Download “Apa trece, Pietrele rămân”: The Evolution of Romania`s Strategic

Dr. Laura Lacasa Yost
Interdisciplinary Studies
Distance Learning/Social Sciences
Kirkwood Community College
Post-Secondary Curriculum Development Program in Russian, East European,
and Eurasian Studies
Summer 2011
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Apa trece, Pietrele rămân”: The Evolution of Romania’s Strategic
Place Among the Wartime Powers (1918-1945)
NOTE: This annotated bibliography is the result of generous support from the University of
Michigan’s Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies’ Post-Secondary Curriculum
Development Grant. While an introductory compilation, this bibliography should benefit
individuals interested in learning more about the geopolitical, economic, and military
importance of Romania from 1918 through 1945. Romania, from World War I through World
War II, found itself faced with many challenges. After the Treaty of Versailles it greatly
expanded not only its territory (at the expense of Soviet and Hungarian interests) but also its
population (incorporating a significant Hungarian minority). With an abundance of oil reserves
and bountiful harvests, the country struggled with debates over industrial versus rural
development, questions of infrastructure, and issues related to excessive foreign investment. As
wartime neared, nationalism represented a path for potential growth and change, but this
eventually led to an alliance with Nazi Germany, one in which Romania became Hitler’s
strongest Central-/Eastern-European supporter. Finally, in 1944, a Communist coup removed a
pseudo-fascist dictator, only to establish a Socialist regime that maintained Romania’s
contributions to the war (on the Allied side), and promised to improve the overall standard of
living for its new citizens.
GENERAL HISTORY
Blaga, Ion. Economic Growth and Development Policy in Romania, Meridiane Publishing House
(1980). Blaga’s Cold War work argues that Socialist Romania must continue working towards
the goal of industrial development, and that the country still (by the 1980s) had not yet reached
its full potential. The value of this survey lies in its coverage of the early years of the Romanian
oil industry, a sector that at one point in the 1930s (in the fields concentrated around Ploiesti
and the Prahova Valley) represented almost seventy percent of the nation’s industrial output.
Blaga’s critical analysis posits that the then-current Socialist state had yet to adequately
address the nation’s limited infrastructure, the dearth of foreign/domestic investment, the
undiversified nature of industry, and the low standard of living.
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Dobrescu, Emilian. The Structure of the Romanian Economy, Meridiane Publishing House
(1968). In a similar analysis along the lines of Economic Growth and Development, Dobrescu
argues that “the Romanian Communist Party has unflinchingly militated for the economic
development of the country along modern, industrial lines.” From that point he highlights the
successes of Socialist oversight and guidance of areas including Romania’s general economic
sectors, its labor force, trade relationships, population growth and employment application, the
standard of living, and the role of national planning. While the book’s focus does not address
the history of Romania’s economy in depth, it does give perspective to the continuing struggles
of the nation to diversify economically as well as raise the standard of living for the majority of
the population.
Feinstein, Charles H. The European Economy Between the Wars, Oxford University Press (1997).
Feinstein’s economic history describes and analyzes the causes behind the serious economic
and financial struggles that began with the Great Depression and carried on through the
financial crisis of 1931. One of his theses is that the key traits of the Interwar Period were:
slower overall economic growth, the disruption of international trade, the rise in
unemployment, and an increase in industrial productivity. All these elements affected Eastern
Europe as well as the more progressive Western European economies.
Fisher-Galąti, Stephen. Twentieth Century Romania, Columbia University Press (1970). This
historical-political survey optimistically predicts that the Socialist post-war Romanian regime
under Ceausescu will soon collapse and be replaced by a “democratic” system. The work
highlights the Interwar Period as well as the course of World War II to provide a context for
such an interpretation. The author challenges a few traditional interpretations, arguing that
Romanian administrations before and during World War II could not be classified as fascist, as
well as that most anti-Jewish attacks in the country focused on absentee and large-scale
landlords rather than urban entrepreneurs – making Romania’s social tensions more heavily
rural than other states. In the same vein, Fisher-Galąti contends that Antonescu’s actions
during World War II were very popular with the Romanian population because of its antiCommunist tones.
