Romania celebrates 100 years since it entered World War I
National ceremonies marking 100 years since Romania entered World War I were held on Saturday and Sunday across the country.
Valentin Țigău, 29.08.2016, 13:44
One hundred years since Romania entered World War I, ceremonies were held in the capital Bucharest and several other cities across the country to honor the memory of the over 330 thousand heroes who gave their life for their country. Of all the nations that took part in World War I, Romania reported the largest number of casualties as compared to its total population.
On Saturday, in an attempt to symbolically re-enact the military operations in 1916, when Romania declared war on Austria-Hungary and crossed the Carpathians into Transylvania, trying to recuperate this historical province, soldiers with the Romanian Army’s 2nd Infantry Brigade crossed the Carpathian Mountains again.
A year later, in 1917, heavy battles took place in Maraşti, Marasesti and Oituz, which claimed the lives of over 27 thousand Romanian soldiers who managed to keep the German army away. Attending the ceremonies devoted to this event, Romanian defense minister Mihnea Motoc said that Romania had visionary politicians and statesmen, adept diplomats during the entire World War I, but they would have done nothing without the decisive contribution of the army.
The end of World War I and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles led to the unification of all historical provinces into a unitary nation state. On Sunday, wreaths of flowers were laid at heroes’ tombs throughout the country and religious services were held. Also, a national ceremony was held at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Carol I Park in Bucharest.
Attending the ceremonies, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis brought arguments in favour of the European project. Klaus Iohannis: “Now, more than ever before, it is the right time for Romania to commit itself to strengthening the European edifice through a modern and consistent country project. It is an effort, which, just like one hundred years ago, we all, politicians, scientists, cultural personalities have the duty to assume. It is our responsibility to make this project add force, substance and unity to Europe and lay the foundations for the long-term development of Romania.”
100 years from Romania’s entry into World War I were also marked in Paris, through a photo exhibition. The good collaboration between the Romanian and French armies, consolidated through the mission in Romania of the French general Henri Berthelot, was also celebrated. The French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will pay a visit to Bucharest during which he will lay wreaths at the Tomb of the French Soldiers who died in World War I.
