Nicolae Tătăranu

Nicolae Tătăranu (3 October 1890 – 13 May 1953) was a Romanian Major General during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. In 1940 he published his World War I memoirs.

During World War II, Tătăranu took part in Operation Barbarossa. On 30 August 1941, Tătăranu signed in Tighina the Agreement Concerning Security, Administration and Economic Exploitation of the Territories between the Transnistria and Buh–Dnieper Region with General Major Arthur Hauffe. In late October 1941 while serving as deputy commander of the Romanian 10th Infantry Division, troops under his command took part in the Odessa massacre.

During the Battle of Stalingrad, Tătăranu served as commander of the Romanian 20th Infantry Division, which was part of the Romanian 6th Corps under the command of General Corneliu Dragalina. The 6th Corps troops received the brunt of the Soviet offensive (Operation Uranus) south of Stalingrad and suffered catastrophic losses. On orders from General Friedrich Paulus, Tătăranu flew out of the Stalingrad pocket on 13 January 1943, to report to Marshal Ion Antonescu on the dire situation of the Romanian troops trapped there.

On 28 March 1945, Tătăranu was put into retirement by the Petru Groza government.

Awards Iron Cross, 2nd and 1st Class (1939) Order of the Star of Romania, Commander Class (8 June 1940) Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class (14 November 1941) War Victory Cross, 2nd Class (1941) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (17 December 1942)