Mausoleum of Mărăşeşti
Encyclopedia
The Mausoleum of Mărăşeşti is a memorial site
in Romania
containing remains of 5,073 Romanian soldiers and officers killed in the First World War and dedicated to the commemoration of the Battle of Mărăşeşti
and Romanian Army members who were killed during World War I.
The memorial took architect
s George Cristinel and Constantin Pomponiu 15 years to build and was unveiled on 18 September 1938 by King Carol II
.
, (August 6 to September 8, 1917) was a battle fought during World War I
between Germany
and Romania
.
Before launching the attack, the battle was thought to be fought at Nămoloasa, and both sides were made up at that moment of a total of about 1 million soldiers. Field Marshal August von Mackensen
launched an attack on August 6. The fighting lasted until September 8, when both sides ran out of fresh units. The German attempt to crush the last Romanian army led by General Eremia Grigorescu
had failed, but the Romanians had not regained any more of their territory either. The motto of the Romanian Army during the battle was "Pe aici nu se trece" ("They shall not pass
"), probably inspired from the famous slogan of General Nivelle
during the Battle of Verdun
.
Romania lost over 27,000 men, including 610 officers, while Germany lost over 47,000 . Notably, the Romanian heroine Ecaterina Teodoroiu
was killed at the end of this battle, on September 6, by machine-gun fire; two days later, Major General
Kurt von Wenniger was killed by artillery near the village of Muncelu
.
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
containing remains of 5,073 Romanian soldiers and officers killed in the First World War and dedicated to the commemoration of the Battle of Mărăşeşti
Battle of Marasesti
The Battle of Mărăşeşti, Vrancea County, eastern Romania was a major battle fought during World War I between Germany and Romania.-Premise:...
and Romanian Army members who were killed during World War I.
The memorial took architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s George Cristinel and Constantin Pomponiu 15 years to build and was unveiled on 18 September 1938 by King Carol II
Carol II of Romania
Carol II reigned as King of Romania from 8 June 1930 until 6 September 1940. Eldest son of Ferdinand, King of Romania, and his wife, Queen Marie, a daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second eldest son of Queen Victoria...
.
Background
The Battle of MărăşeştiBattle of Marasesti
The Battle of Mărăşeşti, Vrancea County, eastern Romania was a major battle fought during World War I between Germany and Romania.-Premise:...
, (August 6 to September 8, 1917) was a battle fought during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
between Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
and Romania
Kingdom of Romania
The Kingdom of Romania was the Romanian state based on a form of parliamentary monarchy between 13 March 1881 and 30 December 1947, specified by the first three Constitutions of Romania...
.
Before launching the attack, the battle was thought to be fought at Nămoloasa, and both sides were made up at that moment of a total of about 1 million soldiers. Field Marshal August von Mackensen
August von Mackensen
Anton Ludwig August von Mackensen , born August Mackensen, was a German soldier and field marshal. He commanded with success during the First World War and became one of the German Empire's most prominent military leaders. After the Armistice, Mackensen was interned for a year...
launched an attack on August 6. The fighting lasted until September 8, when both sides ran out of fresh units. The German attempt to crush the last Romanian army led by General Eremia Grigorescu
Eremia Grigorescu
Eremia Grigorescu was a Romanian artillery General during World War I, and Minister of War in the Constantin Coandă cabinet ....
had failed, but the Romanians had not regained any more of their territory either. The motto of the Romanian Army during the battle was "Pe aici nu se trece" ("They shall not pass
They shall not pass
"They shall not pass" is a slogan used to express determination to defend a position against an enemy.It was most famously used during the Battle of Verdun in World War I by French General Robert Nivelle...
"), probably inspired from the famous slogan of General Nivelle
Robert Nivelle
Robert Georges Nivelle was a French artillery officer who served in the Boxer Rebellion, and the First World War. In May 1916, he was given command of the French Third Army in the Battle of Verdun, leading counter-offensives that rolled back the German forces in late 1916...
during the Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
.
Romania lost over 27,000 men, including 610 officers, while Germany lost over 47,000 . Notably, the Romanian heroine Ecaterina Teodoroiu
Ecaterina Teodoroiu
Ecaterina Teodoroiu was a Romanian woman who fought and died in World War I, and is regarded as a heroine of Romania.In Romanian historiography, Ecaterina Teodoroiu is placed in the context of gendered experience of the Great War on the Eastern Front, on the same pedestal as Queen Maria of...
was killed at the end of this battle, on September 6, by machine-gun fire; two days later, Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Kurt von Wenniger was killed by artillery near the village of Muncelu
Muncelu
Muncelu may refer to several villages in Romania:* Muncelu, a village in the town of Baia de Arieş, Alba County* Muncelu, a village in Glăvăneşti Commune, Bacău County* Muncelu, a village in Ion Creangă Commune, Neamţ County...
.