In the dead of night at a Romanian right-wing position, the vigilant guards of the 12th Division were intently observing the landscape before them. The threat of a Bulgarian sneak attack had been well-publicized, leading to heightened security across all fronts. Flares lit up the sky every few minutes, complicating the efforts of the Bulgarian 4th Division, who were preparing for a night assault. Despite the challenges, they were determined to press forward, as the Bulgarian forces were struggling on the frontal battlefield.
Amidst the intermittent flare light, a Romanian captain, peering through his telescope, noticed a slight movement in the grass about 500 meters away. Just as he was about to take a closer look, the flare's light extinguished. "Fire the flares on the right side again," he commanded, prompting the artillery to launch another flare. The renewed light revealed a group of Bulgarian soldiers unexpectedly caught in the open. Without hesitation, the captain shouted, "Night attack!" and fired a red flare into the sky, signaling the imminent threat.
Realizing their cover was blown, the Bulgarian officers and soldiers from the 4th Division abandoned all pretense of stealth. They surged forward, attempting to overrun the Romanian trenches before a coordinated defense could be mounted. However, the Romanian machine guns spoke loudly, halting the Bulgarians in their tracks 300 meters from the Romanian positions.
Major General Vidic, the Bulgarian division commander, was visibly anxious. He ordered his staff, "Let the artillery knock out their firepower!" As the Bulgarian artillery responded, news of the attack reached the Romanian headquarters, where Crown Prince Edel, in a rush, entered the command hall shirt-sleeved, greeted by the newly arrived Chief of Staff General Courtois and Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Prosi.
"How is the front line now?" Edel inquired immediately.
"The position can still be held; after all, we are not Serbs," replied Major General Prosi, having reviewed the latest reports.
"Then our plan can be used?" Edel pressed on.
"It's time to proceed," affirmed Major General Prosi after a glance at Admiral Courtois. The Admiral nodded, "Since there is a rare opportunity for Bulgaria to attack, why don't we fulfill them?"
With the consensus of his staff, Crown Prince Edel ordered, "Prepare to implement Plan V." This plan, devised specifically for such a Bulgarian night attack, involved a strategic withdrawal of Romanian forces to lure the enemy deeper before encircling them with a counterattack from the flanks.
As the Bulgarian forces, led by Major General Vidic, pressed their assault under heavy fire, the Romanian 2nd and 3rd Divisions from the Third Army began to fortify positions three kilometers behind the front line, while the 1st and 4th Divisions of the First Army prepared for a flanking maneuver. The 8th Division moved up to close the gap left by the 12th Division, setting the stage for a massive encirclement.
Despite the intensity of the Romanian machine gun fire, which forced frequent relocations of their artillery, the Bulgarians managed a breakthrough, prompting a gleeful Major General Vidic to declare, "Despite the heavy casualties, everything is worth it." As reinforcements were called up, news of the breakthrough reached King Ferdinand I and Lieutenant General Savov of Bulgaria, momentarily lifting their spirits amidst a tense night.
However, as the Bulgarian forces pushed deeper, they encountered stiff resistance from the Romanian 2nd and 3rd Divisions. The situation was dire; if the Bulgarians could not secure a decisive breach by dawn, they would be vulnerable to daylight counterattacks. Major General Vidic, determined yet realistic, set a withdrawal deadline: "If we haven't captured this position by 5:30, we retreat."
The ensuing Bulgarian assault was fierce but ultimately futile against the well-prepared Romanian defenses. As the clock ticked towards dawn, the Romanian counter-encirclement began. The 12th and 8th Divisions, having feigned retreat, now advanced, catching the Bulgarian forces in a vice. Simultaneously, the 1st and 4th Divisions struck from the flanks, trapping the Bulgarians completely.
With the Bulgarians encircled on a nine-square-kilometer piece of land, the Romanian commanders opted to minimize casualties by pulling back slightly, preparing for a devastating artillery barrage at daybreak. Major General Vidic, recognizing the dire situation, attempted one last offensive to break through, but to no avail.
As dawn broke, the Romanian artillery unleashed a relentless barrage, decimating the trapped Bulgarian forces. Those who survived the onslaught were left with no choice but to surrender. The battle had been brutal: of the 110,000 Bulgarian troops who initiated the raid, only 23,000 managed to retreat, with 48,000 dead and 39,000 captured, including 11,000 wounded.
Back at the Romanian headquarters, Crown Prince Edel, upon reviewing the battle outcomes, saw the path to a peace settlement clearing. He planned commendations and promotions for his officers in recognition of their victory.