Goralski, Robert. Oil and War: How the Deadly Struggle for Fuel in WWII Meant Victory or
Defeat, William Morrow and Company, Inc. (1987). Goralski’s analysis assesses the value of oil
to the German war machine/economy in World War Two. Beginning with the “Four-Year Plan”
of 1936, Germany under Hermann Göring sought unsuccessfully to achieve fuel self-sufficiency.
“To fight,” Hitler acknowledged, “we must have oil for our machine.” Accordingly, Nazi
aggression in the East was in part motivated by the loss of Galician fields in Poland, the
attractive oil reserves of the Soviet Union, and the coveted productive capacity of Romania.
The narrative traces not only the role of oil for the Axis, but also the Allies, as well as attempts
to predict the fuel needs of future conflicts. The bibliography is primarily composed of
secondary sources.
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Kofman, Jan. Economic Nationalism and Development: Central And Eastern Europe Between
The Two World Wars, Westview Press (1997). Kofman’s purposes are to define “economic
nationalism” in the context East-Central Europe and assess whether the movement was a
barrier or stimulus to economic growth. Arguing that economic nationalism “did advance entry
of the region’s usually backward countries onto the road of modernity,” he thus analyzes the
economic history of a series of selected Eastern European countries (Austria, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria). The
author defines “economic nationalism” (protectionist, autocratic, industrially-focused) and
posits that industrialization is typically the most important component of any nationalist
economic agenda. In the case of Romania, Kofman writes that the country was unique in
experiencing a government initiative working both to promote industry as well as rural
production. The bibliography is comprehensive and full of foreign sources.
Report on Economic Conditions in Roumania, British Department of Overseas Trade. (The
series, as bound and available, includes the following dates: 30 March 1926, Year of 1926, To
March 1928, April 1929, May 1930-May 1933, 1933-1934). This serial delineates data on
various aspects of Romania’s economy at the time: finance, trade, industry, agriculture,
transportation, legislation, and social conditions. A report drafted to highlight major trends,
this series presents current conditions without much evaluation or interpretation.
Tiltman, Hessel. Peasant Europe, Routledge (2006). Titlman’s classic social study of the
rural/peasant population of Eastern Europe argues “Western Europe, preoccupied with the
problems of international relations, industry, and the future of armaments, is sometimes in
danger of overlooking the fact that more than half the entire population of that Continent is
composed of peasants.” The author then assesses the economic, political, and social conditions
of the peasant communities within seven Eastern European states through brief historical
surveys that highlight the variance of development among the selected group. In Chapter 8 he
begins with the poignant question, “Will ‘Greater Romania’ achieve greatness?” His conclusion
is not very optimistic in the sense that Romania faced territorial pressures from the Soviet
Union, falling incomes since 1914, and the ever-present rural problems of heavy taxes, large
estates, limited transportation, and difficulties expanding cultivation.
THE ROMANIAN ECONOMY & OIL INDUSTRY
Boncu, Constantin. Contributii La Istoria Petrolului Românesç, Editura Academiei Republicii
Socialiste România (1971). This work, while valuable in terms of the numerical data provided,
only follows the growth of the Romanian oil industry up through 1901.
Banu, Florian. Asalt Asupra Economiei României, Nemira (2004). This study addresses German
economic penetration in the Romanian economy during World War II until 1944.
Centenary of Rumania’s Oil Industry, Foreign Languages Publishing House (1959). An
interesting example of Cold War propaganda, this brief survey of Romanian oil production
celebrates a hundred years of the country’s most valuable export. It promotes the great
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economic strides made under the then Socialist regime. Critical of the way the industry initially
developed in the 20th Century under the support of “a group of landlords, bourgeois, and
politicians,” it then celebrates the dramatic changes made after August 1944. With numerous
watercolor illustrations, the work advertises aspects of the idealized world Romanian oil
employees inhabited – worker towns, recreational faculties, “festive halls,” hospitals, nurseries,
and schools.
