Alexandru Dobriceanu

Alexandru A. Dobriceanu (19 September 1894 – 10 February 1978) was an officer in the Romanian Army who fought in both World War I and World War II, and rose to the rank of major general afterwards.

Biography Early life He was born on 19 September 1894 in Craiova, Dolj County, in the Oltenia region of the Kingdom of Romania. He descended from a family from Dobriceni, Olt County with a long military tradition.

Military career In 1913 he went to study at the Artillery Officer School in Bucharest; soon after, he was sent to fight in Southern Dobruja, during the Second Balkan War. He graduated in 1916 with the rank of second lieutenant, and starting in July he served with the heavy artillery 1st Regiment–Dolj. He fought during the Romanian Campaign of World War I, notably at the Battle of Mărășești, when he was gravely wounded in his left arm at Muncelu, on 6 August 1917. He was promoted to Colonel in June 1943 and was put in command of the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment.

In April 1944 he was commanding the 1st Regiment during the First Jassy–Kishinev Offensive, providing artillery support for Friedrich Mieth's IV Army Corps. After King Michael's Coup of 23 August 1944, Romania switched sides and joined the Allies. Dobriceanu disengaged his regiment and took new positions at Poienarii Burchii, just south of Ploiești. On 7 September he was assigned to the 4th Army (commanded by General Gheorghe Avramescu), in support of the 6th Infantry Division. He fought against the German and Hungarian forces in the Battle of Turda, first at Târnăveni, and then along the Mureș River Valley. He continued advancing with the 4th Army towards Oradea and then crossed into Hungary. On 19 October, at the battle for Rákóczifalva, his regiment fought was attacked by some 50–60 Tiger and Panther tanks, coming from the direction of Szolnok. Although lacking infantry support, skillful maneuvering and precise firing of the artillery pieces carried the day; four German tanks were destroyed and several damaged, while only two Romanian guns were lost. For this feat of arms, Dobriceanu was awarded in 1945 the Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd class. After the establishment of the Communist regime, he was tried for participating in the fighting on the Eastern Front and was declared a war criminal. All his properties (including the family mansion from Dobriceni) were confiscated, he was demoted to the rank of soldier, and was put under forced domicile. Fortuitously, he met in 1966 his former orderly, Andruță Ceaușescu, who agreed to intercede with his son, Nicolae Ceaușescu. As a result, Dobriceanu was rehabilitated, his property in the Dorobanți neighborhood was returned to him, and he was promoted to major general (in the reserves) in 1967.

He died on 10 February 1978 in Bucharest. while part of his book collection is with the Municipal Library in Târnăveni. Order of Saint Stanislaus (House of Romanov). Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945.