The Mamornița border clash was an incursion of Russian forces into Romanian territory during the Brusilov Offensive in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. As Romania was neutral at the time, the Russian forces left Romanian territory soon afterwards.

Background

The offensive of the Russian General

Aleksei Brusilov Aleksei Alekseyevich Brusilov (, ; rus, Алексей Алексеевич Брусилов, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsʲej ɐlʲɪkˈsʲejɪvʲɪdʑ brʊˈsʲiɫəf; – 17 March 1926) was a Russian and later Soviet general most noted for the developmen ...

in June 1916 was significantly impacting the Romanian public opinion. The Russian advance soon reached the Romanian border, on the

Prut River The Prut (also spelled in English as Pruth; , ) is a river in Eastern Europe. It is a left tributary of the Danube, and is long. Part of its course forms Romania's border with Moldova and Ukraine. Characteristics The Prut originates on the eas ...

Border clash

On 11 June 1916, in their pursuit of the Austro-Hungarian Army in

Bukovina Bukovina or ; ; ; ; , ; see also other languages. is a historical region at the crossroads of Central and Eastern Europe. It is located on the northern slopes of the central Eastern Carpathians and the adjoining plains, today divided betwe ...

, Russian forces crossed the Romanian border. A Russian cavalry patrol crossed the Prut at Herța (

Hertsa Hertsa or Hertza is a city located in Chernivtsi Raion, Chernivtsi Oblast in western Ukraine and has a population of The city is located close to the border with Romania, southeast of Chernivtsi and north of Dorohoi. Until 2020, it was t ...

) and was disarmed and interned. Another patrol penetrated as far inland as

Dorohoi Dorohoi () is a city in Botoșani County, Romania, on the right bank of the river Jijia, which broadens into a lake on the north. The city administers three villages: Dealu Mare, Loturi Enescu, and Progresul. History Dorohoi used to be a market ...

. A proper armed clash, however, took place at Mamornița (Mamornytsia), where a Russian detachment crossed the Prut and overwhelmed the border guard.

Aftermath

Iași Iași ( , , ; also known by other #Etymology and names, alternative names), also referred to mostly historically as Jassy ( , ), is the Cities in Romania, third largest city in Romania and the seat of Iași County. Located in the historical ...

, where fear and mistrust of Russia remained the highest, a "League for National Defense" was created. Despite allegations from his

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

opposition, the Liberal Romanian Prime Minister,

Ion I. C. Brătianu Ion Ionel Constantin Brătianu (, also known as Ionel Brătianu; 20 August 1864 – 24 November 1927) was a Romanian politician, leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Prime Minister of Romania for five terms, and Foreign Minister on seve ...

, was thoroughly upset over the Russian incursion. The Russians, having no intention to force his hand, quickly left Romanian territory. The Russian crossing of the Romanian border was inadvertent. Brătianu thought that these infractions were meant to test how Romania would behave. On 17 June, the Austro-Hungarian Minister to Romania, Count

Ottokar Czernin Ottokar Theobald Otto Maria ''Graf'' Czernin von und zu Chudenitz (; 26 September 1872 – 4 April 1932) was an Austro-Hungarian diplomat and politician during the time of World War I, notably serving as Foreign Minister from 1916 to 1918. Life ...

, was fully satisfied by the proper attitude observed by Romania.Leonard Arthur Magnus, K. Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company Limited, 1917, ''Roumania's Cause & Ideals'', p. 119

References

{{reflist Battles of the Eastern Front (World War I) Battles of World War I involving Romania Battles of World War I involving Russia History of Chernivtsi Oblast Conflicts in 1916 1916 in Romania 1916 in the Russian Empire