Jordan, Constantin. The Romanian Oil Industry, New York University Press (1955). This analysis
was underwritten by the Free Europe Committee, Inc. to addresses the current nature of
Romanian oil production, which the author equates to “the single most important natural
resource in the new Soviet East European empire.” Using the most-current and reliable data
available during the tense initial years of the Cold War, its goal is to shed “new light” on “official
Communist oil pronouncements.” Even so, it traces the development of Romanian oil
extraction, refinement, and export – dating as far back as 1857 and through the year of peak
production (1936). Thus, it is a brief, but valuable survey highlighting the role of foreign
investors, the challenges posed by limited capital, poor infrastructure, and inadequate
transportation – all historical characteristics of this sector.
Pearton, Maurice. Oil and the Romanian State, Clarendon Press (1971). Pearton’s historical
survey traces the development of Romania’s oil industry from 1895 until 1948. While the
author’s stated purpose is to address the role of Romania’s government in shaping the growth
of the nation’s most valuable resource, this line of argument often gets overshadowed by the
general historical narrative. Even so, Pearton asserts that the State’s dominant roles have been
to provide administrative permission for economic activity, as well as pass legislation. Even in
light of continuous active government support, the industry has not reached its complete
potential thanks to the complications associated with limited funds, poor infrastructure, the
necessity of foreign technology and other forms of general investment, political turmoil, etc.
The glossary to this work provides an informative introduction to key oil industry terms
(alkylation, bean, fractional distillation, raffinate, and tolvole).
Treptow, Kurt. Romania and World War Two, Centrul de Studii Românești (1996). This bilanguage work (topical essays are in either English or Romanian) commemorates the fiftieth
anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The English-language content addresses 1)
the context in which Romania joined WWII, arguing that Romania’s entrance into the Axis
sphere was based upon the need to redress Soviet territorial aggression, and 2) the nature of
contemporary Romanian studies since the collapse of the Soviet Union, stating that most
research on Romania and the Second World War focuses on either politics of 1941-1945, the
Holocaust against Romanian Jews, the country’s diplomatic actions, or Romania’s military
contributions to the Eastern Front.
Turnock, David. The Romanian Economy in the Twentieth Century, Croom Helm (1986).
Integrating numerous Romanian-language sources, this historical survey narrates the
development of the country’s economy, as well as critically evaluates many of it challenges.
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Turnock argues that Romanians faced the future with great excitement after the successful
conclusion of World War I, but that reality in the form of limited capital, undiversified exports,
low standards of living, wartime damage, and poor infrastructure prevented the country from
realizing its citizens’ expectations.
THE FIRST WORLD WAR
Grandhomme, Jean-Noël. La Roumanie Dans la Grande Guerre et L’Effondrement de L’Armée
Russe, Harmattan (2000). This military history argues it is the “first public testimony of the
French mission in Romania to address the collapse of the former Russian Empire which
produced convulsions on the Eastern Front.” Grandhomme’s work focuses on French military
action in Romania as a means to keep the nation involved in World War One.
Grandhomme, Jean-Noël. La Roumanie de la Triplice á l’Entente (1914-1919), Harmattan
(2000). Grandhomme’s political history examines Romania at the conclusion of World War I,
noting it “ended up winning on all fronts.” Thanks to favorable negotiations at Versailles, as
well as successes associated with the Second Balkan War, Romania found itself in a unique
position – a country with dramatically expanded political borders as well as one forced to
incorporate numerous minority groups. All this meant new challenges during the Interwar
Period. In contrast to events in WWII, Romania actively tried to place itself in the Allied sphere
after 1918 and move away from its close association with Germany. Further, Grandhomme
notes Romania’s unique position, which would be unchanged in the 1940s – “Romania is a
young state of modest means, rich in wheat and oil, but with little industry and very unequal.”
Maliţa, Mircea. Romanian Diplomacy – A Historical Survey, Meridiane Publishing House (1970).
Choosing to “connect” points of existing research, Maliţa argues that up to that point “no
complete treatise” had yet been written on Romania’s diplomatic history in the modern period;
he states his work is thus an effort to “lift the veil” of secrecy on Romania’s actions for both
European and other foreign readers. Accordingly, Maliţa proposes that Romania, regardless of
which international conflict, has consistently been in a “permanent struggle for independence
and sovereignty” and these goals are what have shaped her political maneuvering. From a legal
perspective he addresses the historic challenges posed to Romania and its existence via the
four key traits that represent genuine diplomacy (continuity, lawfulness, sovereignty, and
negotiation). Also, he addresses how Socialist Romania (post-1944) has chosen to conduct
itself internationally. Regarding World War II, Maliţa argues Romania was dragged into the
conflict because of a political context beyond its control and that it did not possess an overt
desire to assist the Third Reich. The included bibliography is comprehensive and includes
multiple foreign-language sources (Romanian, French).
