Battalion - headquartered at PiteştiPitestiPitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated on the A1 freeway connecting it directly to the national capital Bucharest,...
- 96th Engineer Battalion "Joseph Kruzel"
- 1st "CIMIC" Battalion1st CIMIC Battalion (Romania)The 1st CIMIC Battalion, is the only Civil-Military cooperation battalion of the Romanian Land Forces and it was formed in September 2001....
- headquartered at BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.... - 45th Signal Battalion "Cpt. Grigore Giosanu"
- 313th Reconnaissance Battalion - headquartered at BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- 300th Logistic SupportLogisticsLogistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
Battalion - headquartered at BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.... - other supporting units
- 1st Mechanised Brigade "Argedava
- 2nd Infantry Division Getica2nd Infantry Division (Romania)The 2nd Infantry Division is an infantry division of the Romanian Land Forces.It was part of the 1st Army Corps during the mobilisation of 1877, during the Romanian War of Independence. It was at the Battle of Plevna in 1877 as part of the 2nd Operational Corps. During the Second World War it...
- HQ BuzăuBuzauThe city of Buzău is the county seat of Buzău County, Romania, in the historical region of Wallachia. It lies near the right bank of the Buzău River, between the south-eastern curvature of the Carpathian Mountains and the lowlands of Bărăgan Plain.The city's name dates back to 376 AD when the name...
8th LAROM Brigade8th Mixed Artillery Brigade (Romania)From 1 November 2010 it current name is the 8th LAROM Brigade "Alexandru Ioan Cuza".The 8th LAROM Brigade "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" is a Multiple Rocket Launcher brigade of the Romanian Land Forces...
"Alexandru Ioan Cuza" - headquartered at FocşaniFocsaniFocşani is the capital city of Vrancea County in Romania on the shores the Milcov river, in the historical region of Moldavia. It has a population of 101,854.-Geography:...
- Three Multiple Rocket LauncherMultiple rocket launcherA multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguided rocket artillery system. Like other rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers are less accurate and have a much lower rate of fire than batteries of traditional artillery guns...
s battalions, one Data acquisitionData acquisitionData acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be manipulated by a computer. Data acquisition systems typically convert analog waveforms into digital values for processing...
battalion and one Logistics battalion.
- Three Multiple Rocket Launcher
- 9th Mechanized Brigade9th Mechanized Brigade (Romania)The 9th Mechanized Brigade "Mărăşeşti" is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Romanian Land Forces.The unit was initially formed in 1879, after the Romanian War of Independence, as Divizia Activa de Dobrogea ...
"Mărăşeşti"Battle of MarasestiThe Battle of Mărăşeşti, Vrancea County, eastern Romania was a major battle fought during World War I between Germany and Romania.-Premise:...
- headquartered at ConstanţaConstantaConstanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
- Two Infantry battalions, one tank battalion, one artillery battalion, one Anti-aircraft missiles battalion and one Logistics battalion http://www.curierul.forter.ro/03viata/01.htm.
- 15th Mechanized Territorial Brigade15th Mechanized Brigade (Romania)The 15th Mechanized Brigade "Podu Înalt" is a mechanized brigade of the Romanian Land Forces. It was formed in July 1994 from the ex 15th Mechanized Regiment...
"Podu ÎnaltBattle of VasluiThe Battle of Vaslui was fought on January 10, 1475 between Stephen III of Moldavia and the Ottoman Beylerbey of Rumelia, Hadân Suleiman Pasha. The battle took place at Podul Înalt , near the town of Vaslui, in Moldavia...
" - headquartered at IaşiIasiIași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
- Two Mechanised battalions, one tank battalion, one Anti-aircraft artillery battalion, one artillery battalion and one Logistics battalion.
- 282nd Mechanized Operational Brigade282nd Mechanized Brigade (Romania)The 282nd Mechanized Brigade "Union of the Principalities" is a mechanized brigade of the Romanian Land Forces, originally formed as the 282nd Mechanized Regiment on 24 September 1968....
"Unirea Principatelor"United PrincipalitiesThe United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, also known as the Romanian Principalities, was the official name of Romania following the 1859 election of Alexandru Ioan Cuza as prince or domnitor of both territories...
