Fall of Bucharest(1916)
Background
On 27 November 1916, three main events took place which enabled the Central Powers to commence the offensive towards Bucharest: following a successful holding action at Slatina, the Romanians abandoned the line of the Olt River, the German 9th Army and Mackensen's Danube Army had linked up, and the Danube had been secured by the Bulgarian capture of Giurgiu. On 28 November, the German 217th Division was halted at Prunaru, despite the Romanians incurring casualties amounting to 700 prisoners and 20 guns. Although the 217th moved some battalions to Naipu, these were checked by Prezan's maneuver group within two days. The left flank of the Danube Army had thus been exposed. On 29 November, the towns of Pitești and Câmpulung fell to the Germans, after the Romanian 1st Army made a brief stand at Pitești.
Campaign: Romanian Campaign 1916
Forces Engaged
The Battle
After defeats on multiple fronts, Bucharest fell. The government fled to Iași in Moldavia.
The Battle of Bucharest, also known as the Argeş–Neajlov Defensive Operation in Romania, was the last battle of the Romanian Campaign of 1916 in World War I, in which the Central Powers' combatants, led by General Erich von Falkenhayn, occupied the Romanian capital and forced the Romanian Government, as well as the remnants of the Romanian Army to retreat to Moldavia and re-establish its capital at Iaşi. The battle was of defensive nature, as the Romanian Army was joined by a part of the Imperial Russian army. The Romanian Army, led by General Constantin Prezan, had previously been unable to stop the German counterattack in Muntenia.
Casualties & Outcome
~30,000 killed, wounded, captured (Romanian/Russian); ~10,000 killed and wounded (Central Powers)
Central Powers achieved victory over Romania.
After the battle, minor actions were fought in the fortifications surrounding Bucharest between the invading Germans and the Romanian reserves which had failed to arrive due to the actions of , a subordinate of Constantin Prezan and a naturalized German. The city was eventually occupied by the Central Powers on 6 December. However, in spite of the human, material, and military efforts made by the Central Powers throughout this period, they failed to achieve their fundamental political and strategic goal, namely Romania's defeat and her getting out of the war. Despite heavy casualties, some 250,000 men, which were almost one third of the manpower mobilized in August 1916, and losses of combat material, the Romanian Army was still a force taken into consideration by allies and enemies alike and capable of offering resistance to further attacks.
Historical Record
Significance & Legacy
Romania lost two-thirds of its territory. The darkest hour before 1917.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Fall of Bucharest?
- The Fall of Bucharest took place in 1916. Dec 6, 1916.
- Who won the Fall of Bucharest?
- The Central Powers were victorious against the Romania.
- What was the significance of the Fall of Bucharest?
- Romania lost two-thirds of its territory. The darkest hour before 1917.