1st Army Krafft Corps The Romanian Debacle 1917 Campaign Bessarabia Romania rejoins the war aftermath The Battle of the Olt Valley consisted in a prolonged military engagement during World War I between Romanian forces on one side and Central Powers' forces (Germany and Austria-Hungary) on the other side.

An initial Central Powers attack in the region was defeated by the Romanian Army at Sălătrucu, causing a one week-long pause in operations.

The Romanian troops fought tenaciously, taking advantage of the positions they had constructed along the border before the war to slow the German progress.

Although the Alpine Corps' rate of advance remained sluggish, during the first two weeks of November Krafft's units captured 80 officers and 7,000 soldiers, 12 artillery pieces and 20 machine guns.

[4] On 28 October, a fresh German division took Mount Mormonta, enabling the Bavarian Guard Regiment to take Zănoaga.

[5][6] On 7 November, near Poiana Spinului, Romanian rifle fire claimed the life of Prince Heinrich of Bavaria, the leader of the III Battalion of the Guard Regiment, who was conducting a personal reconnaissance of the front line.

[9] Having taken Titești on 1 November, the Germans had conquered the heights on both sides of the Topologu (Mounts Fruntu and Mugele), as well as the Cozia Massif at the mouth of the Lotru.

The Romanians promptly counterattacked and, by 11 November, had reconquered Mount Fruntu, but it proved impossible to exploit this initial success.

While the Central Powers had received reinforcements exceeding a division, the Romanians had a considerable force shifted to another sector of the front.