The Romanian Army: 6. Cavalry Division.

The Romanian Royal Army
1939-1945
BRIGADA / DIVIZIA 6 CAVALERIE

The 6^th Cavalry Brigade / Division

1940 - 1941 - 1942 - 1943 - 1944

COMMANDERS.

22.6-24.7.41: Gen. AUREL RACOVIŢĂ;
24.7-4.8.41: Col. GHEORGHE MUNTEANU;
4.8.41-10.2.42: Col. ION CODREANU;
10.2.42-1.10.42: Col. CRISTU CANTUNIAR;
5.10.42-24.7.44: Gen. CORNELIU TEODORINI (replaced 11.10-27.11.43 by Col. HERCULE FORTUNESCU);
24.7-12.9.44: Gen. IOAN EFTIMIU;
12.9-18.10.44: Col. CONSTANTIN TALPEŞ.

STRUCTURE (details)

Escadron 43 Transmisiuni

Pluton 43 Poliţie

Escadron 43 Artilerie Antitanc

Escadron 43 Artilerie AA

Escadron 43 Pioneri Călări

Reg 10 Roşiori Moto (1941-44),

Reg 9 Roşiori (1941-44),

Reg 5 Călăraşi (1941-44),

Reg 4 Artilerie Călăreaţă (1941-44)

Grup 43 Servicii details

ASSIGNMENTS TO HIGHER UNITS.

21-27.6.41	the German 30^th Corps, 11^th Army.
3.7-4.11.41	Corp Cavalerie
15.2-22.12.42	Corp Cavalerie
1.12.42	Corp 7 Armată ?
1.1-3.2.43	Armata 4
cca 02.43	the German 5^th Corps + Corp Cavalerie
7-12.7.43	Grup "Kress", the German 5^th Corps, 17^th Army.
10.4.44	the German 5^th Corps (Grup Allmendinger) (+Div.73, 98 + most of Div.111 germane)
15.4.44	Corp 1 Armată (or Div. 6 Inf ??)

ATTACHED UNITS.

31.8-13.9.41?	Reg.2 Călăraşi, I/Reg.3 Art.Călăreaţă, Divizionul 54 Art.Grea
4.12.43	Bat.14 M.D.
4-7.12.43	Bat. 5 V.Mte., Bat. 10 V.Mte. + 2 German Assault Guns Batteries.

DETACHED UNITS

Summer 42	Reg 10 Roşiori (to Detaşamentul Korne).
7-13.11.43	Reg.10 Roşiori (to German 98^th Div.) - for the counterttack of the Eltigen landing.

DEPLOYMENT AREA / OPERATIONAL PERIOD.

12.40-7.41	Romania	22.6 - 17.7.41 -
7-8.41	Transnistria	17.7-20.8.41 -
8.41-8.42	Ucraine	21.8.41-1.8.42 -
8.42-8.43	Caucasus, Kuban	10.8.42-8.43 -
8.43-4.44	Crimeea	15.8.43 - 4.44
4-11.44	Romania	24-28.8.44 -

HISTORY.

ROMANIA

1940.

Formed by 12.40 as Brigada 6 Cavalerie.

1941.

Strenght as of 21.6.41: 232 officers, 225 NCOs, 5613 troop, 5610 rifles, 147 machine-rifles, 44 machine-guns, 10 howitzers, 90 guns, 4248 horses, 351 waggons, 170 motor vehicles.

Situation as of 21.6.41: deployed in Moldavia, on the Prut, between Santa Mare / BT and Cârniceni / IS (Probota, N of IAŞI), assigned to the German 30^th Corps.

22.6.41: some units crossed the Prut and establisehd a bridgehead at Călineşti / BL - Bădărăi / BT (N of Bivolari / IS), which was kept until 26.6.41.

26-27.6.41: Bg.6 Cav. handed over this bridgehead to Reg.29 Inf. / Div.8 Inf. and to the German 47^th Inf.Reg., and moved to the North in the area Movila Ruptă / BT - Ripiceni / BT (Mihălăşeni / BT area, E of BOTOŞANI), assigned to Corpul Cavalerie.
27.6-2.7.41: deployed on the above positions on the Prut river.
2-3.7.41: it took part to the forming of the bridgeheads of Ripiceni, Movila Ruptă, Şerbeni.

