Ion S. Dumitru: biography

Two days later, on March 28, Dumitru's platoon attacked the Germans again near the village of Mal-Chetin, where they destroyed a StuG IV assault gun, an armored personnel carrier and two anti-tank guns. The Germans retreated, and the Soviet infantry occupied the village.

On March 31, Soviet infantrymen, supported by Romanian tankers, met a German stronghold, which was defended by a Tiger platoon, a platoon of heavy anti-tank self-propelled guns, and a company of Hungarian PzKpfw IV tanks. In this battle, the allies were lucky: during a German air raid, one of the downed German bombers fell next to the Tigers, damaging two of them. Taking advantage of the enemy's confusion, the Romanian tankers attacked, destroying two and knocking out two more Hungarian tanks. The Germans retreated, taking the damaged Tigers in tow.

In early April, after the liberation of Bratislava, Dimitru, who became the commander of a squad of 7 PzKpfw IVs and three self-propelled guns, replenished his unit with 9 tanks and assault guns, as well as 3 enemy armored personnel carriers.

On April 11, 1945, the Romanian 2nd Tank Regiment fought in Austria, where it took part in the Battle of Vienna. By April 12, only 2 PzKpfw IV tanks remained in Dumitru's platoon. In the area of ​​​​the village of Hohenruppensdorf, his 2 tanks, supported by a Soviet anti-tank battery and a rifle platoon, repelled a German counterattack. In this battle, Dumitru's tankers destroyed one armored personnel carrier, and Soviet artillerymen knocked out three others. By 17 o'clock the Germans repeated the attack with the forces of 4 PzKpfw IV tanks and 4 armored personnel carriers with infantry. The crew of Dumitru set fire to a German tank, another was knocked out by Soviet anti-tank guns. The crews of the other two German tanks surrendered. Two more managed to retreat. German counterattacks ended only on 13 April.

In mid-April, the 2nd Romanian Tank Regiment became the 1st Tank Battalion. Dumitru was appointed commander of the 1st Panzer Company (6 PzKpfw IVs, 3 assault guns, 5 TACAMs, 2 R-2s and 3 armored vehicles). The battalion advanced on Chrik on 14 April. The Romanians got it - "Panthers" knocked out 2 PzKpfw IV and TASAM from an ambush.

Dumitru himself, who changed crew and tank, was wounded. He spent the following months in hospitals. Finished the war with the rank of lieutenant. After the hospital, Ion Dumitru continued to serve in the Romanian tank forces until 1953, after which he retired.

In total, Dumitru participated in the battles for 25 days: he fought on the side of the Germans for 5 days and 20 days as part of the Soviet 27th tank brigade. During this time, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers.

Awards

He was awarded the highest military award of Romania - the Order of Mihai the Brave 3rd class with Swords.

Bibliography

In 1999, he wrote the book "Tanks on Fire" (rum. Tancuri in fl?c?ri), where he told how he fought both against the Soviet troops and against the German army:

Ion S. Dumitru. Tancuri in fl?c?ri. - Bucureti: Nemira, 1999. - 462 p.

Comments

outstanding military leader, marshal of the Soviet Union

participant of the Great Patriotic War, platoon commander of the 39th tank brigade of the 23rd tank corps of the Southwestern Front, Hero of the Soviet Union, lieutenant

Military biography of one of the famous tankers of World War II - Romanian Iona Dumitru notable primarily for the fact that in less than a month of fighting on the Soviet-German front, he had a chance to fight both on the side of Nazi Germany and in the ranks of the Soviet tank forces after the capitulation of Romania against his former allies. The starting point of his military career was the end of the military school and officer school in 1941-1943. In the middle of the summer of 1943, Ion Dumitru gets to serve in one of the tank regiments of the Romanian army. At that time, he was also undergoing training at a boot camp in Germany. Dumitru got to the front in the spring of 1944, but his unit was in the rear for some time as a reserve. In the summer of the same year, the Soviet army carried out a powerful offensive operation in the Balkan direction, the purpose of which was to eliminate the German group "Southern Ukraine". The main blow was inflicted on the flanks of the group, which were covered by the Romanian units. It was then that Ion Dumitru first entered the battle with the Soviet troops.

