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Occupation of Southern Dobruja(1913)

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Jul 10–17, 1913·Romania victory·land·Dobruja steppe, Black Sea coastal plain

Background

Romania exploited Bulgaria's total commitment on the Macedonian front to seize Southern Dobruja, a region Romania had sought since 1878. The bloodless occupation gave Romania a powerful card at the Bucharest peace conference.

Campaign: Second Balkan War 1913

Forces Engaged

Romanian troops in Bulgaria during the Second Balkan War campaign, 1913
Romanian troops in Bulgaria during the Second Balkan War campaign, 1913 (c. 1913) — Camara Publishing house, Bucharest (1913). Public domain.
Victor
Romania
Commander: Gen. Ioan Culcer
Strength: 80,000
Defeated
Bulgaria
Commander: N/A — no resistance

The Battle

map of the Romanian Campaign of 1916
map of the Romanian Campaign of 1916 (c. 2013) — Unknown authorUnknown author. Public domain.

Romanian 5th Corps crossed the Danube at Silistra unopposed, occupying the Tutrakan–Balchik line and securing Southern Dobruja without a shot fired.

The Dobruja Campaign was a major operation during the Romanian Campaign of World War I. It took place between 2 September and 25 October 1916 between a joint Bulgarian–German–Ottoman force, consisting mainly of the Bulgarian Third Army, and a Romanian–Russian force. The battle was part of the Romanian campaign towards the end of 1916. It ended with a Central Powers victory.

Casualties & Outcome

No combat casualties on either side. A handful of Romanian deaths attributed to heat exhaustion.

Romania achieved victory over Bulgaria.

Despite the loss of most of Dobruja to the Central Powers, the Romanian defensive victory at Tulcea in January 1917, combined with the actions of the Romanian cruiser Elisabeta at the mouths of the Danube, ensured Romanian control over the entire Danube Delta throughout the rest of the War.

Historical Record

1916  - Sarja a cavaleriei romane in luptele de la Bazargic desen de D Stoica
1916 - Sarja a cavaleriei romane in luptele de la Bazargic desen de D Stoica (c. 1916) — Dumitrescu Stoica. Public domain.
Atacul de la Rasova 1916, ulei pe pânză, Muzeul Marinei Române Constanța.
Atacul de la Rasova 1916, ulei pe pânză, Muzeul Marinei Române Constanța. (c. 1916) — Miculasr. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Clockwise: Senghenydd colliery disaster Construction of Canberra begin 1913 Ottoman coup d'état Second Balkan War Great Flood of 1913 Great Lakes Storm of 1913 Second Revolution (Republic of China) En
Clockwise: Senghenydd colliery disaster Construction of Canberra begin 1913 Ottoman coup d'état Second Balkan War Great Flood of 1913 Great Lakes Storm of 1913 Second Revolution (Republic of China) En (c. 2023) — From a variety of images credited above.. CC0.
Map of the Second Balkan War  Movimientos y unidades búlgaras  Movimientos y unidades serbias, griegas, rumanas y otomanas   Dobruya meridional a Rumanía (Tratado de Bucarest, 13/8/1913)  Fronteras re
Map of the Second Balkan War  Movimientos y unidades búlgaras  Movimientos y unidades serbias, griegas, rumanas y otomanas   Dobruya meridional a Rumanía (Tratado de Bucarest, 13/8/1913)  Fronteras re (c. 2019) — Kandi, Rowanwindwhistler. CC BY-SA 3.0.
Carte des Balkans en 1913 à l'issue de la Deuxième guerre balkanique, en français, d'après 1913.jpg et dans le style de of the Balkans (1913) - fr.svg mais en couleurs, sans les graphies allemandes et
Carte des Balkans en 1913 à l'issue de la Deuxième guerre balkanique, en français, d'après 1913.jpg et dans le style de of the Balkans (1913) - fr.svg mais en couleurs, sans les graphies allemandes et (c. 2024) — Nihil scimus. CC0.
Map of Bulgarian territory after the end of the Balkan wars in 1913. In Bulgarian      Annexed territory from the Ottoman Empire        Territory ceded to Romania
Map of Bulgarian territory after the end of the Balkan wars in 1913. In Bulgarian      Annexed territory from the Ottoman Empire      Territory ceded to Romania (c. 2015) — Ikonact & Пакко. CC BY-SA 4.0.
The burned city of Kilkis after the Second Balkan War.
The burned city of Kilkis after the Second Balkan War. (c. 1913) — Unknown authorUnknown author. Public domain.

Significance & Legacy

Bloodless seizure of Southern Dobruja, finalized by the Treaty of Bucharest (August 1913).

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Occupation of Southern Dobruja?
The Occupation of Southern Dobruja took place in 1913. Jul 10–17, 1913.
Who won the Occupation of Southern Dobruja?
The Romania were victorious against the Bulgaria.
What was the significance of the Occupation of Southern Dobruja?
Bloodless seizure of Southern Dobruja, finalized by the Treaty of Bucharest (August 1913).

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View all Second Balkan War battles →

Sources

  • Hall, R.C. — The Balkan Wars 1912–1913
  • Hitchins, K. — Romania 1866–1947
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