Who's Who - Andrei Zayonchkovski
Andrei Zayonchkovski (1862-1926)
commanded the defence of the Romanian-Bulgarian border upon Romania's entry
into World War One in August 1916.
Zayonchkovski was handed command of the combined Russian/Romanian Dobruja Detachment (comprised of three divisions) following Romania's belated entry into the war on 27 August 1916, with Prime Minister Ion Bratianu's declaration of war with Austria-Hungary.
Zayonchkovski was charged with defending Romania's border with Bulgaria. He was not however impressed with the calibre of the Romanian troops with whom he was expected to work. His first contact with them was unfortunate: several Romanian units surrendered to Zayonchkovski upon the latter's arrival, assuming his force were arriving Bulgarians.
Relations never effectively recovered, with disagreement rife between the two command structures. Zayonchkovski was denied repeated calls for reinforcement from Russian central command, Stavka.
During October 1916 his force was forced from the Dobruja into Moldavia (losing control of the key port of Constanza) by the invariably successful August von Mackensen's Danube Army. Zayonchkovski was eventually replaced the following April (by Shcherbachev), having long pressed to be relieved.
In retirement by the time of the Bolshevik October Revolution of 1917, Zayonchkovski nevertheless re-emerged to serve with the Red Army in 1918, fighting anti-Bolshevik White forces in the Ukraine. He also spent a period lecturing at the Red Army Military Academy, and led the commission established to investigate the lessons of the war.
He died in 1926.
Both British and German fleets had around 45 submarines available at the time of the Battle of Jutland, but none were put to use.
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