Flămânda Offensive

Part of the Romanian Campaign of World War I

Romanian 10th Division crossing the Danube at Flămânda/Ryahovo

Date	September 29, 1916–October 5, 1916
Location	Ryahovo and surroundings, Ruse Province, Bulgaria
Result	Romanian withdrawal

Belligerents

Romania

Austria-Hungary

German Empire

Bulgaria

Commanders and leaders

Casualties and losses

Unknown

Austria-Hungary
1 river monitor grounded
2 river monitors damaged
1 patrol boat damaged
2 barges destroyed
1 barge damaged
3 killed
5 wounded

German Empire
Unknown

Bulgaria
Unknown

The Flămânda Offensive (or Flămânda Maneuver, which took place between 29 September and 5 October 1916, was an offensive across the Danube mounted by the Romanian 2nd Army during World War I. The battle represented a consistent effort by the Romanian Army to stop the Central Powers south offensive led by August von Mackensen. The battle ended as a tactical victory for the Central Powers.

Romania begun its World War I in August 1916, when Romanian forces invaded Transylvania passing the border on the Carpathian Mountains. The Romanian forces quickly defeated the small number of Austro-Hungarian forces based in the border area and started their advance into Austro-Hungarian territory, but they were halted soon. Meanwhile, a Central Powers force comprising Bulgarian, German and Turkish troops and led by August von Mackensen entered Dobruja in southeastern Romania.

Facing more serious threats than expected, the Romanian Crown Council decided to reinforce the 3rd Army, led by General Alexandru Averescu, by 150,000 men. Averescu consequently was put in charge of an army group consisting of the 3rd Army and the 50,000 men Army of the Dobruja commanded by general Andrei Zayonchkovski, comprising 17 divisions and planned to counterattack Mackensen's forces across the Danube River from behind. The plan was to attack the Central Powers forces from the rear by crossing the Danube at Flămânda, while the front-line Romanian and Russian forces were supposed to launch an offensive southwards towards Cobadin and Kurtbunar (today Tervel, Dobrich Province). The idea was to cut off Mackensen's army from its bases in northern Bulgaria.

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Wikipedia