- headquartered at FocşaniFocsaniFocşani is the capital city of Vrancea County in Romania on the shores the Milcov river, in the historical region of Moldavia. It has a population of 101,854.-Geography:...
- Two Mechanised battalions, one Mixed-Artillery battalion, one Anti-aircraft artillery battalion, one tank battalion and one Logistics battalion
- 10th Engineer Operational Brigade10th Engineer Brigade (Romania)The 10th Engineer Brigade is an engineer brigade currently operational within the Romanian Land Forces and is part of the 2nd Infantry Division.-Structure:*10th Engineer Brigade - Brăila...
- headquartered at BrăilaBrailaBrăila is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County, in the close vicinity of Galaţi.According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.-History:A... - 3rd Logistics Base - headquartered at RomanRoman, RomaniaRoman is a mid-sized city, having the title of municipality, located in the central part of Moldavia, a traditional region of Romania. It is located 46 km east of Piatra Neamţ, in the Neamţ County at the confluence of Siret and Moldova rivers....
- 528th Reconnaissance Battalion "Vlad Ţepeş" - headquartered at BrăilaBrailaBrăila is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County, in the close vicinity of Galaţi.According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.-History:A...
- 202nd CBRN Battalion - headquartered at HuşiHusiHuși is a city in Vaslui County, Romania, former capital of the disbanded Fălciu County in the historical region of Moldavia, Romanian Orthodox episcopal see, and home of some of the best vineyards of Romania. The city is located on a branch of the Iaşi-Galaţi railway, nine miles west of the Prut...
- 200th Logistic SupportLogisticsLogistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
Battalion - headquartered at BuzăuBuzauThe city of Buzău is the county seat of Buzău County, Romania, in the historical region of Wallachia. It lies near the right bank of the Buzău River, between the south-eastern curvature of the Carpathian Mountains and the lowlands of Bărăgan Plain.The city's name dates back to 376 AD when the name... - other supporting units
-
4th Infantry Division Gemina4th Infantry Division (Romania)The 4th Infantry Division Gemina is one of three major units of the Romanian Land Forces, with its headquarters in Cluj-Napoca. Until June 15, 2008 it was designated as the 4th Territorial Army Corps "Mareşal Constantin Prezan" .-Structure in April 2007 :This structure was in force when the...
- HQ Cluj-NapocaCluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
- 18th Infantry Brigade "Banat" - TimişoaraTimisoaraTimișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
- 32nd Infantry Battalion "Mircea" ("Yellow Scorpions") - TimişoaraTimisoaraTimișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
- 191st InfantryInfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Battalion "Colonel Radu Golescu" - AradArad, RomaniaArad is the capital city of Arad County, in western Romania, in the Crişana region, on the river Mureş.An important industrial center and transportation hub, Arad is also the seat of a Romanian Orthodox archbishop and features two universities, a Romanian Orthodox theological seminary, a training... - LogisticMilitary logisticsMilitary logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
Battalion - LipovaLipova, AradLipova is a town in Romania, Arad County, located in the Banat region of western Transylvania. It is situated at a distance of 34 km from Arad, the county capital, at the contact zone of the Mureș River with the Zarand Mountains, Western Plateau and Lipovei Hills...
- 32nd Infantry Battalion "Mircea" ("Yellow Scorpions") - Timişoara
- 61st Mountain Troops Territorial Brigade61st Mountain Troops Brigade (Romania)The 61st Mountain Troops Brigade "Virgil Bădulescu" is a mountain troops brigade of the Romanian Land Forces. It was formed in September 1990...
"Virgil Bădulescu" - headquartered at Miercurea Ciuc- Four Mountain Troops battalions, one artillery battalion, one Anti-aircraft artillery battalion and one Logistics battalion.
- 81st Mechanized Operational Brigade81st Mechanized Brigade (Romania)The 81st Mechanised Brigade is a mechanised brigade of the Romanian Land Forces, established on 1 March 1995. The unit is subordinated to the 4th Infantry Division "Gemina". Between 1995 and 2000 its headquarters were located in Dej, and since December 2000 in Bistriţa...
