Vânători de Munte

Vânători de Munte

The "Vânători de Munte" (IPA2|vɨ.nə'torʲ de 'mun.te, English translation: Mountain Rifles, lit. Mountain Hunters/Rangers) are the elite mountain troops of the Romanian Land Forces. They were first established as an independent Army Corps in 1916 during World War I, and became operational in 1917 under "Corpul de Munte" designation.

Thought as of being elite troops, the Romanian "Vânători de Munte" saw action in World War II on the Eastern Front in some of the harshest battles - including the battles of Sevastopol and Stalingrad - where their performance lived up to their reputation: virtually all their commanders from brigade level and up received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, with general Mihail Lascăr being the first foreigner to receive "Oak Leaves" on 22 November 1942 (see List of foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross). After 23 August 1944, they also fought on the Allies' side, notably in Tatra Mountains.

After the end of the war, one of the first measures taken by the Soviets in occupied Romania was to disband the mountain troops. Shortly after the Soviet occupation troops left Romania in 1958, the "Vânători de Munte" were re-established again as a distinct branch of the Romanian Land Forces.

There are currently two brigades operational, one subordinated to the 1st Territorial Army Corps (the 2nd Mountain Troops Brigade), and another one subordinated to the 4th Territorial Army Corps (61st Mountain Troops Brigade). Often, mountain troops units are participating in peacekeeping missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ee also

* Mountain warfare
* Ski warfare
* French Chasseurs Alpins
* German Gebirgsjäger
* Italian Alpini
* Polish Podhale rifles

External links

*ro icon [http://www.forter.ro/index.php?leg=istoric_vm Presentation of the "Vânători de Munte" on the Land Forces' website]
*en icon [http://www.geocities.com/romanianspecialforces/vanatoridemunte.html Unofficial page]
*en icon [http://www.worldwar2.ro/organizare/?language=en&article=29 Brief history of the "Vânători de Munte" during the World War II]


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