Torrey, Glenn. Romania and World War I, Histria Books (1998). This straightforward diplomatic
and military survey, sponsored by the Center for Romanian Studies, chooses not to put forth
any new theories about Romania during the World War II but rather make existing studies
“more accessible.” While an informative work, scholars interested in further research may be
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frustrated by the lack of an introduction or conclusion, as well as bibliography. The piece,
however, is heavily footnoted.
Torrey, Glenn. The Revolutionary Russian Army and Romania, 1917, Center for Russian & East
European Studies, University of Pittsburgh (1995). Torrey focuses on the post-1917
Revolutionary Russian forces operating in the Romanian theater. Particular emphasis is given
to the concerns over the spread of Marxist ideology along with the efforts of Russian troops to
indoctrinate and incite Romanians along political lines. Torrey argues that Russian
maneuvering failed amongst the Romanian contingent on account of their resentment of
Russian forces, limited military discipline, and the overall context of the losses suffered in 1916.
Attention is also focused on political complications along the Romanian front stemming from
anti-Jewish sentiment, anti-monarchical ideology, and the presence of overwhelming Russian
military forces. Torrey includes discussions on Russo-Romanian cooperation in Moldavia, the
difficulties associated with demobilizing and disarming Russian forces after the Soviet Union
withdrew from the war, and the lingering tensions over Bessarabia.
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Bucur, Maria. Heroes and Victims - Remembering War in Twentieth-Century Romania, Indiana
University Press (2009). This sociological analysis examines “memory studies” as they relate to
Romania. Attention is paid to how the nation records the sacrifices of its war dead
(monuments, cemeteries), as well as celebrates their memories (street names, plaques) under
the country’s post-war Communist regimes. Bucur strongly presses for greater attention to
Eastern Europe’s role during World War II because the region is often marginalized. She also
argues that her selection of Romania is appropriate because of the country’s unique wartime
situation (the lack of a home army, organized partisan groups, or concentration camps) as well
as distinct post-war conditions (ethnic, political, and religious diversity). The author believes
that while much of the celebration and remembrance in Romania is clearly “top-down,” local
administrations are often very vocal and active, thus forcing a give-and-take relationship with
the national Socialist leadership.
Buzatu, Gheorghe. “Romania’s Options in June, 1940.” Romanian Civilization 3:1
(Spring/Summer 1994), 63-87. Buzatu puts forth that Romania’s political choices during World
War II need to be re-examined in light of expanded access to documentation and a willingness
to reinterpret historic events with an open mind. The author’s thesis that “resistance [to
German demands] would have been the ideal choice and the most advantageous for the
country,” is based upon his reasoning that: 1) Romania needed to take a stand against Soviet
aggression as a means to prevent the loss of additional territory from other countries, 2) the
government should have understood it had leverage over the Nazis thanks to its oil reserves,
and 3) Red Army forces did not have as much of a military advantage over Romanian forces as
initially thought. Buzatu believes an aggressive stand would have benefited the country in the
post-war period because Stalin would thus not have been able to convince the Allies that
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Soviet-seized Romanian territory should remain under USSR control (based upon the logic that
even Hitler acknowledged Stalin could have it).
Constantinesco, Nicholas. Romania in Harm’s Way: 1939-1941, East European Monographs
(2005). This political history places the wartime actions of Romania in the context of the
dramatic international events that took place immediately after the First World War and
continued into the Interwar Period. At the conclusion of the Versailles negotiations Romania
already had three potential enemies – the Soviet Union, Hungary, and Bulgaria – each one
angered by their territorial losses at the expense of “România Mare.” In addition, Romania
actively worked to mend its relations with Germany during the 1930s, while Germany became
responsive to these initiatives thanks to expanded access to Romania’s oil. Arguing that
Antonescu was “a true patriot,” Constantinesco concludes that Romania did not plan to enter
World War II on Germany’s side nor become an active belligerent against the USSR; “it is ironic
that after years of unrelenting struggle against odds to avoid having any thing to do with the
Soviet dictatorship of the proletariat, fate decided otherwise.”
