Battlefield1 DLC Idea: Pawns of War (Romania + Bulgaria + War Heronie War Story)
I know that Battlefield 1 is already out of production, but in the event that the developers decide to do one more surprise DLC, I have a suggestion for something great.
Pawns of War -> Why "Pawns of War"? Because it shows the perspective of the minor nations of Romania and Bulgaria in a global conflict. Your country is the little man. Romania fought for the Entente while Bulgaria fought for the Central Powers.
These videos are a summary of the Romanian and Bulgarian armies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyCRRDFkyiU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSiiZs3tX4Y
I. 2 New Factions:
1. Kingdom of Romania
2. Kingdom of Bulgaria
II. 12 New Maps (In Chronological Order):
In Transylvania (The Romanian push for Transylvania, and have succes until the Germans come):
1. Battle of Petrosani -> Romania vs Austria-Hungary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Petrozs%C3%A9ny
2. Battle of Brasov (1916) -> Romania vs Austria-Hungary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brass%C3%B3_(1916)
3. Battle of the Eastern Carpathians -> Romania vs Austria-Hungary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Eastern_Carpathians
In Dobruja (The Bulgairans come for Dobruja and eventually take all of it):
4. Battle of Turtucaia -> Romania vs Bulgaria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Turtucaia
5. Battle of Bazargic -> Romania vs Bulgaria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bazargic
6. Battle of Cobadin -> Romania vs Bulgaria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Cobadin
In Bucharest (The Central Powers come from the south of the Danube towards Bucharest, and eventually take it):
7. Battle of Flamanda -> Romania vs Bulgaria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C4%83m%C3%A2nda_Offensive
8. Battle of Arges -> Romania vs Germany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Arge%C8%99
9. Battle of Bucharest -> Romania vs Germany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bucharest
In Moldova: (1917, the Germans attempt one last offensive, but the Romanians succesfully defend all 3 fronts)
10. Battle of Oituz -> Romania vs Germany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Battle_of_Oituz
11. Battle of Marasti -> Romania vs Germany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_M%C4%83r%C4%83%C8%99ti
12. Battle of Marasesti -> Romania vs Germany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_M%C4%83r%C4%83%C8%99ti
For the whole perspective: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Campaign_(1916)
This may seem insignificant in a vaccum, however: "By attracting and engaging additional enemy troops in the summer of 1917, the Romanians helped their allies fighting on the Western and the Italian Front. The Romanian Front was one of the few favourable episodes of all the military operations of the Entente of that year. […] A victory of the enemy would have forced the government and the Romanian Army to capitulate or to withdraw into revolutionary Russia. The political and military consequences of such an action would have been disastrous. […] The admirable behaviour of the Romanian Army played a crucial role in convincing the Entente to respect the promises made by the 1916 treaty. Proving its weakness in 1916, the Allies were thinking seriously not to support Romania’s war goals. Another defeat could have settled the matter. As it turned out, the victories and heroism displayed on the 1917 battlefield helped Romania in regaining the respect and credibility of the Entente. […] The renown gained by its army was decisive for the important role it was given by the Allies in the institution of the sanitary cordon against Bolshevism and the French alliance system in Eastern Europe." - historian Glenn Tory
III. New War Story: Ecaterina Teodoroiu, the Heroine of Jiu
Background: Ecaterina (Catherine) was a woman of humble origins, born in a family of peasants with 5 brothers and 2 other sisters she wanted to become a teacher. But when World War I began, she was forced to become a nurse and care for the troops. One by one, her brothers died and her father was taken prisoner. After hearing news of the death of her 4th brother, she went to her last living brother, Nicoale, that was serving with her in the same regiment and asked him to teach her how to fire a gun. Afterwards, she went to the division commander and asked transfered to a combat unit in order to actively take part in the battle, wishing to get revenge her family's death. She was sent to the front rather reluctantly. However, she quickly proved her worthiness as a soldier.
