,,Die Religion des großen Krieges” widerspiegelt in Memoirs
,,The Religion of the Great War” as Reflected in Memoirs

Summary/Abstract: The current study is a brief introduction to the cultural history of the First World War, an area less discussed by Romanian historiography, namely the phenomenon suggestively coined as ,,the religion of war” (a subject toward which the Romanian historians still manifest reluctance), by the historian, Nicolae Bocşan. Based on published memoirs, but also texts and studies that dealt with the religious sentiments of Romanians in the Great War, we will try to frame an own theory regarding the case of Romanians from the Austro-Hungarian army, while retracing this phenomena. In this sense we try to present the symbolism of collective prayers during enrollments, military oaths of soldiers prior to their departure to the frontlines; various elements of symbolism. Other elements that we will focus on are, the meaning of prayer books and religious readings, and the nature of these religious texts (redeemer, educational, comprehensive, as means of worship, providential, etc.). We try to conclude our study with the significance of the participation of Romanian Transylvanian military priests in the Great War, as being a significant component of ,,the religion of war”.

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