Romanian submarines in the nets of the Soviets

Bichir, Florian
Florian Bichir (born July 29, 1973) is a Romanian historian and writer. University lecturer at the National Defense University "Carol I" (UNAp) During 2012-2018 he was member of the National Council for the Study of Security Archives (CNSAS). Scientific Researcher of the Romanian Academy, Center for European History and Civilization Ia i.

Not many people know that Romania was one of the few countries that were fitted with submarines during the interwar period and the Second World War. During the great conflagrations that ravaged the whole Europe, the Romanians attended the naval campaign against the USSR not only on the Black Sea, but also under it. Three submarines - "Delfinul (The Dolphin)", "Rechinul (The Shark)" and "Marsuinul (The Porpoise)"- were filled with glory in the battles that went into the depths. With their ears open to the grenades exploding around them, the Romanian submariners were present on the coasts of Turkey, at the entrance to the Bosphorus, Sevastopol, Kerch and Yalta, but also at Batumi, currently Georgia. Romania was no longer allowed to hold such weapons. However, immediately after August 23, 1944, the three Romanian submarines were confiscated by the Soviets, who used them until the 1950s. Only "Delfinul (The Dolphin)" was returned in 1957, when our Communist authorities dismembered it.