A group of tanks "PzKpfw. IV", among which was the tank of Ion Dumitru, counterattacked the Soviet tanks going to break through near the village of Skobalteni. A heavy battle ensued, which resulted in a delay in the advance of Soviet troops in this direction. Both sides suffered some losses. During the battle, Dumitru was disabled by one Soviet medium tank "T-34" with aimed fire. The Soviet units quickly gathered and resumed the offensive, and the flanks of the Romanian group were already covered by the mobile units of the Red Army. Soon the ring closed and the Romanian tankers had to fight surrounded. After dark, the tank regiment, in which Ion Dumitru served, makes an attempt to break through the encirclement to the west. With heavy losses, they manage to make a breach in the Soviet defenses with the last of their strength. Only a little over a dozen tanks and three armored personnel carriers left the ring. Among the survivors was Ion Dumitru. A few days later, in the Sabaoani area, he will again engage in battle with enemy tanks. This time, the Romanian tankers, with the support of the German anti-tank guns, managed to repel the attack of the Soviet mechanized group. During the battle, Dumitru is knocked out by another Soviet tank.

The next day, Romania capitulates under the powerful blows of the Red Army and declares war on its former ally, Germany. Ion Dumitru initially ends up in a prisoner of war camp, but after a while he is enrolled in the emerging Romanian tank units, which the Red Army command plans to use against the Germans along with their own forces. In the spring of 1945, the famous Romanian tanker Ion Dumitru again enters the battle. This time his opponent is Hitler's tank troops. From this moment begins the most interesting part of his military path. At the very end of March, in the battles for the bridgeheads on the Hron River, the Romanian tank units tore through the German defenses in one of the sectors with a swift attack, destroying several anti-tank guns, a lot of enemy manpower and capturing the German artillery battery intact and intact. Among the attackers was Ion Dumitru. Two days later, the tank unit of Ion Dumitru distinguished himself again, destroying a German self-propelled gun, two guns and an armored vehicle. Three days later, a group of Romanian tanks, including the Dumitru tank, supported the attack of the Soviet infantry on a heavily fortified section of the German defense. They were opposed by a large number of German vehicles, including heavy Tiger tanks. However, the blow of the Romanians in a short-lived battle forced the Germans, who lost 4 tanks, to retreat, despite some numerical superiority.

By April, Dumitru had already been appointed squad leader. Under his command there were 10 combat vehicles (seven tanks and three self-propelled guns). His unit fought hard battles with the enemy on the territory of Austria, fighting shoulder to shoulder with Soviet soldiers. Near the town of Hohenruppensdorf, Dumitru's tanks held back German counterattacks. The Romanian tankers were assisted by a Soviet anti-tank battery and an infantry platoon. The Romanians and the Red Army successfully held back several consecutive short blows from the enemy. The result for the Germans was only the loss of 4 armored vehicles and 2 tanks. After these events, the Romanian tank ace Ion Dumitru was appointed company commander. Under his command are now 19 combat vehicles. It seemed that luck was completely on the side of the brave tanker, but in war everything is always unpredictable, and in mid-April, during the offensive, his company suddenly gets ambushed. The dense fire of the German "Panthers" disables several tanks. Dumitru is wounded and spends the remaining time until the end of the war in the hospital. Such is the story of one of the famous tankers of the Second World War - the Romanian tank ace Ion Dumitru, who made a small, but still valuable contribution to the defeat of the Nazi Reich.

Ion S. Dumitru(Rom. Ion S. Dumitru; born March 1, 1921) - Romanian officer, master of tank combat, participant in World War II. For 25 days of fighting, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers. At the same time, he fought for 5 days on the side of the Germans and 20 days - as part of the Soviet 27th tank brigade.

Biography

Awards

Bibliography

Ion S. Dumitru.

Literature

xzsad.academic.ru

Biography

He was born on March 1, 1921 in Robanesti (Rom. Robăneşti), Dolj county. Graduated from high school in Craiova. In 1941 he graduated from the military school in Timisoara, and in 1943 - from the school of infantry officers in Bucharest.

