The military encampment was situated just eight kilometers from Constanta, in a desolate area known as Polk, and was less than ten kilometers from the Volkswagen factory. This location had once housed a cavalry regiment and, although the regiment had since been relocated, the camp facilities remained intact. Major Hoffman, when selecting this site for the armored experimental battalion, was particularly drawn to the expansive space—a remnant of its cavalry regiment days—which was ideal for practicing various tactical maneuvers without nearby civilian populations. Additionally, its proximity to the city made it convenient for logistical purposes.
"The staff here is well-prepared," Edel remarked, observing the more than 300 officers and soldiers of the armored experimental battalion assembled before him. He spoke to Hoffman during the inspection.
"Your Highness, they are all elite soldiers, transferred from the motor transport regiment and the cavalry unit," Major Hoffman replied, praising his troops. However, the reality was somewhat less ideal than he portrayed. Upon receiving the crown prince's directive to form the battalion, Hoffman had eagerly approached the cavalry and motor transport units to select personnel. Although the leaders of these units did not openly defy the prince's orders, they were not particularly cooperative behind the scenes.
In the cavalry unit, for instance, Lieutenant Colonel Stockley had quietly undermined Hoffman's efforts. He told his men that Hoffman's new unit would be ineffective outside city limits, as the armored vehicles required well-maintained roads to operate. This led many officers and soldiers, whom Hoffman had hoped to recruit, to decline his offer. Initially, Hoffman was puzzled by the high rate of refusal, but he eventually discovered Stockley's interference. After a frank discussion between the two, Stockley agreed to stop obstructing Hoffman's recruitment efforts, although Hoffman was then only able to recruit from among the more average soldiers and officers of the cavalry unit.
The recruitment from the motor transport regiment went more smoothly. This unit, primarily a logistical force, did not have the combat prestige of the cavalry, and Hoffman, learning from his earlier experience, did not focus solely on the top soldiers and officers, which spared him further difficulties. Nevertheless, the head of the transport regiment was distressed when Hoffman recruited an entire company of maintenance personnel.
Additionally, Hoffman had recruited several promising candidates from the military academy where he had previously studied, enhancing the battalion's capabilities.
"I hope you can complete your organization and training as soon as possible," Edel said after inspecting the soldiers and officers. He then proceeded to interact more personally with the troops.
"Soldier, what's your name?" Edel inquired, addressing a soldier directly.
"Your Highness, my name is Sanders, and I am from Hobek Village," replied the soldier, visibly excited to be speaking with the crown prince. His response caused a ripple of suppressed laughter among the nearby soldiers.
"Sanders, are you finding it easy to adjust to life here?" Edel continued, maintaining a polite smile. His years of courtly training allowed him to keep a composed demeanor regardless of the responses he received.
"Your Highness, I am very accustomed to living in the army, and my squad leader, Dosk, has helped me greatly," Sanders replied, now more at ease after the initial embarrassment. Edel noted a non-commissioned officer nearby who seemed particularly amused, likely the Squad Leader Dosk mentioned by Sanders. After a few more words with Sanders, Edel continued his tour of the camp.
"It seems that you haven't completed the renovation of this camp," Edel observed to Major Hoffman after completing his inspection. The barracks still bore many remnants of its previous cavalry occupants: unremoved stables, discarded horseshoes, and stacks of forage littered around.
"Yes, Your Highness, we still have many traces of the cavalry here. The transition has been rapid, and our primary focus has been on training the men. We plan to start transforming the barracks soon," Hoffman explained.
Edel, though noncommittal in his response, inquired further about how Hoffman planned to train and utilize the unit. "Currently, no European army has concentrated its armored vehicles into a single unit. What are your thoughts on this new formation?"
Hoffman acknowledged the uniqueness of their situation. "Indeed, Your Highness, armored vehicles are generally dispersed among larger army groups in other countries, with only a handful in use, as many nations are still unsure how to effectively deploy these costly machines. For instance, Russia, despite being a pioneer in armored vehicle development, has only a few stationed in St. Petersburg for ceremonial purposes. Similarly, Britain, which utilized armored vehicles during the Boer War, now treats them more as costly novelties."
"Your Highness, I plan to acquire 24 armored vehicles from Volkswagen and organize them into two companies, along with one maintenance company and one logistics company, making a total force of 497 personnel," Hoffman detailed his planned structure.
Edel, after considering Hoffman's plan, gave his approval. "Proceed with your plans."
Following his visit to the barracks, Edel returned to Bucharest by train. There, Admiral Prieshan, the chief of the general staff, awaited him with proposals for the formation of two additional divisions, seeking the crown prince's approval.
"Your Royal Highness, I present to you our plan for the reorganization and training of the troops," announced the Chief of Staff of Puleshan as he entered the office to greet Crown Prince Edel. He laid out a meticulously prepared formation plan in front of Edel. Edel, with a discerning eye, perused the formation plan devised by General Pule Mountain, alongside his staff. The plan proposed by the General Staff was to handpick a select few key personnel from various divisions to establish two new divisions, designated as the 15th and 18th Divisions of the Romanian Army.
