Romania's re-entry into World War I on 10 November 1918 came one day before the Armistice, enabling its claim to Transylvania and shaping post-war Romanian borders.
Key Facts
- Romanian neutrality period
- First two years of WWI, until August 1916
- Entered war on Entente side
- 27 August 1916
- Armistice with Central Powers
- 9 December 1917
- Treaty of Bucharest signed
- May 1918 (parliament only; king refused)
- Territory lost under treaty
- All Dobruja, Carpathian passes, 99-year oil lease to Germany
- Re-entered war
- 10 November 1918
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Romania initially remained neutral due to internal divisions between a pro-German monarchy and a pro-Entente public and political elite. Territorial ambitions over Transylvania, combined with an Entente ultimatum in August 1916, pushed Romania to enter the war. After military collapse and Russian withdrawal, Romania was forced into a punishing armistice in December 1917 and then the Treaty of Bucharest in May 1918.
Romania re-entered World War I on 10 November 1918 as the Central Powers collapsed on the Western Front. King Ferdinand I had refused to promulgate the Treaty of Bucharest throughout 1918, anticipating an Allied victory. This re-entry came one day before the general Armistice of 11 November 1918, formally aligning Romania again with the victorious Entente powers.
By re-entering the war before the Armistice, Romania positioned itself among the victorious Allied nations, enabling it to claim Transylvania from Austria-Hungary and make additional territorial gains. The Treaty of Bucharest was rendered void, and Romania ultimately achieved substantial territorial expansion, including Transylvania, Bessarabia, and parts of Dobruja, fulfilling its longstanding national unification aspirations.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
3 belligerents
Side B
3 belligerents