Constantin Cristescu (2 December 1866 — 9 May 1923) was a Romanian lieutenant general during World War I, and Chief of Staff of the Romanian Army.

Constantin Cristescu
General Constantin Cristescu
Born(1866-02-12)February 12, 1866
Pădureți, Argeș County, Romanian United Principalities
DiedMay 9, 1923(1923-05-09) (aged 57)
Bucharest, Kingdom of Romania
Buried
Bucharest, Romania
AllegianceRomanian Army
Service/branchInfantry
Ranklieutenant general
Commands heldRomanian 4th Army
Romanian 1st Army
Battles/warsSecond Balkan War
World War IRomanian Campaign
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the Star of Romania
Officer of the Order of the Crown (Romania)
Grand officer of the Order of Franz Joseph
Grand officer of the Order of St. Sava
Alma materCavalry Officers School
École Polytechnique
School of Applied Artillery
Chief of Staff of the Romanian Army
In office
2 December 1913 – 1 April 1914
Prime MinisterTitu Maiorescu
Ion I. C. Brătianu
Preceded byAlexandru Averescu
Succeeded byVasile Zottu [ro]
Chief of Staff of the Romanian Army
In office
1 April 1918 – 28 October 1918
Prime MinisterAlexandru Averescu
Alexandru Marghiloman
Constantin Coandă
Preceded byConstantin Prezan
Succeeded byConstantin Prezan
Chief of Staff of the Romanian Army
In office
1 April 1920 – 8 May 1923
Prime MinisterAlexandru Averescu
Take Ionescu
Ion I. C. Brătianu
Preceded byConstantin Prezan
Succeeded byAlexandru Gorsky [ro]

Biography edit

Early life edit

He was born on 2 December 1866 in Pădureți village, in Argeș County. He attended the gymnasium in Pitești and the School for Sons of Military in Craiova. In 1887 he graduated first in his class from the Infantry and Cavalry Officers School in Bucharest, with the rank of second lieutenant. Cristescu pursued his studies at the École Polytechnique in Paris in 1890, the School of Artillery and Engineering Application of Fontainebleau in 1892, and the Superior School of War in Paris in 1894.[1]

Military career edit

Cristescu was promoted to lieutenant (1890), captain (1894), major (1902), lieutenant colonel (1907), and colonel (1910). He became Chief of the Romanian General Staff on 2 December 1913, and served in this role until 1 April 1914.[2] He played an important role in the development of the operational plans of the Romanian Army in the years prior to the entry of Romania in World War I, including the Hypothesis Z plan.[1] He was promoted to brigadier general in 1914.

World War I edit

During the Romanian Campaign of World War I, Cristescu was Chief of Staff of the 2nd and 3rd Romanian Armies and later of Army Group General Averescu. From 10 November to 5 December 1916 he was Commander of the Northern Army. In 1917 he was promoted to major general. In June of that year he took command of the Romanian 1st Army, during the operations leading up to the Battle of Mărășești, against the German 9th Army. The German offensive began on 24 July with a sustained artillery bombardment. Despite the failure of large Russian units that refused to fight and retreated, the 1st Army together with the remaining troops of the Russian 4th Army fought back. Cristescu took upon himself the difficult task of reconstituting the front line; a single front was created through fierce fighting, supported by a strong artillery barrage, and by 6 August the German attack was repulsed.[3] He continued to lead the 1st Army Mărășești until 11 August, when he was succeeded by General Eremia Grigorescu.

In 1918 Cristescu was promoted to Lieutenant General.[4] He served for a second time as Chief of the General Staff from 1 April to 28 October 1918.[2]

After the War edit

After the end of the War, Cristescu served for a third and final term as Chief of the General Staff (1 April 1920 to 8 May 1923),[2] during which time he coordinated the organization of the new national Army of Greater Romania. He died on 9 May 1923 in Bucharest, and was buried at Bellu Cemetery, in the same city.[1]

Awards edit

Legacy edit

In Bucharest, Pitești, and Slatina streets are named General Constantin Cristescu after him. Also, schools in Bogați and Lunca Corbului bear his name.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Surugiu, Cristian (9 May 2013). "90 de ani de la trecerea în eternitate a generalului Constantin Cristescu". forter.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Chiefs of General Staff". defense.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Bătălia de la Mărășești- momentul când au murit oamenii și s-au născut eroii". identitatea.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. ^ Ministerul de Răsboiu, Anuarul Armatei Române pe anul 1916, Tipografia „Universala” Iancu Ionescu, București, 1916