"Being left with only 1 brother, as she said, she decided to take up arms as a soldier, in order to boost the morale of the soldiers and free her mother. Indeed, after the furious clash of our Division, destroying the Bavarian 11 Division, I went to observe the 2nd section of machine guns of regiment 18 Gorj from my company, there I met this lady, Teodoroiu Ecaterina with her brother, who showed her how to load a weapon, how to aim, and how to put the bayonet. Asking her what she wants to do with those, she said that she wants to go to Schela to free her mother. From then on, Ecaterina Teodoroiu fought with the weapon in hand side by side with her brother, being a heroic example to my soldiers, even when the company made a bayonet charge, as many of my men said, especially Sargeant Safta Pavel from machine guns company. As a conclusion, my personal opinion is that scout Teodoroiu is a fair lady with a lot of courage and love for her family, and the conviction to fulfill her duty, deserving all her admiration as our Joan of Arc, even if her lack of seriousness that is specific to her age would make her seem more like a vivandiere form the old french army." - Commander of the 8th Company, regiment Gorj.
1. The Battle of Targu Jiu -> During the German offensive over the Gorj mountains, Ecaterina Teodoroiu with a team of civillians, scouts and a company of policemen managed to push back the attack of a Bavarian company.
A mainly defensive mission where you fight against wave of German troops with only a handful of civillians, souts and policemen helping you.
"During the battle, in the afternoon, a force of a company and a half, with machine guns, managed so sneak past our central group and left detachement and reached the western side of the city, at the iron bridge. The news split like lightening in the whole city. A revolt and an extraordinary liveliness ecompassed the citizens of the city. "At the brige! at the bridge! Don't let the Germans enter the city!" they all shouted from everywhere. A police commissar came there as fast as he could with a few sergeants a company of 150 cops. With great enthusiasm, the "defense brigade" took position behind the breakwater of river Jiu, next to the public garden of the city. The Bavarian company entered the city, but was met with fire. Their repetead attemps did not succed. The defenders kept them in respect on the other shore. Brave women healed the wounded next to the front line and carried ammo for the fighers. Among the defenders Ecaterina Teodoroiu distinguished herself with her courge and young fire." - Official report of the 2nd division's commander.
You don't often hear of a professional army beaten by a team of cops, civillians, scouts and Ecaterina Teodoroiu.
This defense took place on 14th of October. The battle took place between 10th - 16th October, eventually the Romanian army was defeated, this defense only buying them 2 days.
2. Escape at Carbunesti -> Following the defeat in Targu Jiu, during the retreat a German encirclement on 18th of October 1916, Ecaterina Teodoroiu was taken prisoner and sent to Carbunesti. At Carbunesti, she managed to shoot the German that guarded her and her platoon's commander using a hidden revolver and escape with other Romanian prisoners, being shoot in the leg while she was running.
An escape mission from a prison.
3. Battle of Filiasi -> After the escape she returned to her unit on 6th of November, and continued fighting around the city of Filiasi. During the Battle of Filiasi, she was wounded again the the right leg by 2 enemy bullets. After 9 days of recovery, she returns to the battlefield, only to be wounded again in the left leg, this time more severly. While the Romanian army was retreating to Moldova, she was sent to hospitals in Craiova, Bucharest and eventually Iasi.
A standard battle with 2 sides, first before and then after her recovery of 9 days.
Cutscene: During her hospitalization, for her merits, the Commader of the Scout Legion gave Ecaterina the Medal "Virtutea Cercetareasaca de aur" (Golden Scouts Virtue) and on 16th March 1917. At the proposal of the Minister of War, she was distingushed with the Medal "Virtutea Militara de razboi clasa II-a (Military Virtue of War second class) "for her daring and dedication on the battlefield, she distingushed herself on every battle that the Regiment 18 Infantry fought starting from 16th of October 1916, showing a lot of courage, especially on the battles from 6th of November, close to Filiasi. She was wounded on both her legs". She was personally visited by Queen Maria of Romania who personally offered her the Military Virtue medal and gave her the rank of Sublieutenant.
