Heroes Monument
The monument of Murfatlar heroes was erected in memory of those who fought during the First World War from 1916 to 1918.
Romania's participation in the First World War includes all the measures, actions and political, diplomatic and military actions carried out by the Romanian state, alone or together with the allies, between July 28, 1914 and November 11, 1918, in order to achieve the main political purpose of participating in the war - the achievement of the Romanian unitary national state. The international system was marked at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century by the rivalry between the great powers for the control of the extra-European world. In Europe, Germany had become the main power and its behavior on the continent led to an extraordinary disintegration and rebuilding of alliances compared to previous decades.
From a military point of view, Romania was coming after a victory without glory in the Second Balkan War, the euphoria of victory making it easy to overcome the shortcomings manifested in the field of military leadership, organization and training of troops and especially the endowment with weaponry and fighting technique. modern.
Although linked to the Austro-Hungarian Empire by a secret treaty of alliance, since 1883, Romania chooses to declare itself neutral at the outbreak of hostilities, in July 1914, prevailing over the interpretation of the clauses relating to "casus foederis".
In August 1916, Romania receives an ultimatum to decide whether it wants to join Antantha "now or never". Under the pressure of the ultimate demand, the Romanian government accepts to enter the war on the part of Antanta, although the situation on the battle fronts was not favorable.
After a series of rapid tactical victories in Transylvania over numerically overwhelmed Austro-Hungarian forces, the Romanian army will suffer in the fall of 1916 a series of crushing defeats, which will force the state authorities to take refuge in Moldova, allowing the enemy to occupy two thirds of the national territory, including the capital Bucharest.In the winter of 1916 and the spring of 1917, under the leadership of a new military "leadership" (Generals Prezan, Christescu, Grigorescu, Averescu, Văitoianu, etc.) and with the substantial support of the French Military Mission led by General Henri Berthelot, the Romanian Army was reorganized. and trained on modern bases adapted to the requirements of war.
The campaign of the summer of 1917 was a successful one, succeeding, in the initial phase, in defeating the troops of the Central Powers in the battles of Mărăști, Oituz and Mărășești. The Romanian military planners intended to continue to develop this offensive to begin the liberation of the occupied territory, but the outbreak of the revolution in the Russian Empire led to the abandonment of these plans and the transition to strategic defense again.
The situation on the eastern front evolved in a negative way, so that after Russia concluded the peace from Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers, Romania was forced to demand the armistice and then be forced to exit the war and sign a war. separate peace in humiliating conditions, in the spring of 1918. Fortunately, the refusal of King Ferdinand, who has postponed the formal gesture to sign this treaty, has made it possible to resume hostilities in the last two days of the war, thus preserving Romania's status. belligerent state at the Paris Peace Conference.