Deletant, Dennis. Hitler’s Forgotten Ally: Ion Antonescu and his Regime, Romania (1940 -1944),
Palgrave Macmillan (2006). Deletant’s examination is a biographical and political history of the
Romanian leader Antonescu (who headed the country from September 1940 until the coup that
overthrew him in August of 1944). The author provides an “understanding of Antonescu’s role
and the policies of Romania under his direction” which have been “impeded in English-speaking
accounts by the lack of any systematic biography” since most accounts, according to him,
simply end with 1941. Deletant’s assessment concludes that Antonescu, who oversaw the third
largest Axis army in Europe, should be praised for saving more Jews than he killed, promoting
nationalism, standing up to the Third Reich in refusing to deport more Jews to concentration
camps in 1942, as well as reacting to the genuine threats posed by the Soviet Union.
Accordingly, the work highlights the following: Antonescu’s military dictatorship, the
ambivalence and ambiguities of his regime, post-WWII armistice terms, Antonescu’s trial and
execution. This study was sponsored by the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies (United
States Holocaust Museum) and the bibliography represents the writer’s extensive archival
research – the Archives of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Archives of the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs (Bucharest), the Archive of the Ministry of National Defense (Pitești,
Romania), National Archives (London), and the National Council for the Study of the Archives of
the Former Securitate (CNSAS).
Glantz, David. Red Storm Over the Balkans: The Failed Soviet Invasion of Romania, Spring 1944,
University Press of Kansas (2006). This military study addresses the actions of the Red Army
during the Winter and Spring of 1944 when the Soviets made their great offensive push
towards Germany. Focusing solely on the military actions, the author argues his work
“indicates that [the] traditional explanation of the military strategy Stalin pursued during this
period is incorrect.” Based upon widespread research into previously “unexploited” German
and Russian archives, the work concludes that “Stalin ordered the Red Army to conduct major
offensives along the entire Soviet-German front” during 1944. Romania figures into this picture
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as the battleground between the two empires; it was the sight of an unsuccessful German
invasion in April-May 1944, as well as the ground on which the Soviets marched in the initial
stages of their major counter-offensive. Glantz argues that Eastern Europe, particularly as it
relates to the military struggle waged between the Germans and the Soviets, is too often
overlooked in military histories. This is made even more egregious in light of the fact that at
least forty percent of all military engagements in the entire European theater took place on the
Eastern Front.
Hoyt, Edwin P. Stalin’s War: Tragedy and Triumph, 1941-1945, Cooper Square Press (2003).
Hoyt’s military history argues that Stalin’s lack of military knowledge and experience, in
combination with his insistence on personally dictating events along the Eastern Front, led to a
series of disastrous and costly defeats for the Red Army during the initial stages of Russia’s
defense against Operation Barbarossa. This survey highlights key turning points during the
four-year conflict that raged between Germany and the Soviet Union, but also examines the
first few months of the early Cold War. Thus, Hoyt discusses events in Romania (as well as
Bulgaria, Hungry, and Czechoslovakia) during 1944-1945, with special attention given to the
collapse of German-based resistance, the abdication of Antonescu, the ascension of a new
Communist regime, and Western interpretations of those developments.
Mueller-Hillerbrand, Burkhart. Germany and Its Allies, Praeger (1980). Focusing on Germany
during World War II, this survey addresses the Nazi need to coordinate military actions with its
allies as well as collaborate with those states on an individual level – thus creating a very
diverse relationship among (primarily) the European nations composing the Axis powers. Thus,
the work is divided up thematically according to ally (Italy, USSR, Finland, Romania, Spain, and
Japan). Romania became the focal point of German energies thanks to its oil reserves as well as
strategic position on Germany’s southern front against the Soviet Union. Sadly for Germany,
this relationship was haphazard, poorly coordinated, and suffered from limited Romainan
infrastructure, transportation, and communication.
