Battle of Turtucaia(1916)
Exact site. The pin marks a documented battlefield location rather than a broad area.
Tutrakan fortress on Danube right bank — memorial complex at 44.04432, 26.61647
Coordinate source: Wikipedia Tutrakan + Museum memorial coords
Background
Romania had entered the war only a few days earlier, on August 27th. The Bulgarian counteroffensive was designed to punish Romania before the reinforcements of the Allies could arrive.
Campaign: Romanian Campaign 1916
Forces Engaged
The Battle
Catastrophic defeat in Dobruja. The entire garrison was killed or captured — 28,000 Romanian casualties.
The Battle of Turtucaia, also known as Tutrakan Epopee in Bulgaria, was the opening battle of the first Central Powers offensive during the Romanian Campaign of World War I. The battle lasted for five days and ended with the capture of the fortress of Turtucaia and the surrender of its Romanian defenders.
“"The defenders fought bravely but were overwhelmed on all sides; the fortress fell not from cowardice but from isolation." — Kiritescu, Istoria Războiului
Casualties & Outcome
~7,500 killed or wounded, ~28,000 captured (Romanian); ~5,000 killed and wounded (Bulgarian/German)
Bulgaria & Germany achieved victory over Romania.
Dead Bulgarian soldiers along the Danube after the battle Dead Romanian soldier The Romanians committed around 39,000 men for the defense of the Turtucaia fortress, and over 34,000 of them became casualties. Only between 3,500 and 4,000 managed to cross the Danube or make their way to Silistra. The attackers also captured all the military material of the fortress, including 62 machine guns and around 150 cannons, among them two Bulgarian batteries captured by Romania during the Second Balkan War. The heaviest fighting was in Sector II where the 79th Regiment, which in general was the unit that resisted the attacks the most, suffered 76% losses - out of 4,659 men some 3,576 were killed or wounded. Bulgarian casualties were heavy. From 2 to 6 September they totaled 1,517 killed, 7,407 wounded and 247 missing.
Historical Record
Significance & Legacy
Romania's worst single defeat in WWI. Opened the southern front.
The main memorial for the battle is the Military Tomb of Tutrakan, a monument in Tutrakan, Bulgaria. Inaugurated in 1922, it holds the remains of soldiers from all armies who fell in the battle. The battle is remembered in Romania as a traumatic military disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Battle of Turtucaia?
- The Battle of Turtucaia took place in 1916. Sep 1–6, 1916.
- What was the outcome of the Battle of Turtucaia?
- The Bulgaria & Germany were victorious against the Romania.
- What was the significance of the Battle of Turtucaia?
- Romania's worst single defeat in WWI. Opened the southern front.