The 8th Mixed Artillery Brigade follows the fighting traditions of the 2nd Brigade and 1st and 5th Heavy Artillery Regiments.
The 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade was set up on the 1st of July 1916 in Bucharest as established by the 2436 Decree from the 27th of June 1916. R3 and 4AG were subordinated to the Brigade.
On the 1st of Novemeber 1923, the 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade Headquarters became the artillery Headquarters of Bistrita D. 2 V.M..
The 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade was set up again in 1948 from the Mixed Artillery Brigade in Slobozia. The 5th Heavy Artillery Regiment Brasov and the 6th Heavy Artillery Regiment Ploiesti were subordinated to it.
The 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade was deployed from Slobozia to Ploiesti in September 1948.
In accordance with M. ST. M’s order, the 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade became, sice the 1st of February 1949, the 8th Heavy Artillery Brigade with R5 and 15 AG as subordinated units.
The 8th Heavy Artillery Brigade was reorganized on the 1st of November 1950 and changed its name into the 8th Ind.Heavy Artillery Brigade deployed in Focsani.Since the 1st of December 1951, the 8th Ind.Heavy Artillery Brigade became the 32nd Ind. Heavy Artillery Brigade .
On the 30th of December 1954 the Fighting colours is granted to the 32nd Ind. Heavy Artillery Brigade. The 32nd Ind. Heavy Artillery Brigade’s Fighting Colours was granted “R.P.R. Star” order, IVth class by 350 Decree from the 18th of August 1954.
Since the 1st of November 1954 the Brigade is named the 32nd Artillery Cannon Brigade.
Since the 23rd of February 1959 the brigade is named the 8th Artillery Cannon Brigade, and since the 1st of December 2001 is called the 8th Mixed Artillery Brigade.
FIGHTING TRADITIONS
The 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment
On the 1st of March 1915 the 1st Siege Artillery Regiment was created.
The beginning of the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment is almost the same as the history of the heavy artillery in the Romanian Army since it was the the 1st heavy artillery regiment ever to be set up.
The regiment received the Fighting Colours on the 10th of May 1915.
On the 15th of August 1916 the regiment is called up and takes part in the 1st World War campaign supporting the troops that force the Danube.
The 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment participated in the combats from Mărăşeşti, Bizigheşti, Străjescu, and Doaga areas.
On the 26th of May 1918, the regiment commander, Lt.col. Zvoranu Ioan, Lt. Homoriceanu Constantin şi 1stLt. Leon Gheorghiu, bearing the Regiment’s Colours, take part in the commemoration of heroes in Iasi. The Regiment’s Colours is kept in Iasi and on the 27th of May 1918, in the presence of the royal family, King Ferdinand grants it the “Steaua Romaniei” Order to Knight rank with swords and the “Military Virtue” ribbon.
Between the 15th of July and the 28th of November 1919, one division of the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment participates in the actions from Transilvania, getting as far as Tisa. On the 28th of November 1919 it receives the order to move to Bucharest.
According to M. ST. M’s order no 20252 from 1942, the mobilization of the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment is ordered. In the evening of the 7th of March 1942 the regiment is completely mobilized, ready to embark and go towards Odessa.
On the 13th of March 1942 the regiment deploys in defensive position to protect Odessa, having the mission to fire the ships at maximum range and to support directly D1 Defence, or D4I .
Starting with the 28th of March 1942 the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment moves towards Stalingrad battlefield .
Beteween the 8th of May and the 30th of May 1942 the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment fights from Putiatino-Orelko to Doneţ Valley, it crosses Doneţ, and it participates in the chase between Oskol and Don. It continues the actions from Don to Aska Valley, and on the 7th of October 1942 it reaches Stalingrad area (30 km southeast).
The Decree no. 3315 from the 23rd of December 1943 grants to the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment’s Fighting Colours “Steaua Romaniei” Order, with swords, to the rank of Commodore, with the “Military Virtue” ribbon.
Since the 9th of April 1944 the regiment is deployed to Iasi combat area. After the beginning of Iasi-Chishinau offensive, on the morning of the 20th of August 1944, the regiment continues the support of the fights in Iasi area, after which it retreats southward.