4. Battle of Marasesti -> After she got out of hospital in the summer of 1917, she returned to the front on 20th of August, right in the middle of the Battle of Marasesti, the largest battle Romania had during World War I, with over 1.500.000 troops. Regiment 43/59 Infantry that she was part of occupied the positions on the Hill Secului around the town of Muncelu. Two days later, on 22th of August, during an attack of the 40th Reserve German Regiment that was pushed back by the Romanian army, Ecaterina Teodoroiu dies heroically, being shoot in the heart while being in the front of her plutoon that she was leading as as Sublieutenant.
A standard battle on a huge frontline where you have to advance from line to line and eventually get shot down. Your soldiers get to scared, so your rise up to lead the charge and die while charging.
"During the yesterday clash at night, on the hill Secului, the volunteer Ecaterina Teodoroiu from the 7th Company was killed by 2 machine gun bullets in her generous heart. Showing a rare and warm enthusiasm, with great energy and vigor, that some righfully called "Eroina de la Jiu" (The heroine of Jiu) made the supreme sacrifice for the love of her country that was ravaged by enemies. Ecaterina Teodoroiu rose to the ranks of our highest heroes and surpassed them, she knew how to prove the vigor of a man in body and soul and the qualities of a daring soldier, unusual and full of enthusiasm to make herself useful at any price. With the hope of taking part in her great revenge, she fell into battle before reaching her goal of revenge. She gave her life with the simplicity of true heroism, not to gain a round of applause and praise, but because that's what her heart asked, because that's what she thought in her soul that will fulfill her life's duty. She died in her communicative bravery while she went out of cover to tell her soldiers "Forward boys! don't give up! you are with me!" - Colonel Constantin Pomponiu said on 23th of August 1917
Epilogue: The Romanian nation entered the war in hopes of taking Transylvania, a region under Austria-Hungary populated mainly by Romanians. After an initial push in Transylvania, the German-Bulgarian forces attacks in Dobruja and over the Danube led to a series of defeats after defeats culminating with the occupation of Bucharest, Romania being left only with a strip of land in Moldova.
In 1917, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians signed an aggreement where Austria-Hungary would annex all of Romania. However, this did not came to pass as the Romanian forces successfully defended Moldavia at Oituz, Marasti and Marasesti, the latter being the place where Ecaterina Teodoroiu. Forcing the Central Powers to sign an armistice where Romania would only lose some of its territory.
However, in 1918, Romania re-entered the war and attacks Transylvania once again, shortly after the war ends on the Western Front on 11 November. Based on President Woodrow Wilson's self-determination principles, the Romanians of Transylvania and Bukovina expressed their desire for independence and union with Romania. While in the east, another region with a Romanina majority, Bessarabia, declared independence from the Russian Empire and union with Romania during the Russian Civil War.
Leading to Greater Romania, a Romania that encompassed all regions with Romanian-speaking populations, the national dream of a country that has been divided for centuries. However, this union was short lived, as in 1940 the USSR would demand Bessarabia and the northern half of Bukovina from Romania.
IV. Noteworthy points that could be added in the game in one form or another:
1. The White Shirts Charge in World War 1, bayonets winning against guns -> Not related to Ecaterina Teodoroiu so it won't fit in her story.
During World War II, on 23 August 1944, when Romania was about to change sides and was threatened by stationed German forces, Colonel Dumitru Dămăceanu who arrived at the Royal Palace after the arrest of Marshal Ion Antonescu, opposed announcing the change of government, arguing that the soldiers of the Bucharest garrison were in pajamas and the necessary military measures could not be taken.
General Constantin Sănătescu replied to him: "Dămăceanu, you forget that Marasesti also won in pijamas".
