Battle of Predeal Pass(1916)
Exact site. The pin marks a documented battlefield location rather than a broad area.
Predeal Pass at 45°30'46"N 25°34'20"E
Coordinate source: Wikipedia Predeal Pass Wikidata
Background
Following the Battle of Brassó (Brașov), General Alexandru Averescu arrived in the region to assume command of the Romanian 2nd Army, replacing General Grigore C. Crăiniceanu. Averescu had orders to defend a line which would stop the Germans from entering the passes that led into central Romania. However, Averescu pragmatically rejected this. Instead, he insisted on withdrawing within the passes themselves, where the German superiority in artillery could be greatly reduced. The Central Powers forces in the area consisted in the XXXIX Corps, under the command of General Hermann von Staabs. The Corps comprised the German 187th Division under General Edwin Sunkel, the 51st Honvéd Division and the 76th Reserve Division. The two main units of the Corps - the 187th Infantry Division and the 51st Honvéd Infantry Division - had just won the Battle of Brassó (Brașov).
Campaign: Romanian Campaign 1916
Forces Engaged
The Battle
Romanian defenders used mountain terrain to neutralize Central Powers artillery, limiting the enemy advance to 7 km.
The Battle of Predeal Pass was a military engagement during the Romanian Campaign of World War I. It consisted in an attempt by the Central Powers to cross the mountains to the south of Brassó (Brașov). Although the Central Powers captured the town of Predeal itself, the Romanian defenses in the pass prevented any further advances.
“Semi-official German sources admitted that "the Rumanian defends his country with unsparing energy".
Casualties & Outcome
~8,000 killed and wounded (Romanian); ~10,000 killed and wounded (German/A-H)
Romania (2nd Army) achieved victory over Germany / A-H.
Romanian defense line on the Prahova Valley The XXXIX Corps was stalled in the Predeal region, reporting that it could see no way in which the enemy position in the pass would fall soon. The Romanian defense in this section of the front was brilliant, and by the first days of November the Central Powers had not advanced more than 4 miles across the Romanian border. Thus, as an attempt to break through into the Wallachian Plain, the Central Powers operations in the Predeal sector had proved a failure. Semi-official German sources admitted that "the Rumanian defends his country with unsparing energy". In order for Falkenhyan to win a complete victory at the earliest possible moment, it was necessary to force the passes in the center of the Carpathian arc. Namely, the Rucăr–Bran Pass and the Buzău Pass.
Historical Record
Significance & Legacy
Most successful Romanian defensive action of 1916.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Battle of Predeal Pass?
- The Battle of Predeal Pass took place in 1916. Oct 12–Nov 5, 1916.
- What was the outcome of the Battle of Predeal Pass?
- The Romania (2nd Army) were victorious against the Germany / A-H.
- What was the significance of the Battle of Predeal Pass?
- Most successful Romanian defensive action of 1916.