In stark contrast, King Ferdinand I and Lieutenant General Savov of Bulgaria faced the grim reality of their situation. The King, overwhelmed by the loss and the shattering of his ambitions for Greater Bulgaria, wept openly. "What should we do now?" he despaired, grappling with the decision to withdraw and conserve their remaining forces.
As the Romanian forces advanced, taking control of Tarnovo and decisively tipping the scales, the stage was set for diplomatic negotiations, marking the exhaustion of Bulgaria's war efforts and a turning point in the conflict.
This strategic victory, resulting in significant casualties and shifts in territorial control, underscored the harsh realities of warfare and the high stakes involved in such large-scale conflicts. As both nations looked toward recovery and peace, the echoes of the battle would resonate long in their collective memories.
As Bulgaria braced itself for conflict, news of the Romanian army's triumph at the Battle of Tarnovo circulated globally. Although the retreat of the Bulgarian forces was immediately known, the full extent of their defeat remained undisclosed. This was a strategic move by Crown Prince Edel, aimed at making the armies of the involved nations cautious and allowing Romania to capture more territory and reap greater benefits. This tactic also served as a reward for the covert support provided to the Romanian army by these forces.
It was only when further concealment became untenable that Romania disclosed the battle's outcomes and permitted various international observer groups to inspect the prisoner-of-war camps. Despite their internal dissatisfaction with Romania's actions, the other nations had to accept the situation due to Romania's demonstrated military prowess. They had previously engaged in secret attacks against each other, and now their only hope was to undermine Bulgaria's defenses to gain leverage in the post-war division of spoils.
Observer missions from around the world relayed their assessments back home, marking this as Romania's first significant military engagement witnessed internationally. Colonel Hans von Seckert, leader of the German Observer Group, reported to the General Staff that the Romanian army had shown commendable performance. He noted that while Romanian command at the battalion and company levels was on par with that of the imperial army, there were gaps at higher levels, particularly in terms of cooperation and infantry coordination. However, he believed that with continued training, the Romanian military could soon match the prowess of the imperial forces. His observations placed the Romanian army in high regard, a sentiment echoed by Colonel Jerovsky of Russia and General Funksmann of Austro-Hungary, as well as representatives from Britain, France, and Italy, all of whom recognized Romania's departure from its previous second-tier status in European military rankings.
The strategic implications of Romania's potential alliances were not lost on the major powers, especially Germany, Austria, and Russia. Romania's alignment could bolster an ally's forces by hundreds of thousands and add nine million to their population. Given that most European nations had populations ranging from thirty to forty million, excluding Russia, the addition of Romania—with its significant grain and oil production—was highly coveted. This was particularly critical as food shortages during World War I had led to numerous uprisings across different countries.
In Germany, the telegram from Colonel Seckert prompted a high-level meeting between Kaiser Wilhelm II, Prime Minister Helwig, and General Moorsch, the Chief of General Staff. The discussion focused on the ongoing Balkan conflict, where Germany had vested interests in Romania, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria—the latter increasingly aligning with Germany. News of the Ottoman Empire's imminent declaration of war on Bulgaria, informed by the German advisory group within the Ottoman military, was particularly concerning. Additionally, the situation involved Austria-Hungary, Germany's key ally, which had significant stakes in the region and potential conflicts with Russia.
Given the complex web of alliances and enmities, Kaiser Wilhelm II sought advice on Germany's stance. General Moorsch highlighted Bulgaria's dire situation post-Tarnovo, with significant troop losses and facing the combined forces of five Balkan nations. Prime Minister Helwig suggested a cautious approach, proposing that Austria-Hungary take the lead in public declarations, allowing Germany to align its position based on the unfolding scenario. This strategy, however, was met with some resistance from General Moorsch, who advocated for a more decisive stance in favor of the victorious parties to mitigate regional pressures. After some deliberation, Kaiser Wilhelm II decided to initially follow General Moorsch's strategy, directing the Foreign Ministry to coordinate accordingly.
Meanwhile, in Russia, Tsar Nicholas II faced his own diplomatic quandaries. After receiving updates on the Balkan situation, he convened his ministers to debate whether to intervene. The military perspective, voiced by Duke Nicholas, suggested that Romania held the most advantageous position, making mediation unappealing, particularly to Serbia. Prime Minister Kokovtsov advised against mediation, predicting Bulgaria's imminent request for peace due to its unsustainable military position. Acknowledging the consensus among his advisors, Nicholas II chose not to mediate, focusing instead on Russia's interests in supporting Serbia.
As the Balkan conflict intensified, the involved nations and their allies continued to navigate the treacherous waters of international diplomacy and warfare, each seeking to maximize their strategic interests in the tumultuous region.