ALMAN KAYNAKLARINA GÖRE BİRİNCİ DÜNYA SAVAŞI ÖNCESİNDE ROMANYA ORDUSUNUN ASKERÎ KAPASİTESİ VE KÖSTENCE LİMANI’NIN STRATEJİK ÖNEMİ
THE MILITARY CAPACITY OF THE ROMANIAN ARMY BEFORE THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE PORT OF CONSTANTA ACCORDING TO GERMAN SOURCES

Summary/Abstract: Although developments in the Balkans were important in process leading up to the First World War, Romania’s military power, the strategic importance of the Constanta Port all on the radar of Germany –one of most powerful states of that period. The Romanian army’s victory in Second Balkan War was a priority in determining balances in Balkans before the First World War. Moreover, its military deterrent was a key issue that would end up dictating which political power would eventually dominate the Balkans. On the other hand, the Constanta Port, proved instrumental in determining the weight of Russia in the Balkans, as well as in offering it economic benefits via export of Romanian oil abroad. The port was at an advantage position-wise because it connected Ottoman Empire with Germany, and because it defended the Black Sea Strait in the North during the First World War. In this study, we shall analyse pre-WWI Romania’s military capacity as well as the strategic importance of Constanta Port using German sources. We will also take a look at what lead to the Romanian army’s defeat during the war, and why Constanta Port was so significant in bringing balance to the Black Sea region.

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