ROMANIA (Bessarabia, occupied by USSR)

3-4.7.41: in action at Dumeni / BT (today flooded by artificial lake), Cuconeştii Noi, Cuconeştii Vechi / BL and Corpaci / BL; in the evening of 4.7.41 it reached the line Badragi / BL, Terebna / BL (Reg.5 Căl.) and Porciuleni / DH, Dealul Stolnicului (Reg.10 Rş) - all N of BĂLŢI.
5.7.41: it resume the advance, arriving at 10.00 A.M. with Reg.10 Rş at Ediniţa / HT and with Reg.9 Rş. and Reg. 5 Căl. at Blescenăuţi (Blesteni / HT ?).
6.7.41: Soviet counterattack at Brătuşeni / BL, which stoped Bg.6 Cav. on the line Terebna, Zăbriceni / DH, Burlăneşti / BL. Then, it resumed the advance.
7.7.41: after a march of 50 km, it reached in the evening the line Ocniţa / HT, Secureni / HT, Clocuşna / HT, Corestăuţi / HT (W of MOGILEW).
8-15.7.41: with security missions on the Nistru, W of MOGILEW.
- 12.7.41: it seized Româncăuţi / HT.

TRANSNISTRIA

17.7.41 Reg.10 Roşiori crossed the Nistru at Liasevţi (Laszowcy) W of MOGILEW (M.-PODOLSKI), with the Detachment Măinescu.
17-20.7.41: in action at Liasevţi, in the area Leadova and in the forest Vili (on the ''Stalin'' fortified line).
22.7.41: in action at Alexandrovka.
23.7.41: action at Odaia.
it attacked the Soviet 130^th Div. in the area Nemirovka – Mihailkovo – Ghiezilovo (with fights at Mihailovka, Nemirovka, Ghenzilovo, Mazurovo - 4.8.41).
5.8.41: fights with the retreating enemy at Krivoe Oziero.
finally the Soviets were repulsed over Kodima.

UCRAINE

21.8.41: it crossed the Bug, then in advance to the Nipru, were it occupied defence positions between Gavrilovka and Gruşevka.
31.8-13.9.41: it resisted here, on the Nipru, between Firsovka and Gavrilovka to 28 Soviet attempts to cross the river and performed 7 counterattacks.
- 3-8.9.41: it repulsed Soviet raids at Zolotaia Balka, Anastasievka and Gavrilovka.
- 9.9.41: another heavy attack over the Nipru in the crossing point of Mihailovka.
7 days in march in the Nogai Steppe
26.9-3.10.41: then engaged in defence actions N of the Azov Sea, at Izvestia and Adamovista (performing 7 counterattacks).
8-10.10.41: actions at Saltiskia and Obitocinaia (NE of MELITOPOL).
11.41-3.42: with security missions on the Azov Sea seaside, between MARIUPOL and the Dniepr's mouth (Molocinaia Liman).
Awards:
- The "Mihai Viteazu" Order, IIIrd Class: the HQ of Bg.6 Cav., Reg.5 Călăraşi, Reg.4 Art.Călăreaţă (1942).

1942.

15.3.42: reorganized as Divizia 6 Cavalerie.
15.2-31.7.42: it secured the defence of the Azov Sea's seaside on a 150-200 km wide front and repulsed 6 Soviet landing attempts at BERDIANSK, Rainovka and Liapino.
1.8.42: regrouped E of MARIUPOL.

