ROMANIAN AVIATION IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR
ROMANIAN AVIATION IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Summary/Abstract: Romanians are among the pioneers of heavier-than-air flight, being also among the first in the world to use aircraft for military purposes. However, the efforts and creativity of Romanian aviation pioneers were not properly appreciated by the political and military leaders of their time. At the outbreak of the war the Romanian Crown Council decided to keep the country neutral. Romania signed a treaty with the Entente because the Alliance pledged support to the unification of all Romanians into a single state. Counting on the Entente’s promises to launch offensive operations in Thessaloniki and in Bucovina, the Great General Headquarters of the Romanian Armed Forces developed a risky concept of operations in order to enter the war by launching offensive in two divergent directions. This risky strategy implemented alongside the unfavourable evolution of the strategic situation of the Entente on both Eastern and Western fronts resulted in defeat for the Romanian Armed Forces in 1916. The additional effect of the defeats was the occupation of two thirds of the Romanian territory by German troops. Having a new organisational structure and better equipment and training, the Romanian aviation contributed to the successes in the battles of Mărăști, Mărăşeşti and Oituz in July and August 1917. Russia’s decision to exit the war contributed to the decision of the Romanian Council of Ministers to sign the Peace Treaty with the Central Powers in May 1918. The treaty was neither approved by the Parliament nor ratified by the King. Therefore, in November 1918, Romania reentered the war against the Central Powers.

• Details
• Contents