Service in the 1st Romanian Panzer Division

On July 1, 1943, Ion Dumitru was promoted to the rank of sublokotenent (second lieutenant) and was assigned to the 1st tank regiment, which was reorganized in Targovishte after the defeat of the Romanian army in the Battle of Stalingrad. Further training Dumitru took place in the training center of the 6th tank regiment of the Wehrmacht (Hannover, Germany).

In March 1944, as part of the 1st Panzer Division, called "Great Romania", he was sent to the front, to Moldova. The division was in the reserve of the 4th Army.

On the morning of August 20, 1944, the Soviet Iasi-Kishinev operation began. The Romanian tankers were ready for the Soviet offensive: the 1st Tank Regiment almost immediately launched a counterattack on the flank of the Soviet mechanized columns. At about 10 am, Romanian tankers collided with Soviet tanks near the village of Skobalteni. As a result of a 10-hour tank battle, the Romanians knocked out 60 Soviet tanks, forcing the enemy to withdraw from the battle. The Romanians themselves lost 20 cars. Presumably, the tank commander, Dumitru's sub-armour, knocked out at least one Soviet tank in this battle.

However, the Soviet troops bypassed the positions of the Romanians, and the 1st Tank Regiment was surrounded. At night, the Romanians began to retreat to the west, but in the dark the columns separated and only 13 PzKpfw IV tanks and 3 SPW 250 armored personnel carriers reached the village of Stornesti. Then the Germans joined them - several assault guns.

On August 23, a Soviet mechanized column - more than two dozen tanks - entered the positions of Romanian tankers, reinforced by German anti-tank guns, near the village of Sabaoani. The Romanians managed to shoot 22 Soviet tanks from an ambush. Dumitru chalked up one enemy tank.

An hour later, the Romanians continued their retreat, and the next day, on August 24, they became aware that the country's government had concluded a truce - the war with the Soviet Union was terminated.

As part of the 27th Tank Brigade of the Red Army

Like most of the tankers of the 1st Panzer Regiment, Dumitru was sent to a Soviet prisoner of war camp. After several escapes, he ended up in Targovishte, where in mid-September he was enlisted in the newly formed 2nd Tank Regiment, where he was to fight under Soviet command against his former allies - the Germans.

In March 1945, as part of the 27th Tank Brigade (it is noteworthy that Romanian tankers fought against it in August 1944), the regiment was sent to the front in Slovakia. The sub-tenant Dumitru was appointed commander of a platoon of PzKpfw IV tanks. On March 26, having crossed the Hron River, Dumitru's unit broke into German positions, destroying 6 anti-tank guns and capturing a battery of 15 cm howitzers. Further progress was stopped by a counterattack by a platoon of German Tigers.

Two days later, on March 28, Dumitru's platoon attacked the Germans again near the village of Mal-Chetin, where they destroyed a StuG IV assault gun, an armored personnel carrier and two anti-tank guns. The Germans retreated, and the Soviet infantry occupied the village.

On March 31, Soviet infantrymen, supported by Romanian tankers, met a German stronghold, which was defended by a Tiger platoon, a platoon of heavy anti-tank self-propelled guns, and a company of Hungarian PzKpfw IV tanks. In this battle, the allies were lucky: during a German air raid, one of the downed German bombers fell next to the Tigers, damaging two of them. Taking advantage of the enemy's confusion, the Romanian tankers attacked, destroying two and knocking out two more Hungarian tanks. The Germans retreated, taking the damaged Tigers in tow.

In early April, after the liberation of Bratislava, Dimitru, who became the squad leader of 7 PzKpfw IVs and three self-propelled guns, replenished his unit with 9 tanks and assault guns, as well as 3 enemy armored personnel carriers.

On April 11, 1945, the 2nd Romanian tank regiment fought in Austria, where it participated in the battle for Vienna. By April 12, only 2 PzKpfw IV tanks remained in Dumitru's platoon. In the area of ​​​​the village of Hohenruppensdorf, his 2 tanks, supported by a Soviet anti-tank battery and a rifle platoon, repelled a German counterattack.

