Vânători de munte

vânători de munte
vânători de munte
Active	Since 1916
Country	Romania
Branch	Romanian Land Forces
Type	Infantry
Role	Mountain Infantry
Size	Two brigades
Garrison/HQ	2nd Mountain Troops Brigade - Braşov; 61st Mountain Troops Brigade - Miercurea Ciuc

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The vânători de munte (Romanian pronunciation: [vɨnəˈtorʲ de ˈmunte], English translation: Mountain Huntsmen) are the elite mountain troops of the Romanian Land Forces. They were first established as an independent Army Corps in 1916 during World War I, and became operational in 1917 under Corpul de Munte designation.

Thought as of being elite troops, the Romanian vânători de munte saw action in World War II on the Eastern Front in some of the harshest battles - including the battles of Sevastopol and Stalingrad - where their performance lived up to their reputation: virtually all their commanders from brigade level and up received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, with general Mihail Lascăr being the first foreigner to receive Oak Leaves on 22 November 1942 (see List of foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross). After 23 August 1944, they fought on the Soviet side, notably in Tatra Mountains.

After the end of the war, one of the first measures taken by the Soviets in occupied Romania was to disband the mountain troops. Shortly after the Soviet occupation troops left Romania in 1958, the vânători de munte were re-established again as a distinct branch of the Romanian Land Forces.

There are currently two brigades operational, one subordinated to the 1st Infantry Division (the 2nd Mountain Troops Brigade "Sarmisegetuza"), and another one subordinated to the 4th Infantry Division (61st Mountain Troops Brigade "General Virgil Bădulescu"). Often, mountain troops units are participating in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.