Mărășești, just like Mărăști, is part of the strategically important area of the Focșani Gate. Control of this area eases attacks into several Romanian regions. On 22 July 1917, the Romanians launched a joint offensive with Russia against the Austro-Hungarian 1st Army, around Mărăști and the lower part of the Siret river, which resulted in the Battle of Mărăști. Although there was some initial success, a counter-offensive by the Central Powers in Galicia stopped the Romanian-Russian offensive.
Campaign: Summer Campaign of 1917
Forces Engaged
Romanian troops at Mărășești, 1917 (c. 1917) — Romanian WWI official photography. Public domain.
Victor
Romania
Commander: Gen. Grigorescu
Strength:100,000
Defeated
German Empire
Commander: FM Mackensen
Strength:120,000
The Battle
Battle map of Mărășești, August 11, 1917 (Kirițescu's history of WWI) (c. 1929) — Kirițescu, 1929. Public domain.
"Pe aici nu se trece!" (None shall pass!) — Romania's greatest WWI battle. The German advance was halted.
The Battle of Mărășești was the last major battle fought by the Central Powers against the Kingdom of Romania and Russia on the Romanian front during World War I. Romania was mostly occupied by the Central Powers, but the Battle of Mărășești kept the northern region of the country free from occupation.
“"They were no longer men — they were ghosts in rags, unwashed, unfed, but they stood their ground against the Prussian Guard." — French liaison officer, per Kirițescu
Casualties & Outcome
27,410
Romania
casualties
47,000
German Empire
casualties
5,125 killed, 12,467 wounded, 9,818 missing (Romanian); ~47,000 total per German 9th Army records (commonly cited as 60,000–65,000 in Allied sources)
Romania achieved victory over German Empire.
In March 1918, Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk after Austrian-German forces had captured huge territories in the Baltics, Belarus, and Ukraine in February. That left Romania surrounded by the Central Powers and forced them to sign an armistice and the Treaty of Bucharest. German chemist Eduard Buchner, who won the 1907 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on fermentation, was killed in the battle at Focșani. His left femur had been injured by a shell at Bătinești on 11 August, and he died of his wounds two days later at a field hospital in Focșani, where he is buried. He had the rank of Major and commanded artillery units.
Historical Record
The 32nd Mircea Vodă Regiment defending Mărășești train station, 1917 (c. 1917) — Personal photo album of Aristide Razu. CC0.The Mărășești Mausoleum — memorial to Romanian soldiers of the 1917 battles (c. 2009) — Andrei Stroe, 2009. CC BY-SA 3.0.Map of the Battle of Mărășești on its first day (August 6, 1917). Based on annex in Constantin Nicolau, Proba de foc. Amintiri. Iunie 1916 — ianuarie 1918. Bucharest: Editura Albatros, 1983. (c. 2022) — Dahn. CC BY 3.0.The Mărăşeşti Mausoleum, a World War I monument near the town of Mărăşeşti, Romania (c. 2009) — Andrei Stroe. CC BY-SA 3.0.Commemorative monument in the center of the German Soldiers' Cemetery (1916 - 1919) from Tișița (Mărășești, Romania). The cross on the monument is the Iron Cross, and the text is translated by "A bigg (c. 2013) — ElenaLoredana. CC BY-SA 3.0 ro.A doua fază a bătăliei de la Mărășești, iulie-august 1917 (c. 1934) — Edmund Glaise-Horstenau (died on 20 July 1946). Public domain.Romanian Front in WWI - The first phase of the battle of Mărășești, 1917 (c. 1934) — Edmund Glaise-Horstenau (died on 20 July 1946). Public domain.cască militară Primul Război Mondial (c. 2012) — Constantinescu Nicolaie. CC BY-SA 3.0 ro.Aérostation - la manoeuvre du ballon captif - Marasesti - Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - AP62T122958 — related to Battle of Mărășești (1917) (c. 1917) — Service photographique de l'armée roumaine.. CC BY-SA 4.0.Convoi de caissons d'artillerie de montagne, se dirigeant vers le front - Marasesti - Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - AP62T122964 — related to Battle of Mărășești (1917) (c. 1917) — Service photographique de l'armée roumaine.. CC BY-SA 4.0.Map of the Battle of Mărășești on its first day (August 6, 1917). Based on annex in Constantin Nicolau, Proba de foc. Amintiri. Iunie 1916 — ianuarie 1918. Bucharest: Editura Albatros, 1983. (c. 2022) — Dahn. CC BY 3.0.The Mărăşeşti Mausoleum, a World War I monument near the town of Mărăşeşti, Romania (c. 2009) — Andrei Stroe. CC BY-SA 3.0.Commemorative monument in the center of the German Soldiers' Cemetery (1916 - 1919) from Tișița (Mărășești, Romania). The cross on the monument is the Iron Cross, and the text is translated by "A bigg (c. 2013) — ElenaLoredana. CC BY-SA 3.0 ro.A doua fază a bătăliei de la Mărășești, iulie-august 1917 (c. 1934) — Edmund Glaise-Horstenau (died on 20 July 1946). Public domain.Romanian Front in WWI - The first phase of the battle of Mărășești, 1917 (c. 1934) — Edmund Glaise-Horstenau (died on 20 July 1946). Public domain.cască militară Primul Război Mondial (c. 2012) — Constantinescu Nicolaie. CC BY-SA 3.0 ro.Aérostation - la manoeuvre du ballon captif - Marasesti - Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - AP62T122958 — related to Battle of Mărășești (1917) (c. 1917) — Service photographique de l'armée roumaine.. CC BY-SA 4.0.Convoi de caissons d'artillerie de montagne, se dirigeant vers le front - Marasesti - Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - AP62T122964 — related to Battle of Mărășești (1917) (c. 1917) — Service photographique de l'armée roumaine.. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Significance & Legacy
Saved Moldavia and preserved the Romanian state itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Battle of Mărășești?
The Battle of Mărășești took place in 1917. Aug 6–Sep 3, 1917.
Who won the Battle of Mărășești?
The Romania were victorious against the German Empire.
What was the significance of the Battle of Mărășești?
Saved Moldavia and preserved the Romanian state itself.
