Russian opinion on Romanian soldiers

[Tavi R.]

I'm interested in knowing what the Russians thought about our soldiers, how did they rate them?

[Dénes]

Here is a rare assessment on ARR I could found in a Soviet source, regarding the 1941 Campaign:
“Luckily for pilots of the OdVO (Odessa Military District), the majority of their opponents were Rumanians. They had been found not as skilled and dangerous as their German colleagues, and could not take advantage of the existing drawbacks of the VVS. The obsolescence of several Rumanian aircraft types – such as the P.Z.L. P.11 and P.24, similar to our I-15 – had also shown in detriment.”

[Tavi R.]

Thanks a lot Dénes. What can I say... keep them coming.

[Florin]

QUOTE

Here is a rare assessment on ARR I could found in a Soviet source, regarding the 1941 Campaign: Luckily for pilots of the OdVO (Odessa Military District), the majority of their opponents were Rumanians. They had been found not as skilled and dangerous as their German colleagues, and could not take advantage of the existing drawbacks of the VVS. The obsolescence of several Rumanian aircraft types - such as the P.Z.L. P.11 and P.24, similar to our I-15 , had also shown in detriment.

Denes,

As you reproduce exactly a Soviet text, my following words are not against you, but against it.
The last part of the text, about the obsolescence of a part of the Romanian airplanes, is unquestionable.

But I don't like that: "They had been found not as skilled and dangerous as their German colleagues, and could not take advantage of the existing drawbacks of the VVS."

There are 2 points here. I am starting with the less important:
While the Romanian pilots saw their first real combat flights in June 1941, the German pilots had combat missions in the previous 22 months. I did not add in this the Spanish Civil war. The German pilots encountered real danger from pilots of 5 enemy countries before June 1941. Excepting the few "kills" made by few Romanian pilots in the summer of 1940, the average Romanian pilot saw his first fight after June 22, 1941.
The events around Odessa happened soon after start, so in those days the ARR could still be regarded as "green".

And now the most important factor.
In the German Army of 1941 the Me-109 was the standard fighter. Many historians of today considered the Messerchmidt 109 the best fighter of the moment, and the British idea that the Spitfire was better is more a matter of national pride.
In the wars waged in the XXth century, there was no other discipline as in aviation where technology was a factor stronger than the human skills. Of course, a brilliant man can get everything his plane can offer, but what his airplane can do is up to point.

And now, about these Soviet sources... I give an example on my behalf, to show how "good" some of them were. Unfortunately, the text is not on hand, so I'll present it as accurate my memory allows. Worse for me, I don't know what Russian wrote it, but believe me: it's real.

The subject was about the fights in the Eastern Germany in Spring 1945.
The Russian wrote in his book: "... A formation of Focke Wulf 190, carring bombs, appeared above the front line. It was obvious how desperate the situation of the Fascist agressors became, as they start to use fighters with the task of bombers".
Thas was good for a child, as I was when I read that.
I guess most of you know that there where Focke Wolf 190 assigned to be fighter/bombers, or diving bombers, from the design stage (since they were manufactured).

Well, I made my point.
Florin :?