On the 23rd of October 1944 troops begin to force Tisa and the regiment supports the actions of 26th Regiment and 21st I from 2I D.
Budapesta operation starts on the 29th of October 1944, which should have ended up in setting free the capital and most of the Hungarian territory. The 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment is subordinated to C7A. On the 30th of October 1944 the cannons and howitzers of the regiment opened fire, starting an unstoppable artillery preparation. The forcing of Tisa is successful along the entire battlefield, from Szolnok to Csongrad. The regiment goes west of Tisa and it occupies fighting positions in Alpar area, continuing the support actions of D2I and 9Cv.
On the 18th of January 1945, the1st Heavy Artillery Regiment started moving towards Cehoslovacia, where it would act as being part of the 4th CA, supporting its actions up to Brno area.
The 5th Heavy Artillery Regiment
According to the Decree no. 2436 from the 27th of June 1946, the 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment was set up in Cernica Fort on the 1st of July 1916.
It participated in the 1st World War in Giurgiu, Turtucaia, Sibiu, Brasov and Arges Valley areas with great heroism.
On the 22nd of June 1941, the 5th Heavy Artillery Regiment is grouped in Oancea area, where the support of the offensive actions of our troops begins towards Tiganca, Odessa. It participates in the surprising attack of Odessa from northeast as part of the 5th C.A. The cannons of this regiment are the first Romanian Army’s cannons to hit Odessa.
On the 21st of October 1941, the 5th Heavy Artillery Regiment starts moving through the country, from Tiraspol to Chisinau, Husi and Focsani. The 5th Heavy Artillery Regiment enters in Focsani on the 26th of October 1941 and the population receives it enthusiastically .
The regiment was reorganized until April 1942 and it was deployed to Cotul Donului battlefield between the 9th of August and the 8th of September 1942. It supported the combat actions of the 5th C.A in Kletskaia, Gromki, Belosoin areas. It participated in battles in this area until the 22nd of November 1942 when it was surrounded together with other large units of the 5th C.A. The few soldiers who were not caught came back to Focsani on the 14th of March 1943: 9 officers, 16 NCO’s and 192 contract enlisted soldiers.37 officers, 38 NCO’s, 763 contract enlisted soldiers and the entire artillery assets were missing in action. The regiment is reorganized and sent to Targu Frumos, on Moldova battlefield in 1944. It took part in battles in this area until the 20th of August 1944, but it lost its entire equipment on the 26th of August 1944 in Casin area. It kept on moving with the portable weaponry from Cîmpuri, to Vidra, Urziceni and it stopped in Dascalu - Creatza.
The 8th Artillery Brigade
Since it is only a headquarters, its traditions are almost the same as the heavy artillery regiments subordinated to it during different periods of time.
After the 8th Heavy Artillery Brigade, the 15th Regiment and the 5th Heavy Artillery settle in Focsani in the barracks of the former prisoner camp, the new artillery unit is organized. The regiment was no longer a combat unit but it split into divisions of the brigade.
After the settlement of the brigade in this location since 1958 (it belonged to the 5th Heavy Artillery Regiment since 1918), an intense work begins in order to maintain and strengthen the fame it obtained along time.The careful planning,the strong command and the abnegation of the entire personnel made it possible to acquire a good material equipment for the perfectioning of the personnel and the superior training of the soldiers.
The presidential Decree no s.527/1977 granted the unit’s Colours with the IInd class “Apararea Patriei” Order. The ceremony took place on the 8th of May 1977 in the presence of the ministry of national defence representative Gen. Col. Popescu Ioan, C.A.F.A commander.
On the 17th of December 1989,in the time of the Romanian Revolution, at 18.30 hours, the unit received the high state alert. In short time after this, the unit could proceed to starting a combat mission. Measures were taken to strengthen defence of the unit and intervention subunits were created. When the leadership of the county changed, the unit acted according to its requirements. The unit accomplished the missions of guarding and protecting some objectives from Focsani and other parts of the area. On the 25th of December 1989 7 vehicles with ammunition started moving towards Bucharest. The convoy returned to the unit the next day at 18.00 hours , mission accomplished and no losses.