For the 15th Division, the staff proposed assigning Major General Kledov, the Deputy Commander of the Third Division, and Major General Andokos from the Fifth Division. The 18th Division's leadership candidates included Major General Mordelk, the Deputy Commander of the First Guards Division, Major General Peter Pan from the Second Division, and Major General Dotrid from the Eighth Division. These candidates, all in their forties except for the slightly older Major General Mordelk, were seasoned and competent, having proven their capabilities within the army.
Faced with these choices, Edel found himself momentarily indecisive and looked up to Admiral Pule, who stood before him, to gauge the General Staff's preference. Admiral Pule, aware that a direct recommendation could jeopardize his position, responded cautiously, "Each candidate is well-qualified for the position, as per the arrangement of Your Highness."
Edel, understanding Admiral Pule's reluctance to single out a recommendation, did not press further. The army had many qualified candidates for these new divisions, which had become highly coveted positions ever since the General Staff had begun their preparations. The roles of division commander and deputy division commander were prestigious, nearly akin to stepping into the upper echelons of military leadership.
The buzz within the military intensified when it was confirmed that Lieutenant General Fereit of the Twelfth Division would soon be appointed as the new Director of Education, succeeding the retiring incumbent. This position, one of the three pillars of the Romanian Army's leadership alongside the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff, was highly enviable, even though it was considered the least powerful of the trio. The prospect of following in Lieutenant General Fereit's footsteps was enticing to many, leading several ambitious officers to approach the staff with their candidacies, only to be rebuffed by the vigilant generals of Preeshan.
Admiral Prieshan, well aware of the Crown Prince's future intentions to decentralize power upon his ascension, was cautious. He anticipated that he would have to cede some of his authority but was determined not to compromise the integrity of the War Department in the process. With no clear directives from Preeshan and knowing the strategic importance of these appointments, Edel decided based on his knowledge of the candidates' backgrounds and loyalties.
For the 15th Division, he chose Major General Kledov, a noble from Iasi with a longstanding military career that included roles from company commander to regimental commander. Kledov's unwavering loyalty to the royal family and his association with Secretary of the Army Courtois were decisive factors in his selection. After the conflict with Bulgaria, Edel recognized the necessity of balancing military power to prevent any single faction, including Chief of General Staff Preshan's, from dominating. This was a strategic move to bolster the military faction loyal to his father, Carol I, ensuring a stable base of support for his future reign.
"The commander for the 15th Division shall be Major General Kledov," Edel declared, looking up at Puleshan to communicate his decision.
"Very well, Your Majesty," Puleshan responded, noting down the decision, confident that Major General Kledov would soon receive the news of his new appointment.
Turning his attention to the 18th Division, Edel considered his options. Having already allocated a position to his father's faction, he felt free to choose a candidate aligned more closely with his personal preferences. Despite his age, Major General Mordelk, at fifty, was deemed capable of effectively leading the 18th Division.
"The 18th Division will be led by Major General Mordelk," Edel quickly decided, moving on to address the appointments for the deputy commanders and chiefs of staff for the two divisions. For the 15th Division, Colonel Bokening, the former brigade commander of the first division of the second division, was selected as deputy commander, with Colonel Bodov from the Fourth Military Affairs Office of the General Staff Headquarters filling the chief of staff role. The 18th Division's deputy commander would be Colonel Resva, previously the commander of the Second Brigade of the Fourth Division, with Lieutenant Colonel Andrewson, the ex-chief of staff of the Second Brigade of the Third Division, assuming the role of chief of staff.
After finalizing these appointments, Edel inquired about the status of the divisions' equipment and personnel preparations. Admiral Prieshan reported that recruitment efforts and delayed retirements had ensured full staffing for the new divisions, and while most equipment had been sourced from storage, there was a shortfall of seven 105 howitzers. Orders had been placed with the arsenal to address this as swiftly as possible.
Edel, contemplating the broader strategic needs of the Romanian Army, proposed an expansion of the 105 howitzer battalions for each division from 12 to 18 units. Despite the financial strain, he committed 35 million lei for this purpose, underscoring the urgency of equipping the army in light of the tense European geopolitical climate.
With the expansion plans set in motion and the army abuzz with the news, Edel turned his attention to bolstering Romania's material reserves, a critical task as the specter of World War I loomed ever closer. Amidst these preparations, a message arrived, prompting Edel to momentarily set aside his duties, the contents of the message unknown.
This strategic reshuffling and reinforcement of the Romanian Army not only aimed at strengthening the military in a time of impending conflict but also reflected Crown Prince Edel's nuanced approach to managing military leadership and allegiances, ensuring a balance of power that would support his future governance.