"Grigore Bălan" - headquartered at BistriţaBistritaBistrița is the capital city of Bistriţa-Năsăud County, Transylvania, Romania. It is situated on the Bistriţa River. The city has a population of approximately 80,000 inhabitants, and it administers six villages: Ghinda, Sărata, Sigmir, Slătiniţa, Unirea and Viişoara.-History:The earliest sign of...
- Two Mechanized battalions, one Tank battalion, one artillery battalion, one Air-Defense battalion, one engineer battalion and one Logistics battalion.
- 4th Logistics Base "Transilvania" - headquartered at DejDejDej is a city in northwestern Romania, 60 km north of Cluj-Napoca, in Cluj County. It lies where the Someşul Mic River meets the river Someşul Mare River...
- 41st Transport Battalion "Bobâlna"
- 43rd Transport Battalion "Roman I Muşat"
- 88th Maintenance Battalion - headquartered at Cluj-NapocaCluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
- 69th Mixed Artillery Regiment "Silvania"69th Mixed Artillery Regiment (Romania)The 69th Artillery Regiment Silvania is an artillery regiment of the Romanian Land Forces. It is currently subordinated to the 4th Infantry Division and its headquarters are located in Şimleu Silvaniei.-Structure:...
- headquartered at Şimleul Silvaniei- Two Artillery battalions, one Anti-tank artillery battalion, one Logistics battalion and one Data acquisition battalion.
- 50th Mixed Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment "Andrei Mureşianu"50th Anti-aircraft Missiles Regiment (Romania)The 50th Anti-aircraft Missiles Regiment "Andrei Mureşianu" is an air defense regiment of the Romanian Land Forces. It is currently subordinated to the 4th Infantry Division and its headquarters are located in Floreşti...
- headquartered at FloreştiFlorestiFlorești can refer to:*Moldova:**Florești, a city in Moldova**Florești district, in Moldova** Florești, a village in Cobusca Veche Commune, Anenii Noi district** Florești, a village in Buciumeni Commune, Ungheni district* Romania:... - 317th Reconnaissance Battalion "Vlădeasa" headquartered at Cluj-NapocaCluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
- 400th Logistic SupportLogisticsLogistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
Battalion - headquartered at Cluj-NapocaCluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade... - 55th Signal Battalion "Napoca" - headquartered at Cluj-NapocaCluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
- 72nd CBRN Battalion - headquartered at SighişoaraSighisoaraSighişoara is a city and municipality on the Târnava Mare River in Mureş County, Romania. Located in the historic region Transylvania, Sighişoara has a population of 27,706 ....
- 53rd Engineer Battalion - headquartered at DevaDeva, RomaniaDeva is a city in Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania, on the left bank of the Mureș River. It is the capital of Hunedoara County.-Name:...
- other supporting units
- 18th Infantry Brigade "Banat" - Timişoara
-
Bucharest GarrisonBucharest GarrisonThe Bucharest Garrison is a military garrison located in Bucharest and subordinated to the Romanian Land Forces. The Garrison was initially formed in 1939 by a royal decree and in 1940 it became an independent army corps...
- HQ BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- Battle Support Battalions
- Public RelationsPublic relationsPublic relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
Central Office - Military Administration Offices
- Military Ceremonials Unit
- Special Military Commission
Equipment
The TR-85 M1 main battle tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
and the MLI-84
MLI-84
The MLI-84 is a native-made Romanian infantry fighting vehicle currently in service with the Romanian Land Forces. It is basically a stock BMP-1 with a lengthened hull and a 12.7x108mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun mounted on the roof of the troop compartment....
"Jder" infantry fighting vehicle
Infantry fighting vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
, comprises the most modern native made equipment of the Romanian Land Forces. Also 43 ex-German Gepard
Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard
The Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard is an autonomous, all-weather-capable German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun . It was developed in the 1960s and fielded in the 1970s, and has been upgraded several times with the latest electronics...
anti-aircraft systems were commissioned in late-2004.
