The monument erected in honour of the Romanian Heroes of the Second Balkan War (1913)

THE MONUMENT ERECTED IN HONOUR OF THE ROMANIAN HEROES OF THE SECOND BALKAN WAR (1913) The Second Balkan War broke out after Bulgaria, dissatisfied with the provisions of the Treaty of London of 30th May 1913, signed following the first regional confrontation in 1912, between Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria, on the one hand, and the Ottoman Empire, on the other hand, carried out a new offensive, this time against its former allies, but also against what was left of European Turkey. Romania, neutral in the First Balkan War, but now interested in securing its southern flank, mobilized its troops and crossed the Danube, with the intention of reaching Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The 8th Infantry Regiment - Buzău was transported by train to Bucharest, after which it marched towards Turnu Măgurele and crossed the Danube on 30th June 1913. The clashes with the Bulgarian army, which was in permanent retreat, were insignificant from the point of view of the military actions, but the most perfidious enemy was cholera, which also hit mercilessly after the signing of the armistice, then the peace of August 1913, when the Romanian troops were ordered to move to the country. The soldiers of the 8th Infantry Regiment - Buzău were boarded on barges in Nikopol, together with those of the 9th Infantry Regiment - Râmnicu Sărat, and transported on the Danube to Brăila, and from here, by rail, to Buzău, with a quarantine of almost ten days in Tăbărăşti, the period in which the epidemic continued to produce victims. In this campaign, the regiment from Buzău was decorated with "Avântul Țării" medal, and in memory of those who lost their lives, a monument was erected in 1914, initially located in the "Saint George" Cemetery, located at the exit of Buzău towards Brăila. On the initiative of Colonel Gheorghe Spirescu, in front of the barracks of the 7th Artillery Regiment - Buzău, (moved to the "Saint George" Cemetery and then to the Heroes' Cemetery), the mentioned monument was erected in their memory, unveiled in the presence of General Georgescu, the commander of the 5th Infantry Division, representatives of all civil and military authorities, widows, orphans and relatives of the commemorated heroes, the consecration service being officiated by a council of priests led by Bishop Dionysius. This monument, which consists of a large stone cross, beautifully decorated in Brâncovenesc style, on a pedestal, was erected by public subscription, the citizens of the city and county of Buzău enthusiastically participating in this financial effort, the accredited sculptor being Enrico Del Debbio. Later, this monument was moved to the Heroes' Cemetery assembly, whose foundation stone was laid on 15th March 1930, at the initiative of General Nicolae Uică, the successor of General Traian Epure in command of the 5th Infantry Division - Buzău, and who was also the president of the local branch of the "Cult of Heroes" Society. Based on the documentation of Mr. Dr. Marius-Adrian Nicoară, associate member of the Academy of Romanian Scientists, Buzău City Hall financed its rehabilitation by Megarock S.R.L., entrepreneur Robert Ramazan, and it was unveiled on 17th May 2018.