First Battle of the Jiu Valley

First Battle of the Jiu Valley
Part of the Battle of the Southern Carpathians of the Romanian Campaign of World War I
Date23 October–1 November 1916
Location
Result Romanian victory
Belligerents
 Romania  German Empire
 Austria-Hungary
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Romania Ion Dragalina  (DOW)
Kingdom of Romania Nicolae Petala
Kingdom of Romania Ioan Culcer
German Empire Paul von Kneußl
Units involved

1st Army

  • 1st Infantry Division (reinforced during the battle)
Cavalry Corps Schmettow
11th Bavarian Infantry Division
144th Austro-Hungarian Infantry Brigade
Württemberg Mountain Battalion
Casualties and losses
Unknown total
9 guns captured on 24 October but recovered on the 28th

3,210 combat casualties

  • 1,500+ killed
  • 1,600+ captured
90% of Erwin Rommel's company sick
8 guns and two howitzer batteries captured
14 machine guns captured

The First Battle of the Jiu Valley was a military engagement during World War I fought between Romanian forces on one side and Central Powers forces (Germany and Austria-Hungary) on the other. The German offensive, although initially successful, was checked within days and subsequently repulsed by a Romanian counterattack. This was the most conspicuous Romanian victory during the 1916 campaign, given that it was achieved against forces which were superior in artillery and - initially - in numbers as well.