The Land Forces ordered about 100 US Army Humvees; the first eight were delivered to the military police
Romanian Military Police
The Romanian Military Police is the military police of the Romanian Armed Forces. It was formed in 1990, immediately after the 1989 Romanian Revolution, although the Romanian Gendarmerie performed military police duties between 1850 and 1949.-Mission:The duties of the Military Police are:*...
in December 2006. 31 Piranha III
Mowag Piranha
The MOWAG Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed by the Swiss MOWAG , corporation....
armoured vehicles (LAV III
LAV III
The LAV III armoured vehicle is the latest in the Generation III Light Armoured Vehicle series built by General Dynamics Land Systems, entering service in 1999. It is based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8x8....
variant) and 60 URO VAMTAC
URO VAMTAC
The URO VAMTAC is a Spanish four-wheel drive military vehicle manufactured by the UROVESA. It is similar in appearance and design to the HMMWV of the United States military. More than 2,000 of the vehicles have been delivered to the Spanish Armed Forces. Several other countries operate the VAMTAC...
high mobility vehicles were also ordered and will be required for deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007.
Equipment Summary
| Equipment | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Main Battle Tank Main battle tank A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development... s |
~350 |
| Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle Infantry fighting vehicle An infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them... s |
~450 |
| Armoured Personnel Carriers | ~1500 |
| Towed Artillery Artillery Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons... |
~1000 |
| Multiple Rocket Launcher Multiple rocket launcher A multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguided rocket artillery system. Like other rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers are less accurate and have a much lower rate of fire than batteries of traditional artillery guns... s |
~50 |
| Self-Propelled Surface to Air Missile Surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles... s |
~150 |
Special Forces
The evolution of special forcesSpecial forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
within the Romanian Land Forces led to the establishment of the 1st Special Operations Regiment
1st Special Operations Regiment (Romania)
The 1st Special Operations Regiment is a Romanian Land Forces regiment formed on 1 August 2009. It consists of the 1st Special Operations Battalion, the 60th Parachute Battalion, and the 498th Parachute Battalion...
on 1 August 2009, headquartered at Târgu Mureş.
The most famous and well trained unit is the 1st Special Operations Battalion which was legally created in late 2005, after several batches of graduates had already been selected. Members of the special forces battalion have benefitted from courses abroad, such as the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) course, the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Force Recon course, as well as other courses. The Special Forces battalion became fully operational during 2007, after a company had already been commissioned in early-2006.
The current Romanian reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
battalions (the 528th and the 317th) are considered special forces units, and were formed in the 1960s during the communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
. After the revolution, the two units suffered from a lack of funds which resulted in the disbandment of the 313th Battalion. However, their equipment was completely overhauled in the past few years and the combat readiness and capabilities have regained full strength.
DIR, Rapid Intervention Squad
Detasamentul de Interventie Rapida
Detaşamentul Special de Protecţie şi Intervenţie of the Romanian Ministry of Defense is an elite special operations unit of the Romanian military...
of the Romanian Ministry of Defense is an elite special operations
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit currently belonging to the Romanian Military Police
Romanian Military Police
The Romanian Military Police is the military police of the Romanian Armed Forces. It was formed in 1990, immediately after the 1989 Romanian Revolution, although the Romanian Gendarmerie performed military police duties between 1850 and 1949.-Mission:The duties of the Military Police are:*...
. It is a special unit inside the military, formed of highly-skilled individuals, a very large percentage of its members being champions in martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, athletic disciplines and so on. DIR was, until December 2003, top secret.
International missions
- 45 personnel in Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
(23 in SarajevoSarajevoSarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
and 22 in Banja LukaBanja Luka-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
) - as part of EUFOR, since 2000 (to be withdrawn) - 150 personnel in PećPecPeć or Pejë is a city and municipality in north-western Kosovo and Metohija - Serbia, and the administrative centre of the homonymous district. Governor of city is Ali Berisha....
, SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
- as part of KFOR - 1 battalion in ZabulQalat (Zabul)Qalat is a town in southern Afghanistan and the capital of Zabul Province. It is linked by a highway with Kandahar to the west and Ghazni to the east. In 2006, Zabul's first airstrip was built near Qalat. It is also home the U.S...
(479 personnel), 1 guard detachment in KandaharKandaharKandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
(193 personnel), a reconnaissance squad in Mazari Sharif (6 personnel), AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
- as part of ISAFInternational Security Assistance ForceThe International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
; additionally, a special forces squad (39 personnel) and a training detachment (47 personnel) are deployed there
Training
After the Revolution, many firing ranges and training areas were closed and abandoned due to lack of funds. Currently, the military schools and training units of the Romanian Land Forces are directly subordinated to the central headquarters. There are 3 military high schools (Câmpulung MoldovenescCâmpulung Moldovenesc
Câmpulung Moldovenesc is a city located in Suceava County, which is in the historical Bukovina region of Moldavia in North Eastern Romania...
, Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia is a city in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania with a population of 66,747, located on the Mureş River. Since the High Middle Ages, the city has been the seat of Transylvania's Roman Catholic diocese. Between 1541 and 1690 it was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania...
and Breaza
Breaza
Breaza is a town in Prahova County, Romania, with a population of 18,863.The town was first documented in an act of 1503, mentioning a certain trader of Breaza called "Neagoe". In 1622 the land of Breaza was divided between four boyars and in 1717, the new ruler of Wallachia, Nicolae Mavrocordat...
), one military academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
(Sibiu
Sibiu
Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
), one officers school (Piteşti
Pitesti
Pitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated on the A1 freeway connecting it directly to the national capital Bucharest,...
), 3 training schools (Sibiu, Piteşti, Buzău
Buzau
The city of Buzău is the county seat of Buzău County, Romania, in the historical region of Wallachia. It lies near the right bank of the Buzău River, between the south-eastern curvature of the Carpathian Mountains and the lowlands of Bărăgan Plain.The city's name dates back to 376 AD when the name...
) and 9 training battalions.
In the past few years, lots of training exercises took place in Romania with other Balkan
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
or Allied countries. Most of these exercises took place at Babadag
Babadag
Babadag is a town in Tulcea county, Romania, located on a small lake formed by the Taiţa river, in the densely wooded highlands of northern Dobruja. Its name means "the mountain of the father" in Turkish...
, which is one of the largest and most modern training firing ranges and military facilities in Europe, with a total surface area of 270 square kilometres. It was announced on December 6, 2006 that 1,500 U.S. troops
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu
Mihail Kogalniceanu, Constanta
Mihail Kogălniceanu is a commune in Constanţa County, Romania, and is located 25 km northwest of Constanţa proper. The commune includes three villages:* Mihail Kogălniceanu - historical names: Kara Murat , Bulgari and Ferdinand I* Palazu Mic...
, which in time will form Joint Task Force East
Joint Task Force East
Task Force-East is a United States European Command initiative executed by U.S. Army Europe designed to strengthen relationships between the United States and its Eastern European allies...
, will be using Babadag as a training base.
Ranks and insignia
The Romanian Land Forces distinguishes three career paths: officers (Ofiţeri), warrant officers (Maiştrii militari), NCO's (Subofiţeri) and enlisted men (Soldaţi şi gradaţi voluntari). The MarshalMarshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
rank can be given only in wartime by the President of Romania
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
; in fact, Romania had only three marshals coming from the officers` rank in its history: Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
, Alexandru Averescu
Alexandru Averescu
Alexandru Averescu was a Romanian marshal and populist politician. A Romanian Armed Forces Commander during World War I, he served as Prime Minister of three separate cabinets . He first rose to prominence during the peasant's revolt of 1907, which he helped repress in violence...
and Constantin Prezan
Constantin Prezan
Constantin Prezan was a Romanian general during World War I and after the war a Marshal of Romania....
. Kings Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I of Romania
Ferdinand was the King of Romania from 10 October 1914 until his death.-Early life:Born in Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany, the Roman Catholic Prince Ferdinand Viktor Albert Meinrad of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later simply of Hohenzollern, was a son of Leopold, Prince of...
, Carol II and Mihai I also held the rank of Marshal of Romania. King Carol I held simultaneous ranks as Russian Marshal and German Field-marshal.
Further reading
- Gordon L. Rottman, 'Warsaw Pact Ground Forces,' Osprey Elite Series No.10, Osprey, London, 1987
- CODRESCU, Costache (coordonator) – Armata Română în Revoluţia din decembrie 1989. Studiu documentar. Ediţia a II-a revăzută şi completată, Ed. Militară, Bucureşti, 1998;
- SAVA, Constantin; MONAC, Constantin – Revoluţia din decembrie 1989 percepută prin documentele vremii. Ed. Axioma Edit, Bucureşti, 2000.