Operaţiuni militare române pentru controlul retragerii trupelor bolşevice spre Rusia (nov. 1917-mar. 1918)

Abstract

After the October Revolution of 1917, the Russian army on Romanian territory disintegrated and began its retreat home. A large part of the Russian soldiers, who in the meantime had become Bolsheviks, escaped from the control of their commanders, and, on their way to the Dniester, began to commit a series of crimes against the population and civil institutions, namely destruction, robbery, rape and even murders. Sometimes they attacked military depots or seized trains on which they boarded and headed for the border to Russia. Other times they entered into armed conflict with the Romanian troops who were trying to ensure the protection of the population and the guarding of strategic objectives. To put an end to this anarchic situation, the Romanian army took a series of measures that led to the neutralization of the Bolshevik groups and taking control of the disorganized, retreating troops.