Prazmowska, Anita. Eastern Europe and the Origins of the Second World War, Palgrave
Macmillan (2000). Starting from the perspective that World War Two is traditionally taught
from the “Big Power” perspective, an approach that treats small states as “victims” or a simple
“nuisance,” the author argues that examining the decisions and actions of Eastern European
players is essential for establishing a well-rounded and more representative historical picture.
Prazmowska’s survey therefore focuses on a handful of Eastern European states
(Czechosolvakia, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Balkan States, and the USSR) and their
development in the years preceding WWII. In terms of Romania, the country found itself
surrounded by aggressive nations (the USSR and Hungary) who were actively pursuing the
return of newly-acquired Romanian lands, while also being challenged internally by the need to
integrate more than two million new citizens of Hungarian decent. As the 1930s progressed
Romania became the focal point of German interest thanks to an abundance of oil and
foodstuffs. This work treats each country under study individually via a straightforward
narrative and it does not provide any conclusion.
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Rothschild, Joseph. Eastern Central Europe Between the Two World Wars, University of
Washington Press (2000). Rothschild’s treatise, much like that of Prazmowska, works to shed
light on events in a sphere of Europe often overlooked in discussions on the Second World War.
The author states a value of studying Eastern Europe stems in part from the wealth of research
material available, as well as that doing so enhances and expands the overall historical record.
In this particular case, Rothschild states his intent is to write an introductory history meant to
serve the needs of non-specialists. While addressing the same group of nations as does Eastern
Europe and the Origins of the Second World War, this comparative study includes major issues
such as national unification, minority groups, the peasant population, land ownership, and
political issues.
Tudor, Gheorghe. International Echo of the Revolution of August 1944: and of Romania’s
Contribution to the Anti-Hitlerite War, Editura Politică (1984). Commemorating the fortieth
anniversary of Romania’s 1944 Communist coup, this collection gathers numerous sources of
foreign coverage of the events which overthrew Antonescu as well as (the editors argue)
“hastened the collapse of the Third Reich.” The compilation takes coverage and commentary
from sources including BBC broadcasts; Swedish, Bulgarian, and AP news coverage; U.S.
magazines, war diary excerpts, and others to create the context in which the Communists came
to power and Romania turned against its Nazi ally. It is an interesting approach to primary
documents, but its narrow focus and potential as a propagandist tool should be taken into
account. Included in the appendix are the Statement of the Central Committee of Romania, the
Proclamation to Country of the Romanian State’s Head, the State of the Romanian
Government, and Operational Directives of Romania’s General Staff.
Vago, Bela. The Shadow of the Swastika: The Rise of Fascism and Anti-Semitism in the Danube
Basin, 1936-1939, Saxon House for the Institute of Jewish Affairs (1975). Vago’s political study
examines the role and influence of Great Britain in three Eastern European countries (Romania,
Czechoslovakia, and Hungary) during the Interwar Period. The first part of this work assesses
the growing radicalization of their political environments (the expansion of the “extreme”
Right), while the second examines these events through the eyes of British diplomats stationed
overseas. Vago concludes that Britain favored “moderate” Right movements, but unfortunately
in the context of worsening overall conditions in the 1930s, those often morphed into more
extreme organizations.
Watts, Larry. “Antonescu and the German Alliance.” Romanian Civilization 1:1 (Summer 1992),
61-76. The author chooses to address three particular questions found in the traditional
historical narrative regarding Romania in World War II: 1) what was Antonescu’s motivation for
a military alliance with Germany, 2) why did he choose to continue Romania’s territorial
expansion beyond Bessarabia, and 3) why was he arrested in 1944? Watts argues that
Antonescu willingly cooperated with the Nazis in order to defend Romania from other
aggressors, that he was planning to secure territory for the nation in light of the eventual (and
presumed) defeat of Germany by the Allies, and that many opponents were concerned he
would disclose Romania’s defection from the Axis prematurely and so a preventative arrest was
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necessary. Watt’s succinct arguments are supplemented by a very comprehensive collection of
primary (Allied government reports) and secondary (contemporary) sources.
THE SECOND WORLD WAR: MILITARY OPERATIONS
Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence Historical Division, U.S. Air Force Historical Study No.