In mid-April, the 2nd Romanian Tank Regiment became the 1st Tank Battalion. Dumitru was appointed commander of the 1st Panzer Company (6 PzKpfw IVs, 3 assault guns, 5 TACAMs, 2 R-2s and 3 armored vehicles). The battalion advanced on Chrik on 14 April. The Romanians got it - "Panthers" knocked out 2 PzKpfw IV and TASAM from an ambush.

Dumitru himself, who changed crew and tank, was wounded. He spent the following months in hospitals. Finished the war with the rank of lieutenant. After the hospital, Ion Dumitru continued to serve in the Romanian tank forces until 1953, after which he retired.

In total, Dumitru participated in the battles for 25 days: he fought on the side of the Germans for 5 days and 20 days as part of the Soviet 27th tank brigade. During this time, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers.

Awards

He was awarded the highest military award of Romania - the Order of Mihai the Brave 3rd class with Swords.

Bibliography

In 1999, he wrote the book "Tanks on Fire" (rum. Tancuri in flăcări), where he told how he fought both against the Soviet troops and against the German army:

Ion S. Dumitru. Tancuri in flacari. - Bucuresti: Nemira, 1999. - 462 p.

dictionary.sensagent.com

A group of tanks "PzKpfw. IV", among which was the tank of Ion Dumitru, counterattacked the Soviet tanks going to break through near the village of Skobalteni. A heavy battle ensued, which resulted in a delay in the advance of Soviet troops in this direction. Both sides suffered some losses. During the battle, Dumitru was disabled by one Soviet medium tank "T-34" with aimed fire. The Soviet units quickly gathered and resumed the offensive, and the flanks of the Romanian group were already covered by the mobile units of the Red Army. Soon the ring closed and the Romanian tankers had to fight surrounded. After dark, the tank regiment, in which Ion Dumitru served, makes an attempt to break through the encirclement to the west. With heavy losses, they manage to make a breach in the Soviet defenses with the last of their strength. Only a little over a dozen tanks and three armored personnel carriers left the ring. Among the survivors was Ion Dumitru. A few days later, in the Sabaoani area, he will again engage in battle with enemy tanks. This time, the Romanian tankers, with the support of the German anti-tank guns, managed to repel the attack of the Soviet mechanized group. During the battle, Dumitru is knocked out by another Soviet tank.

The next day, Romania capitulates under the powerful blows of the Red Army and declares war on its former ally, Germany. Ion Dumitru initially ends up in a prisoner of war camp, but after a while he is enrolled in the emerging Romanian tank units, which the Red Army command plans to use against the Germans along with their own forces. In the spring of 1945, the famous Romanian tanker Ion Dumitru again enters the battle. This time his opponent is Hitler's tank troops. From this moment begins the most interesting part of his military path. At the very end of March, in the battles for the bridgeheads on the Hron River, the Romanian tank units tore through the German defenses in one of the sectors with a swift attack, destroying several anti-tank guns, a lot of enemy manpower and capturing the German artillery battery intact and intact. Among the attackers was Ion Dumitru. Two days later, the tank unit of Ion Dumitru distinguished himself again, destroying a German self-propelled gun, two guns and an armored vehicle. Three days later, a group of Romanian tanks, including the Dumitru tank, supported the attack of the Soviet infantry on a heavily fortified section of the German defense. They were opposed by a large number of German vehicles, including heavy Tiger tanks. However, the blow of the Romanians in a short-lived battle forced the Germans, who lost 4 tanks, to retreat, despite some numerical superiority.

By April, Dumitru had already been appointed squad leader. Under his command there were 10 combat vehicles (seven tanks and three self-propelled guns). His unit fought hard battles with the enemy on the territory of Austria, fighting shoulder to shoulder with Soviet soldiers. Near the town of Hohenruppensdorf, Dumitru's tanks held back German counterattacks. The Romanian tankers were assisted by a Soviet anti-tank battery and an infantry platoon. The Romanians and the Red Army successfully held back several consecutive short blows from the enemy. The result for the Germans was only the loss of 4 armored vehicles and 2 tanks. After these events, the Romanian tank ace Ion Dumitru was appointed company commander. Under his command are now 19 combat vehicles. It seemed that luck was completely on the side of the brave tanker, but in war everything is always unpredictable, and in mid-April, during the offensive, his company suddenly gets ambushed. The dense fire of the German "Panthers" disables several tanks. Dumitru is wounded and spends the remaining time until the end of the war in the hospital. Such is the story of one of the famous tankers of the Second World War - the Romanian tank ace Ion Dumitru, who made a small, but still valuable contribution to the defeat of the Nazi Reich.

