Corneliu Teodorini (18 September 1893 – 10 July 1976) was a
Romanian general during
World War II. He was a recipient of the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and the
Order of Michael the Brave, 2nd Class.
He was born in
Craiova
Craiova (, also , ), is Romania's 6th Cities in Romania, largest city and capital of Dolj County, and situated near the east bank of the river Jiu River, Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximatel ...
. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1934 and to colonel in 1938. During World War II, he was in command of the 1st Cavalry Regiment from June 1 to October 5, 1941. This was followed by command of the 8th Cavalry Brigade from October 5, 1941, to May 10, 1942. He then headed the propaganda department at the
Romanian General Staff. From July 7 to October 5, 1942, he was in the cavalry headquarters at the
Ministry of War. Teodorini commanded the Romanian forces during the
Kerch–Eltigen Operation in
Crimea in November 1943.
In the immediate aftermath of the
Royal coup d'état of August 23, 1944 (when Romania switched sides from the
Axis to the
Allies
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
), Teodorini joined the "Army Resistance Group", an organization that included generals
Aurel Aldea
Aurel Aldea (18 March 1887 – 17 October 1949) was a Romanian general, Interior Minister, and anti-communist resistance leader.
Education
Aurel Aldea was born in Slatina, Olt County on 28 March 1887. He graduated from the Artillery and Enginee ...
,
Dumitru Coroamă,
Constantin Sănătescu,
Gheorghe Mihail
Gheorghe Mihail (March 13, 1887 – January 31, 1982) was a Romanian career army officer.
Born in Brăila, he completed primary school in 1902 and passed an examination to enter the school for soldiers' sons in Iași, taking years 7 and 8 there.N ...
,
Leonard Mociulschi,
Nicolae Rădescu, and other officers around
King Michael I seeking to prevent the communist takeover of the Romanian Army. The group came under the surveillance of the
NKVD, under suspicion that they were supported by
Great Britain and the
United States.
In September 1944, he commanded the 8th Cavalry Division at the
Battle of Turda, where his troops fought hard at
Luduș, the crossing of the
Mureș River, and Sângeorgiu Hill.
Teodorini was put into retirement in March 1945 by the communist-led
Petru Groza government. He owned a manor and a winery in
Crețeni, which produced a variety of
Drăgășani wine.
He died in
Bucharest in 1976.
Awards
*
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (November 1941) & 1st Class (11 February 1943)
[Franz Thomas; Günter Wegmann: Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Bissendorf: Biblio-Verlag 1998, p. 371.]
*
Order of Michael the Brave
**2nd class – DR 3267/20.12.1943 (brigadier general, commander of 6th Cavalry Division)
**3rd class – DR 399/8.02.1943 (colonel, commander of 6th Cavalry Division)
*
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross 27 August 1943 as
Colonel and commander of the Romanian 6th Cavalry Division
** Oak Leaves on 8 December 1943 as
Captain General (''General de brigadă'') and commander of the Romanian 6th Cavalry Division
References
;Citations
External links
*
*
1893 births
1976 deaths
People from Craiova
Romanian Land Forces generals
Romanian military personnel of World War II
Recipients of the Order of Michael the Brave
Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Recipients of the Order of Michael the Brave, 2nd class
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