The Battle of Turtucaia or Battle of Tutrakan, also referred to as the Tutrakan Epopee in Bulgaria, was a battle during which an overwhelmingly Bulgarian Central Powers force captured the strategic fortress of Tutrakan (Turtucaia in Romanian) from the Romanian defenders. Combatants Central Powers, Bulgaria Romania, Russia Commanders General Falkenhayn General Mackensen General Averescu, General Zaionchovsky Strength 450,000 600,000 Casualties 60,000 roughly 330,000 (50% POWs) The Romanian Campaign was a campaign in the Balkans theatre of World War I fought between Romania and Russia against armies of... September 2 is the 245th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (246th in leap years). ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Tutrakan (Bulgarian: Тутракан, Romanian: Turtucaia) is a town in northeastern Bulgaria, part of Silistra Province. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Triple Alliance. ... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols A battalion is a military unit usually consisting of between two and six companies and typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Triple Alliance. ... Tutrakan (Bulgarian: Тутракан, Romanian: Turtucaia) is a town in northeastern Bulgaria, part of Silistra Province. ...

The Romanian fortress of Tutrakan was built with the aid of French military engineers after 1913, when the town and the whole of Southern Dobruja was annexed by Romania. It featured 151 cannons and 15 strong points and was commanded by General Constantin Teodorescu. The fortification was regarded as "the second Verdun" because of its alleged impregnability. Southern Dobruja (Южна Добруджа (Yuzhna Dobrudzha) in Bulgarian, Dobrogea de sud or Cadrilater in Romanian) is an area of north-eastern Bulgaria comprising the administrative districts named for its two principal cities of Dobrich and Silistra. ... Verdun (German (old): Wirten, official name before 1970 Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city and commune in the Lorraine région, northeast France, in the Meuse département, of which it is a sous-préfecture. ...

The Bulgarian forces under General Panteley Kiselov, aided by a column of German troops led by Major Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord (whose role was limited to capturing strong point 2), stormed the fortress in the morning of 5 September, with the Bulgarian artillery opening fire at 6:30 AM and the troops attacking at 8:20 AM. Five of the strong points were gradually taken during the day, while the Romanians were reinforced by 15 infantry battalions and three batteries from Bucharest. Kurt Hammerstein-Equord (September 26, 1878-April 25, 1943) was a German General, who served for a period as Chief of Staff for the German Army. ... Bucharest (Romanian: BucureÅŸti ) is the capital city and industrial and commercial centre of Romania. ...

The attack was renewed on 6 September and the Central Powers forces entered Tutrakan at around 4:00 PM, completely seizing the town half an hour later and capturing two flags, 450 officers, more than 28,000 soldiers, 151 cannons and all of the infantry's arms. However, during the offensive the Bulgarians lost several thousands of soldiers, including many officers, due to General Kiselov's decision to put the commanding officers in front of the subordinate soldiers.

References

• Stefanov, Stefan. "'Impregnable' fortress falls after 33 hours", Dneven Trud, 5 September 2006, p. 18. Retrieved on 2006-09-05. (in Bulgarian)