Alexandru Ioanițiu
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Alexandru Ioanițiu (2 February 1890–17 September 1941) was a Romanian major general.
Ioanițiu was born in Botoșani, in northern Moldavia. He attended the military school in Iași, graduating as second lieutenant in 1910 and lieutenant in 1913. After Romania entered World War I on the side of the Allies, he fought in the Romanian Campaign of 1916 in Dobruja and at the Battle of the Argeș. He was promoted to captain in 1916 and major in 1917, and fought at the Battle of Mărășești.
Afterwards he pursued his studies at the Higher War School in Bucharest (1919–1920). He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1928, to colonel in 1933, and to brigadier general in 1939. From May 1939 to September 1940 he was the commander of the Higher War School.[1] Under his leadership, the first Romanian paratrooper company was created on June 10, 1940.[2] Also in 1940, he was awarded the Order of the Crown, Commander rank.[3]
From June 9, 1941, General Ioanițiu served as Chief of the Romanian General Staff during World War II.[1] On 17 September 1941 he accompanied Ion Antonescu to the front, to oversee the Romanian offensive during the Siege of Odessa. Just after their plane landed at an airport in Baden, near Odessa, Ioanițiu was killed in a freak accident.[4]
He was promoted posthumously to major general, and was awarded post-mortem the Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd class.
An alley in the city of Botoșani is named after him.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Ioanițiu, Alexandru". generals.dk. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ "The Paratroopers". www.worldwar2.ro. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ "Decretul Regal nr. 1.906 din 8 iunie 1940 pentru numiri de membri ai ordinului „Coroana României"", Monitorul Oficial (in Romanian), CVIII (131): 2.789, 8 June 1940
- ^ "The Battle of Odessa – 1941". www.worldwar2.ro. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ "Delimitarea, numerotarea și sediile secțiilor de votare organizate pentru alegerea Președintelui României din anul 2019 – Municipiul Botoșani" (PDF) (in Romanian). October 1, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- 1890 births
- 1941 deaths
- Romanian Land Forces generals
- Romanian military personnel killed in World War II
- Recipients of the Order of Michael the Brave
- Commanders of the Order of the Crown (Romania)
- People from Botoșani
- Romanian military personnel of World War I
- Chiefs of the General Staff of Romania
- Carol I National Defence University alumni
- Romanian military personnel stubs