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==History==
==History==
The Romanian ''vânători de munte'' saw action in [[World War II]] on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] in some of the harshest battles — including the sieges of [[Siege of Sevastopol (1941-1942)|Sevastopol]] and [[Siege of Stalingrad|Stalingrad]] — where their performance lived up to their reputation: virtually all their commanders from brigade level and up received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]], with general [[Mihail Lascăr]] being the first foreigner to receive ''Oak Leaves'' on 22 November 1942 (see [[List of foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross]]). The greatest single achievement of the ''vânători de munte'' was the capture of [[Nalchik]] on 2 November 1942, the farthest point of the Nazi Germany advance into the Caucasus. This victory earned Romanian Brigadier General [[Ioan Dumitrache]] the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wm_YDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1422&dq=romanian+tanks+chisinau&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjLvJLxvKncAhXJYVAKHcRTDeUQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=dumitrache&f=false Spencer C. Tucker, ''World War II: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection (5 volumes)'', ABC-CLIO, 2016, p. 1422]</ref> After the [[1944 Romanian coup d'état|coup d'état of 23 August 1944]], the ''vânători de munte'' fought on the Soviet side, notably in the [[Tatra Mountains]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Axworthy |first1=Mark |title=Third axis, fourth ally: Romanian armed forces in the European war, 1941-1945 |year=1995 |publisher=Arms and Armour |first2=Cornel I. |last2=Scafeș|first3= Cristian|last3= Crǎciunoiu|isbn=1-85409-267-7 |publisher= Arms and Armour|location=London |oclc=32552622|page=64}}</ref>
The Romanian ''vânători de munte'' saw action in [[World War II]] on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] in some of the harshest battles — including the sieges of [[Siege of Sevastopol (1941-1942)|Sevastopol]] and [[Siege of Stalingrad|Stalingrad]] — where their performance lived up to their reputation: virtually all their commanders from brigade level and up received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]], with general [[Mihail Lascăr]] being the first foreigner to receive ''Oak Leaves'' on 22 November 1942 (see [[List of foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross]]). The greatest single achievement of the ''vânători de munte'' was the capture of [[Nalchik]] on 2 November 1942, the farthest point of the Nazi Germany advance into the Caucasus. This victory earned Romanian Brigadier General [[Ioan Dumitrache]] the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wm_YDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1422&dq=romanian+tanks+chisinau&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjLvJLxvKncAhXJYVAKHcRTDeUQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=dumitrache&f=false Spencer C. Tucker, ''World War II: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection (5 volumes)'', ABC-CLIO, 2016, p. 1422]</ref> After the [[1944 Romanian coup d'état|coup d'état of 23 August 1944]], the ''vânători de munte'' fought on the Soviet side, notably in the [[Tatra Mountains]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Axworthy |first1=Mark |title=Third axis, fourth ally: Romanian armed forces in the European war, 1941-1945 |year=1995 |first2=Cornel I. |last2=Scafeș|first3= Cristian|last3= Crǎciunoiu|isbn=1-85409-267-7 |publisher= Arms and Armour|location=London |oclc=32552622|page=64}}</ref>


After the end of the war, one of the first measures taken by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]s in occupied Romania was to disband the mountain troops. Shortly after the [[Soviet occupation of Romania|Soviet occupation troops]] left Romania in 1958, the ''vânători de munte'' were re-established again as a distinct branch of [[Communist Romania]]'s [[Romanian People's Army|People's Ground Forces]].
After the end of the war, one of the first measures taken by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]s in occupied Romania was to disband the mountain troops. Shortly after the [[Soviet occupation of Romania|Soviet occupation troops]] left Romania in 1958, the ''vânători de munte'' were re-established again as a distinct branch of [[Communist Romania]]'s [[Romanian People's Army|People's Ground Forces]].

Revision as of 04:24, 4 November 2022

Mountain Huntsmen
Vânători de munte
ActiveSince 1916
Country Romania
Branch Romanian Land Forces
TypeMountain troops
RoleClose-quarters combat
Cold-weather warfare
Forward observer
Mountain warfare
Raiding
Reconnaissance
Urban warfare
SizeTwo brigades
Garrison/HQ2nd Mountain Troops Brigade - Brașov
61st Mountain Troops Brigade - Miercurea Ciuc

The Vânători de Munte (Romanian pronunciation: [vɨnəˈtorʲ de ˈmunte], English translation: Mountain Huntsmen) are the elite mountain troops of the Romanian Land Forces. They were first established as an independent Army Corps in 1916 during World War I, and became operational in 1917 under Corpul de Munte designation.[1]

History

The Romanian vânători de munte saw action in World War II on the Eastern Front in some of the harshest battles — including the sieges of Sevastopol and Stalingrad — where their performance lived up to their reputation: virtually all their commanders from brigade level and up received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, with general Mihail Lascăr being the first foreigner to receive Oak Leaves on 22 November 1942 (see List of foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross). The greatest single achievement of the vânători de munte was the capture of Nalchik on 2 November 1942, the farthest point of the Nazi Germany advance into the Caucasus. This victory earned Romanian Brigadier General Ioan Dumitrache the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.[2] After the coup d'état of 23 August 1944, the vânători de munte fought on the Soviet side, notably in the Tatra Mountains.[3]

After the end of the war, one of the first measures taken by the Soviets in occupied Romania was to disband the mountain troops. Shortly after the Soviet occupation troops left Romania in 1958, the vânători de munte were re-established again as a distinct branch of Communist Romania's People's Ground Forces.

There are currently two brigades operational, one subordinated to the 1st Infantry Division (the 2nd Mountain Troops Brigade "Sarmizegetusa"), and another one subordinated to the 4th Infantry Division (the 61st Mountain Troops Brigade "General Virgil Bădulescu"). Mountain troops units participated in the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Vânători de munte". www.forter.ro (in Romanian). Romanian Land Forces. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  2. ^ Spencer C. Tucker, World War II: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection (5 volumes), ABC-CLIO, 2016, p. 1422
  3. ^ Axworthy, Mark; Scafeș, Cornel I.; Crǎciunoiu, Cristian (1995). Third axis, fourth ally: Romanian armed forces in the European war, 1941-1945. London: Arms and Armour. p. 64. ISBN 1-85409-267-7. OCLC 32552622.
  4. ^ Forter.ro:La kilometrul zero al infanteriei
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