|
|
| PERSONALIA |
| |
| Name: |
Mociulschi, Leonard |
| Date of birth: | March 27th, 1889 (Simincea/Botosani, Rumania)
|
| Date of death: |
April 15th, 1979 (Kronstadt/Siebenbürgen, Romania)
|
| Nationality: |
Romanian |
|
BIOGRAPHY:
Descent from an aristocratic family with Polish roots, Leonard Mociulschi joined the Romanian Army as cadet in 1910, and fought during WW1. At the beginning of the war he commanded a company of the 29th Regiment Dorohoi. Due to his brave behaviour in battles he was awarded by the Romanian and French Armies. After the WW1 he was successively promoted to the rank of major (1920), lieutenant colonel (1932) and colonel (1937).
At the beginning of WW2, Leonard Mociulschi was designated deputy commander of the 1st Mountain Mixed Brigade. On the Eastern Front, the Romanian troops penetrated the fortified Stalin Line in 1941. The Colonel Leonard Mociulschi was personally heading in the right direction the crossing of the Nistru River. For this combat he was awarded with “Michael the Brave” Order (the 3rd class).
The Romanian Army participated also in the assault on Crimea, attack commanded by the General Erich von Manstein. In 1942, Leonard Mociulschi was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and he was named deputy commander of the 4th Mountain Division. This unit had an important role in the offensive of the Axis forces in Sevastopol area. Leonard Mociulschi was awarded with the German Cross in Gold for his bravery during these fights. Two years later, he was promoted CO of the 3rd Mountain Division (1944).
After the Soviets’ deep advance into Crimea, in 1944, the 3rd Mountain Division was relocated around Sevastopol. Mociulschi’s units resisted several violent Soviet attacks, but finally the general and the Romanian troops were evacuated from Crimea by the Romanian Royal Navy.
On the 23rd of August 1944, the Pro-Axis leader, Marshall Antonescu, was arrested and the Romanian King Michael announced the armistice with the Allied Forces. The Maj.General Mociulschi was named than in the command of “Crisuri” Group, in Transylvania. In few days of heavy fighting, he delayed long enough the Hungarian offensive, for the influx of the reinforcements. The 3rd Mountain Division played also a key role in the battle for the liberation of the Romanian city of Oradea. The 3rd Mountain Division was engaged in the battle for Debrecen in Hungary and it crossed the forests of Lucenec in Slovakia, forcing the forces opposing the Soviet corps to move back. In February, Mociulschi and his division successfully faced the German mountain troops, in Javorina Mountains. He was awarded with “Michael the Brave” Order with Swords (3rd class), for this military victory.
On the 8th of April 1945, the General Mociulschi was replaced from the command of the 3rd Mountain Division and promoted to the rank of CO of the entire Romanian Mountain Corps, until the end of the WW2.
After the WW2 he was arrested by the communist regime that time in Romania, until 1955 when he was released. He published in 1967 his war memoirs in his book “The Assault of the Mountain Troops”. He died in 1979 and received military funeral honors.
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
 |
EISERNES KREUZ 2. KLASSE
|
|
Rank:
|
Colonel
|
|
Unit:
|
Brigazii 1 Mixta Munte (1st Mixed Mountain Brigade)
|
|
Details:
|
Received in 1941
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
EISERNES KREUZ 1. KLASSE
|
|
Rank:
|
General de brigadă (Brigadier)
|
|
Unit:
|
Diviziei 4 Vanatori de Munte (4th Mountain Division)
|
|
Details:
|
Received in 1942
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
RITTERKREUZ DES EISERNEN KREUZES
|
|
Rank:
|
General de brigadă (Brigadier)
|
|
Unit:
|
Diviziei 4 Vanatori de Munte (4th Mountain Division)
|
|
Awarded on:
|
December 18th, 1943
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
 |
ORDINUL MIHAI VITEAZUL 3RD CLASS
|
|
Rank:
|
General de divizie (Major-general)
|
|
Unit:
|
Diviziei 3 Munte (3rd Mountain Division)
|
|
Awarded on:
|
March 23rd, 1945
|
|
Details:
|
Version with Swords
|
|
|
|
|
 |
)