CAUCASUS, KUBAN

1-10.8.42: it marched for 800 km (without rest) through BERDIANSK, ROSTOW up to the Kurka channel, and supported Div.5 Cavalerie during its cross of the Protoka river and during the seize of Slavianskaia (SLAVIANSK-NA-KUBANI).
14-19.8.42: it forced the Kurka channel, then it seized Otrub, Şevcenko, Kalabatka, Kutşanskaia.
23.8.42: arrived in the evening near Temriuk.
24.8.42: it seized TEMRIUK.
25.8.42: it seized the Peresipskaia peninsula.
29-30.8.42: it forced the crossing of Kuban and seized Varenikovskaia.
30/31.8.42: Div.6 Cav. left some security elements at Temriuk, and the main forces moved South of Kuban, on the Starîi Kuban, at the doors of the Taman peninsula.
31.8.42: it seized Dshiginskoie and Blagovestcenskoe.
1-4.9.42: it enters Taman Peninsula on the direction Starotitarovskaia (occupied in 3.9.42) -Vişesteblievskaia (occupied in 4.9.42).
5.9.42: it reached the Black Sea's seaside, in the area of Veselovska isthmus.
6-8.9.42: moved during three marching days up to the Abinskaia area (Krîmskaia ?), where it received security missions of the German 5^th Corps left flank (between Abinskaia and Severskaia).
11.9.42: in the evening it enters on a 40 km wide frontline, replacing the German troops in the area Achtirskaia, Şolmskaia (Group 'Colonel Balaban') and Ilskaia, Severskaia (Group 'Lt-Col Dafinescu').
11-21.9.42: stable on these positions, it performed 40 reconnaissances and incursions.
21.9.42: action for the conquer of the Denisenka Hof. - Osakova Hof. height.
22.10.-10.12.42: succesives attacks (together with Div. 9 Cav. and Div. 19 Inf., between Abinskaia and Novo Dimitrievskaia, up to the line Azovskaia - S of Holmskaia - Kuşnariov - Berg Lambina - Bergrucken (here Div.6 Cav. passed to the defence at the Caucasus Mountains foots, between SE Şolmskaia - S Ilskaia - Azovskaia ?).
6.11.42: it seized Azovskaia.
8.11.42: it seized the height 375,5 Kuşnariov.
13.11.42: it took part to the ''Jaguar'' Operation and seized the heights 192 and 313,7, S of Şolmskaia.
10-11.11.42, 3-5.12.42: it repulsed the most important Soviet attacks, specially in the Azovskaia area.
as of 22.12.42: it secured the communication line Krasnodar - Krimskaia-Taman, S of the Kuban river, together with the other units of Corpul Cavalerie in Kuban.

1943.

18.1.43: action during the Soviet offensive in Krasnodar area (16.1-14.2): Div.6 Cav. defeated the Soviet Special 16^th Brigade which, infiltrated in the area Berg Lambina, surrounded the troops of the Azovskaia area, captured the artillery battery supporting Reg. 10 Roşiori and even attacked the troops at Severskaia. Following this action, 80 Romanian militarymen were awarded German ''Iron Crosses'', IInd Class:

17-26.1.43: Esc. 3 Pioneri supported the German 97^th Div.
24.1-13.2.43: Reg. 9, 13 Călăraşi, Bat.I / Reg. 6 A.C. were assigned to the German 101^st Div. during the defensive of SW of KRASNODAR (the ''Head of Goths'' position).

20.2.43: under the enemy's pressure, Div.6 Cav. was withdrawn from the front and moved to the W, along the valleys Ubinka, Ilis, Biuşaia, then (25.2.43) to the S, in Anapskaia area (on the Black Sea's seaside).

cca. 2.43: some of the units were assigned to the German 5^th Corps (in front of NOVOROSSIISK and Stanicika) with the rest of the division being assigned to Corpul Cavalerie for the defence of the bridgehead's southern bank.

1.3-1.5.43: Div.6 Cav. defends the Black Sea's seaside, from ANAPA up to Topolnaia valley.

1.5.43: it entered on defensive lines in the area Mişako (S of NOVOROSSIISK), resisting between 23-28.7.43 to strong Soviet attacks (Gen. Corneliu Teodorini was awarded the German ''Knight Cross'').

26.5-4.6.43: the Div.6 Cav. situation during the fourth Soviet offensive in Kuban:
the division was assigned to the German 4^th Mountain Div.
some of its units were in the Div. 10 Inf. sector (: Reg.5 Călăraşi and I dion / Reg.4 Art.Călăreaţă).
the division assigned also Reg. 38 Inf (from Div. 10 Inf).
4.6- mid. 7.43: there were only local actions on the entire Kuban front.
22-28.7.43: the Soviets attacked in the bridgehead S of NOVOROSSIISK, from the Mişako Mountain, and broked the lines of Reg.5 Călăraşi (with heavy losses for the Romanians). Div.6 Cav. was not able to retake the lost positions (''defensive success'').

