Vladimir Constantinescu (19 June 1895 – 1965) was a

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. He was born in

Călărași Călărași (), the capital of Călărași County in the Muntenia region, is situated in south-east Romania, on the banks of the Danube's Borcea branch, at about from the Bulgarian border and from Bucharest. The city is an industrial centre ...

, the son of Captain Hristea Constantinescu and his wife, Eufrosina. After completing elementary school in his native town, he enrolled in 1914 in the Military School for Cavalry Officers in

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...

, graduating în 1916 with the rank of second lieutenant. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

he was promoted to lieutenant in 1917. From 1919 to 1920, Constantinescu pursued his military studies at the Cavalry School in

Saumur Saumur () is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France. The town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc.. Saumur statio ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. He advanced in rank to captain in 1921 and to major in 1929. From 1928 to 1930 he completed his military training at the

Higher War School The National Defence University of Warsaw ( – AON) was the civil-military highest defence academic institution in Poland, located in Warszawa–Rembertów. In 2016 it was succeeded by the War Studies University. The National Defence Universit ...

. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1936 and to colonel in June 1940. From June 1941 to July 1942, he served as Commandant of the Cavalry School and then became Commanding Officer 8th '' Roșiori'' Cavalry Regiment. Constantinescu was sent to the Eastern Front, and led the ''Vifor'' Detachment during the Battle of the Caucasus to

Novorossiysk Novorossiysk ( rus, Новоросси́йск, p=nəvərɐˈsʲijsk; ady, ЦIэмэз, translit=Chəməz, p=t͡sʼɜmɜz) is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. It is one of the largest ports on the Black Sea. It is one of the few cities hono ...

. He was awarded the German

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...

, 2nd class (1942) and the

Order of Michael the Brave The Order of Michael the Brave ( ro, Ordinul Mihai Viteazul) is Romania's highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of the First World War, and was again awarded in the Second Wor ...

, 3rd class (1943). From October 1942 to December 1943, he served again as Commandant of the Cavalry School and then served as Chief of Staff Mechanized Troops Command until July 1944. From July to October 1944, Constantinescu was General Officer Commanding the 1st Cavalry Division. After Romania switched sides to the

Allies An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

in the wake of the 23 August coup d'état, he distinguished himself in the military actions in

Transylvania Transylvania ( ro, Ardeal or ; hu, Erdély; german: Siebenbürgen) is a historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains, and to the west the Ap ...

on the

Târnava The Târnava (full name in ro, Râul Târnava; hu, Küküllő; german: Kokel; tr, Kokul or Kokulu) is a river in Romania. It is formed by the confluence of the Târnava Mare and Târnava Mică in the town of Blaj. The Târnava flows into the ...

and Mureș rivers, during the Battle of Turda. From December 1944 to May 1945 he served as Deputy General Officer Commanding the 8th Cavalry Division. Constantinescu was promoted to brigadier general in June 1945. He went into reserve in August 1946 and retired in August 1947. In 1948 he was found guilty of illegal possession of weapons by the communist authorities. Between 30 October 1948 and 11 July 1950, he was imprisoned at

Aiud Prison Aiud Prison is a prison complex in Aiud, Alba County, located in central Transylvania, Romania. It is infamous for the treatment of its political inmates, especially during World War II under the rule of Ion Antonescu, and later under the Commu ...

and at the Poarta Albă labor colony at the

Danube–Black Sea Canal The Danube–Black Sea Canal ( ro, Canalul Dunăre–Marea Neagră) is a navigable canal in Romania, which runs from Cernavodă on the Danube river, via two branches, to Constanța and Năvodari on the Black Sea. Administered from Agigea, it ...

. He died in Bucharest in 1965.

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* * 1895 births 1965 deaths Romanian Land Forces generals Romanian military personnel of World War II People from Călărași Carol I National Defence University alumni Recipients of the Order of Michael the Brave Recipients of the Iron Cross (1939), 2nd class Inmates of Aiud prison Inmates of the Danube–Black Sea Canal Romanian prisoners and detainees People convicted of illegal possession of weapons {{Romania-mil-bio-stub