What General Constantin Sănătescu meant, was the White Shirts Charge during the during the Battle of Mărăşeşti (August-September 1917).
https://www.worldwar2.ro/primulrazboi/?article=117
During the battle, the soldiers of the 32nd Infantry Regiment "Mircea" had thrown their coats, due to the heat, ambushing and attacking the German troops on bayonet, who fled the battle at the sight of the attackers in white shirts that were fluttering, shouting "Uraa, uraa!" (Hooray! Hooray!).
On the morning of 25 July 1917, the Germans carried out strong bombardments on the villages of Străjescu, Doaga and Red Mill, and the same day, Colonel Vasile Stamate, the commander of the 32nd Infantry Regiment "Mircea" died on duty. At around 12 o'clock, the Austro-German troops had created an entrance of 600-800 meters inside the Romanian frontline, Major Atanasie Ionescu, the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 32nd "Mircea" Regiment, ordered the soldiers to take off their clothes and jackets, being a hot day, and keep only the chapels and bags with snacks. The soldiers of Battalion 3, Regiment 32, and companies 5-6 of Regiment 7 started the counter-attack on bayonet in white shirts, with a shout "uraa! uraa!". The Germans, at the sight of the Romanians in white shirts, panicked and routed, the Romanians chased them, catched them and killed with the bayonets the ones they reached.
Other soldiers and officers, overwhelmed by the example of the Battalion 3, Regiment 32, quickly rushed back to the Germans, who, though superior in number and equipment, were in full retreat in front of the Romanian soldiers in white shirts and bayonets who were resolutely advancing towards them.
Believing that they are Africans, as German prisoners later told August von Mackensen:
"Sir, after fighting with the Romanians in 1916, I thought the Romanian army had disappeared, that it did not exist in 1917 when I had to make a new effort and conquer the rest of Romania. But when the battle started in Mărăşeşti, Mărăşti, Oituz, I was told that in front of me was the Romanian army that I was convinced had disappeared. But the Romanian army had risen from its ashes like the Phoenix bird. The frontline reports came in awe: "They are not Romanians, they are black as the devil and brave! They have no clothes on them! They are naked or in shirts! And we can't resist them at bayonet!". The attack on the bayonet scared everyone! And they were running, the germans, who didn't usually run, this time they were running!." – August von Mackensen
And so The White Shirts Charge managed to rout a numerically superior German force with bayonets and close the gap made by the Germans. Eventually the battle of Marasesti ended with a strategic victory for Romania.
2. The Great Union, declarations from all 3 places during the epilogue: Transylvania, Bukovina, Bessarabia -> Could work well with the epilogue, could also be too long.
"On behalf of the people of Bessarabia, the Country Council declares: The Democratic Republic of Moldova (Bessarabia), on its borders between the Pruth, the Dniester, the Black Sea and the old border with Austria, torn by Russia a hundred and more years ago from the body of old Moldova, in the power of historical right and people's right, based the principle that the people alone decide their fate, from now on and forever unites with its mother, Romania." - Part of the resolution of the Moldovan Bloc that was read and voted in the meeting of 27 March 1918 of the Country Council in Chisinau.
"Today, when after huge efforts and sacrifices on the part of Romania and its powerful and noble allies, the principles of fairness and humanity for all nations were enthroned in the world, and when after crushing blows the Austro-Hungarian monarchy was shaken to its foundations and collapsed and all the nations handcuffed within it gained their right to self-determination, the first thought of liberated Bukovina goes to the Kingdom of Romania, to which we have always linked the hope of our liberation. Therefore, we, the General Congress of Bukovina, embodying the supreme power of the country and being invested alone with the legislative power, in the name of national sovereignty, decide: The unconditional and eternal union of Bukovina, in its old borders up to Ceremuș, Colacin and Dniester, with the Kingdom of Romania." - The declaration of union of Bukovina with Romania on 15/28 November 1918.
"The National Assembly of all Romanians from Transylvania, Banat and Hungary, gathered through their entitled representatives to Alba-Iulia on November 18/December 1, 1918, decrees the union of those Romanians and all territories inhabited by them with Romania." - The Resolution of the National Assembly of Alba Iulia of 1st of December 1918.
