Roșiori (military Unit)

The Roșiori were a type of cavalry unit in the Romanian Army. Active throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Roșiori were known for their vibrant red uniforms.

History

The ''Roșiori'' were formed in 1868 during a period of modernization within the Romanian army. The result of these reforms was the formation of an irregular cavalry force (described in one source as being armed like Cossacks), the Călărași, and a professional cavalry force, the Roșiori, who were armed and organized along the lines of the cavalry of the German Empire. The Roșiori wore scarlet hussar uniforms, white pantaloons, and white belts; some sources describe the units as the "Red Hussars".

By 1908, the Romanian army had elected to split the army's professional cavalry forces into hussar and lancer regiments. As part of this division, the Roșiori were re-organized as lancers, and formed six of the Romanian army's seventeen cavalry regiments. The Roșiori were full-time soldiers, and maintained their distinctive red uniforms. Roșiori regiments were made up of five squadrons (four of which were professional, one of which was irregular), with each squadron consisting of 174 horsemen.

In 1912, uniforms of one color and cut for the whole army were introduced, initially only as campaign outfits: green-gray color, with patches, piping and stripes of distinctive color, and the regimental number was worn on the headdress and epaulettes. Compared to the infantry, the ''Roșiori'' wore gray-black pants, and since 1916, green-gray (during the war both models were worn). They also wore black leather boots, with spurs. During the war, knee-high boots or leggings of the same size were also used.

The regiment color, present on patches and piping was:
* Yellow - 1st Regiment;
* White - 2nd Regiment;
* Green - 3rd Regiment;
* Light blue - 4th Regiment;
* Light green - 5th Regiment;
* Dark blue - 6th Regiment;
* Brown - 7th Regiment;
* Purple - 8th Regiment;
* Pink - 9th Regiment;
* Gray - 10th Regiment
* Dark red (brick color) - 11th Regiment.

During World War I, the Roșiori regiments served with distinction in campaigns against Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, and the German Empire.(in Romanian) Multiple authors. ''România în anii primului război mondial'' (''Romania during the years of World War I'') (Bucharest, 1987), Editura Militară. The conflict also saw the mobilization of dismounted Roșiori regiments.

Following the Romania's joining of the Axis powers and subsequent entry into World War II, Roșiori regiments (which numbered 13 as of 1942) saw service on the Eastern Front against the Red Army.

List of Roșiori regiments

*
* - Distinguished itself at the Battle of Prunaru, where it was nearly destroyed.
*
* - associated with the Romanian royal family, and ceremonially led by Queen Marie of Romania. Part of the elite 2nd Roșiori brigade during World War I.
*
* - reformed as the 6th Motorized regiment during World War II.
* - alleged to have committed war crimes against the Jewish population of Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and Transnistria during the Holocaust. Postwar investigations of the unit were first begun and then later suppressed by the Communist government of Romania.
*
* - part of the elite 2nd Roșiori brigade during World War I.
*
*
* 12th Roșiori regiment
* 13th Roșiori regiment

References

{{Reflist

Romanian Army units
Cavalry units and formations
Military units and formations established in 1868