CRIMEEA

15.8.43: the division was withdrawn and passed to Crimeea, along a defensive position on the southern seaside of Kerci peninsula, between Cap. Tschuda and the lake Tabeciskoe (it was replaced in the area Mt. Mişako - Topolnaia valley with Div.4 Munte).
1.11.43: it entered in a defensive position between Cap. Tachil and Durande, assigned to the German 5^th Corps (a wide frontline, therefore it was reinforced with 2 Romanian and 2 German M.G. Battalions).
- 7.11.43: a regiment reinforced the German 98^th Div. against the Soviet bridgehead N of Kerci. (Reg. 10 Rş. ?)
12.11.43: Div.6 Cav. moved to the ''Eltigen'' sector (where a Soviet landing occured in 31.10/1.11.43). Pratically it took over the defence of the sector from 14.11.43.
20-27.11.43: tactical local raids and reactions.
4-7.12.43: Div.6 Cav. attacked and destroyed the landed Soviet troops of Eltigen, reinforced with Bat.5 V.Mte. (from Div.3 Munte), Bat. 10 V.Mte. (from Div.2 Munte) and 1 German assault guns division. For this achievement, Gen. Teodorini received the Oak Leaves of the Knight Cross of the Iron Cross in 18.12.43.
- units of Div.6 Cav. were assigned to the German 98^th Div. in the Eltigen bridgehead.
- 10/11.12.43: Reg. 9 Roşiori took part (with Div.3 Munte) to the re-conquer of the Mithridate Mt.
then (up to 10.4.44): Div.6 Cav. organised the defence of the seaside, between KERCI and Opuc.

1944.

up to 10.4.44: on defence lines, between KERCI and Opuc.
- 11.1.44: Reg.10 Rş. supported the German 78^th Div. in the area Kusi.
- 22.1.44: Reg.10 Rş, Reg.5 Cl, and the divisional artillery repulsed the Soviet advance to the channel and the harbour of KERCI.
- 22.1-8.4.44: Div.6 Cav. actioned against the partisans from the caves of Starîi Krim (together with a German special subunit).
10.4.44: the German 5^th Corps begun its withdraw from KERCI, during 5 fighting days. Div.6 Cav. was designed as the Corps' rear guard. During this withdrawal along the route KERCI - Parpaci - Sudak - ALUŞTA - IALTA - SEVASTOPOL, the division suffered the highest casualties, and remained only with 4000 men (most of the Reg.9 Rş, with its commander Lt-Col. Teodor Paulian, was captured at Marfovka, due to the hurried and unnoticed withdrawal of the German troops from the left flank).
12.4.44: Div.6 Cav. temporarily held the soviet advance at Parpaci position and destroyed 30 Soviet tanks.
13.4.44: it resumed the retreat.
- 12.4.44: Reg. 10 Roşiori, moved by the 17^th Army from the Kerci Peninsula, was set up on the Gneissenau position (i.e. the line Kijabak - Tschelle - Adshiketsch).
15.4.44: Div.6 Cav. is in the first resistance lines of the SEVASTOPOL.
20.4-2.5.44: evacuated to Romania:
- 27.4.44: the main forces left Crimeea for CONSTANŢA.
- 8.5.44: the remaining reorganized subunits were supporting the rear of the Chersonnes (W of SEVASTOPOL) resistance position.

ROMANIA

as of 23.8.44: Div.6 Cav. grouped in the Bolintin / GR (W of BUCUREŞTI) area.

24.8.44: it received the mission to watch the area Floreşti / GR, Malu Spart / GR, Palanca / GR.

28.8.44: transferred to BUCUREŞTI with internal watch missions.

Awards:

The ''Steaua României'' Order, IIIrd Class (1943): Reg.5 Căl., Reg.9 Rş., Reg.10 Rş., Reg.4 Art.Căl.

11.44: disbanded (effect of the 26.10.1944 decision), the archives and materials were handed over as follows:
- Div.6 Cav. HQ to Div.8 Cav,
- Reg.9 Roşiori to Reg.Gardă Călare,
- Reg.10 Roşiori to Reg.3 Călăraşi,
- Reg.5 Călăraşi to Reg.4 Roşiori,
- Reg.4 Art.Călăreaţă to Reg.13 Artilerie.

HQ LOCATIONS. (abbreviations)

2-7.42	Mariupol (Jalta ?) - U
18.8.42	Wişebstebliewskaja - K
>11.9.42	Ilskaia - K
13-27.4.44	Sevastopol - Cr
28.4.44	Ciocârlia de Sus - CT (W of Constanţa)
23.8.44	Bolintin - GR

OPM Numbers (see the OPM list)

7.40	179
6.41-5.43	35
5-11.43	995
12.43-3.44	139
4.44	4428

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