Romanian Volunteer Corps in Russia
| Romanian Volunteer Corps in Russia | |
|---|---|
The Volunteer Corps colors, or "Darnița Flag"
|
|
| Active | March 8, 1917 – 1919 |
| Country |
 Romania
|
| Allegiance |
 Romanian Land Forces
|
| Size | Division (three regiments in 1918) |
| Part of |
11th Division (attached to 2nd, 3rd Olt, 5th Chasseurs, 19th Caracal and 26th Rovine Regiments) Volunteer Corps' Command |
| Garrison/HQ |
Kiev (Darnytsia, Podil) Iași Hârlău |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Constantin Coandă Marcel Olteanu |
The Romanian Volunteer Corps in Russia (Romanian: Corpul Voluntarilor români din Rusia), or Volunteer Corps of Transylvanians-Bukovinans (Corpul Voluntarilor ardeleni-bucovineni, Corpul Voluntarilor transilvăneni și bucovineni), was a military formation of World War I, created from ethnic Romanian prisoners of war held by Russia. Officially established in February 1917, it comprised abjurers of the Austro-Hungarian Army, mainly contingents from Transylvania and Bukovina. These had been obliged to fight against Romania, and, once in Russian custody, volunteered for service against the Central Powers. As campaigners for self-determination and union with Romania, they passed political resolutions which, in both tone and scope, announced those adopted on Union Day 1918.
The Corps was effectively an active military reserve of the Romanian Land Forces, and regularly dispatched new units to the Romanian front after June 1917. It helped defend the last stretches of Romania against the Central Powers' unified offensive, and met success in the Battle of Mărășești, but it still lacked a unitary command structure. When the October Revolution in Russia and the Romanian armistice took Romania out of the Entente camp, the Corps was left without backing and purpose. However, it inspired the creation of similar units in Entente countries, most successfully the Romanian Legion of Italy.
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