103: The Ploesti Mission of 1 August 1943 (June 1944). This “first narrative” produced during
the Second World War describes, from a military operations perspective, the bombing
campaign targeting Ploesti oil operations. While a traditional historical outline of events (the
history of Romania’s oil industry, the role of fuel in a wartime economy, campaign planning,
strategy, etc.) perhaps one of the study’s most valuable contributions is the concluding chapter
which critically evaluates the low-altitude attack in terms of estimated damage, the need for
follow-up attacks, international reactions, and the treatment of POWs. The bibliography
contains a comprehensive collection of contemporary U.S. government reports, publications,
and papers.
Dugan, James and Carroll Stewart. Ploesti – The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943,
Potomac Books Inc. (2002). Taking advantage of personal experiences (both authors were
members of the Ploesti air raid) and utilizing professional connections (almost half of all living
Tidal Wave participants were interviewed), this work provides an engaging historical narrative
of the events associated with the U.S. 8th Air Force’s attack on the oil operations in Ploesti,
Romania. This work’s strength lies in its extensive mining of personal accounts, not only from
Americans, but surviving German personnel (Luftwaffe pilots and flak operators). In addition,
this work boasts the first complete mission roster ever published, as well as the inclusion of
unpublished personal written accounts.
Higham, Robin. “The Ploesti Ploy: British Considerations and the Idea of Bombing the Romanian
Oil fields, 1940-1941.” Romanian Civilization 2:1 (Spring 1993), 20-33. Higham’s critical analysis
addresses what the author deems to be the deeply-flawed British RAF designs to attack Ploesti
oil operations in order to prevent them from falling into German hands. Arguing that “modern
high technology requires a similar mental effort in planning its use from the grand strategic
through the strategic down to the tactical level,” Highman underlies his thesis by addressing
general British colonial arrogance, logistical complications, aircraft limitations, complicated
relations (particularly between Britain and Greece), and misperceptions about projected
success.
Kurowski, Franz. The Brandenberger Commandos: Germany’s Elite Warrior Spies in WWII, J.J.
Fedorowicz Publishing, Inc. (2005). Kurowski’s military history traces the creation, training, and
application of Germany’s OKW Amt Ausland/Abwehr, otherwise known as the OKW Office for
Foreign and Counter-Intelligence. Spurred on by covert British operations in Western Europe,
the Germans sought to create a similar force dedicated to “intelligence gathering, sabotage,
special missions, and counter-intelligence.” This work dedicates an entire, though brief,
chapter on Romania; Germany had become convinced that French and British operatives were
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going to stage clandestine attacks against oil production, transportation, and storage facilities.
Accordingly, the Germans were able to gain permission from King Carol to establish “oil
protection organizations” in country. Activities are chronicled, not only in Eastern Europe, but
parts of the Mideast, along with India and Africa.
Newby, Leroy. Target Ploesti: View From a Bombsight, Presidio (1983). A first-hand account of
the 460th Bomber Group’s mission (Operation Tidal Wave) in 1943 against the Romanian oil
fields in Ploesti. Newby bases this personal story on his mission diary, his own reflections, and
interactions with fellow participants.
Schultz, Duayne. Into the Fire: Ploesti, the Most Fateful Mission of World War II, Westholme
Publishing (2008). Schultz’s engaging narrative traces the history of what became known as
Operation Tidal Wave, the Allied air strike against the facilities in and around Ploesti. Following
the mission from planning, training, and application through post-strike evaluation, he provides
an accessible account of the events that, upon in-depth analysis, were not very successful in
terms of overall damage inflicted.
Stout, Jay. FORTRESS PLOESTI: The Campaign to Destroy Hitler's Oil Supply, Casemate (2011).
While a similar narrative to that of Into the Fire, FORTRESS PLOESTI takes its analysis a bit
further by questioning bombing tactics and strategy.
U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey Oil Division. Oil Division Final Report, U.S. Strategic Bombing
Survey (1947). While highly informative, this work only addresses the damage caused by U.S.
and Allied bombing campaigns against oil production operations in Germany proper. It does
not take into account foreign sources (such as Galicia and Romania). The data contained is
extensive – the proximity to target of actual bombs dropped, the planned capacity versus actual
capacity of German facilities, the diversification of the oil and chemical sectors, the production
of petroleum products by process, etc. Many of the charts are visually inventive regarding how
they relay information.
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