Pilot Battlefield Tour in Romania for historical warfighting exploration and professional development
From 8 to 11 September 2025, members of the NATO MW COE embarked on a Beta Test Battlefield Tour through the broader South Eastern part of Romania. Designed for Senior National Representatives (SNRs) and selected COE staff, the tour combined historical warfighting exploration, professional development with team building, and field experience learning with the Romanian Armed Forces.
The journey began in Bucharest, where Romanian military colleagues joined participants for the introduction to the Romanian WW1 campaign, utilizing the historical wargame “Transylvanian Gambit.” This immersive simulation recreates Romania’s entry into World War I in August 1916, with a focus on the Transylvanian campaign and the subsequent invasion by the Central Powers. Unlike traditional wargames, it places a heavy emphasis on logistics and supply management, demonstrating how operational endurance and resource flow often determine battles as much as tactics do.
The second day of the Battlefield Tour took participants to Focșani, where they visited the headquarters of the 282nd Armored Brigade. After a warm welcome from the Brigade Commander, participants received a detailed presentation on the unit’s current structure, mission, and capabilities.
From there, the tour continued to the Mausoleum of Mărășești — a solemn memorial holding the remains of 5,073 Romanian soldiers and officers who gave their lives during World War I. The site stands as a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and national unity, commemorating the Battle of Mărășești, one of Romania’s defining moments in its modern history.
Later that day, the group made their way toward Mount Coșna, a key location in the Second Battle of Oituz (August 1917) where a young Erwin Rommel, then an officer in the Württemberg Mountain Battalion, led a daring assault that showcased his pioneering infiltration tactics and bold leadership. Despite facing harsh terrain and lacking artillery support, Rommel’s men captured the summit — only for Romanian forces to reclaim it days later.
During their own climb to the summit of Mount Cosna, the participants faced strong winds and heavy rain, experiencing firsthand the difficult conditions endured by soldiers more than a century ago. It was a powerful reminder that the lessons of history are often best understood through lived experience.
The third day led the team into the Carpathians, with visits to the 2nd Mountain Brigade in Brașov and the Mountain Warfare Base in Predeal. Hosted at the Military Cabin Diham Chalet, participants learned about Romania’s proud mountain warfare traditions and modern-day training methods that continue to shape the effectiveness of NATO’s regional defence posture.
The journey then continued via Câmpulung Muscel to the Mateiaș Mausoleum in Valea Mare-Pravăț, Argeș County. This impressive monument honors the heroes of the War of 1916–1918, known in Romania as the War for National Integration. Standing on a ridge overlooking the valleys below, the mausoleum offers both a panoramic view of the countryside and a poignant connection to the sacrifices that shaped the nation’s unity.
The plan brought the participants back to Bucharest, where they visited the National Museum of Military History. Detailed explanations and engaging discussions with the Head of the Museum provided invaluable insights into Romania’s military history, including the operational challenges they faced and how they continue to influence Romania’s strategic culture today.
The participants concluded the last day of the tour with lessons identified, analysis and recommendations for Battlefield Tour improvements to be fit for NATO Force and Command Structure HQ as a professional development activity. The visit facilitated a deeper understanding of the collaboration between NATO forces and Romania’s role within NATO’s Deterrence and Defense Posture and Family of Plans.
