On October 25, 1944, the Romanian Army entered the city of Carei, taking control of the entire territory lost as a result of the Vienna Dictatorship of 1940.
The Cari monument
After the act of August 23, 1944, when Romania joined the United Nations, the Romanian Army contributed greatly to the war effort against fascist Germany and Horthy Hungary.
With the elimination of the German military presence from the territory under the control of the Romanian government, the Romanian 1st and 4th Armies were engaged north of the Southern Carpathians and west of the Western Carpathians, on a very wide front, penetrating the German-Hungarian battle system almost 350 kilometers.
The actual offensive to liberate the northwestern part of Romania was launched on October 9, 1944, the military actions being part of the “Debreţin” offensive operation, conceived and executed by the Soviet High Command, which also aimed to liberate the eastern part of Hungary (up to the Tisza).
In the evening of October 24, the soldiers of the 9th Infantry Division entered Carei where they engaged in street fighting. At dawn on October 25, 1944, after heavy fighting, the last important Romanian town on the country’s western border was liberated.
The victory was achieved through the struggle of 525,702 Romanian soldiers, employed since August 23, 1944 in military operations against the German and Hungarian troops, of which more than 58,330 were lost (dead, wounded and missing). The losses caused to the enemy amounted to over 72,000 soldiers.
The liberation of the city of Carei, 80 years ago and the rejection of the German and Hungarian troops beyond the natural border of the country, gave many of the Romanian commanders the opportunity to praise the fight and sacrifice of the Romanian military, as well as the significance of the moment.
On October 25, 1944, the Romanian Army entered the city of Carei, taking control of the entire territory lost as a result of the Vienna Dictatorship of 1940.
“After four years of terrible suffering and Hungarian oppression, Transylvania was freed from the invading hordes. Today, the banner of freedom and our imperishable rights dresses in celebration the cities and villages defiled by the wrath of the usurpers… The plains and forests of Maramureş, Ţara Oaş and Crişana once again yearn for the joy of the freedom won. Romanians everywhere, small and large, startled at the sound of the victorious trumpets. The holy Transylvania, precious cradle of the Romanians, stolen through a hateful dictate, generously offered by the dictators of Europe to the Hungarian magnates, for the completion of their large estates, returned today, through a righteous struggle and a worthy sacrifice, to the homeland from which it was torn.”said General Mihai Racoviţă, the Minister of War.
Beyond the well-known part of the event, there is another story, that of General Gheorghe Avramescu, who decided to give King Michael a present for his birthday, starting the offensive against the troops that had been occupying Transylvania since 1944. His offensive was so strong so that he liberated not only Careiul, but also several other cities in Hungary.
This event is dedicated both to the army, a symbolic institution of the state, but especially to those who lost their lives in the accelerated liberation march of the country.
The liberation of the north-eastern part of Transylvania did not mean the end of the battles waged by the Romanian Army, which continued the anti-fascist war alongside the powers of the United Nations for the liberation of Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Austria, until the final victory.
The Romanian army currently has around 75,000 soldiers. In addition to the active troops, Romania must simultaneously have a military reserve that can be quickly mobilized in the event of a state of siege or war. The operational reserve currently numbers around 55,000 people