3tankista.ru

Biography

Service in the 1st Romanian Panzer Division

On July 1, 1943, Ion Dumitru was promoted to the rank of sublokotenent (second lieutenant) and was assigned to the 1st tank regiment, which was reorganized in Targovishte after the defeat of the Romanian army in the Battle of Stalingrad. Further training Dumitru took place in the training center of the 6th tank regiment of the Wehrmacht (Hannover, Germany).

In March 1944, as part of the 1st Panzer Division, called "Great Romania", he was sent to the front, to Moldova. The division was in the reserve of the 4th Army.

On the morning of August 20, 1944, the Soviet Iasi-Kishinev operation began. The Romanian tankers were ready for the Soviet offensive: the 1st Tank Regiment almost immediately launched a counterattack on the flank of the Soviet mechanized columns. At about 10 am, Romanian tankers collided with Soviet tanks near the village of Skobalteni. As a result of a 10-hour tank battle, the Romanians knocked out 60 Soviet tanks, forcing the enemy to withdraw from the battle. The Romanians themselves lost 20 cars. Presumably, the tank commander, Dumitru's sub-armour, knocked out at least one Soviet tank in this battle.

On August 23, a Soviet mechanized column - more than two dozen tanks - entered the positions of Romanian tankers, reinforced by German anti-tank guns, near the village of Sabaoani. The Romanians managed to shoot 22 Soviet tanks from an ambush. Dumitru chalked up one enemy tank.

An hour later, the Romanians continued their retreat, and the next day, on August 24, they became aware that the country's government had concluded a truce - the war with the Soviet Union was terminated.

As part of the 27th Tank Brigade of the Red Army

Like most of the tankers of the 1st Panzer Regiment, Dumitru was sent to a Soviet prisoner of war camp. After several escapes, he ended up in Targovishte, where in mid-September he was enlisted in the newly formed 2nd Tank Regiment, where he was to fight under Soviet command against his former allies - the Germans.

In March 1945, as part of the 27th Tank Brigade (it is noteworthy that Romanian tankers fought against it in August 1944), the regiment was sent to the front in Slovakia. The sub-tenant Dumitru was appointed commander of a platoon of PzKpfw IV tanks. On March 26, having crossed the Hron River, Dumitru's unit broke into German positions, destroying 6 anti-tank guns and capturing a battery of 15 cm howitzers. Further progress was stopped by a counterattack by a platoon of German Tigers.

Two days later, on March 28, Dumitru's platoon attacked the Germans again near the village of Mal-Chetin, where they destroyed a StuG IV assault gun, an armored personnel carrier and two anti-tank guns. The Germans retreated, and the Soviet infantry occupied the village.

On March 31, Soviet infantrymen, supported by Romanian tankers, met a German stronghold, which was defended by a Tiger platoon, a platoon of heavy anti-tank self-propelled guns, and a company of Hungarian PzKpfw IV tanks. In this battle, the allies were lucky: during a German air raid, one of the downed German bombers fell next to the Tigers, damaging two of them. Taking advantage of the enemy's confusion, the Romanian tankers attacked, destroying two and knocking out two more Hungarian tanks. The Germans retreated, taking the damaged Tigers in tow.

In early April, after the liberation of Bratislava, Dumitru, who became the squad leader of 7 PzKpfw IVs and three self-propelled guns, replenished his unit with 9 tanks and assault guns, as well as 3 enemy armored personnel carriers.

On April 11, 1945, the 2nd Romanian tank regiment fought in Austria, where it participated in the battle for Vienna. By April 12, only 2 PzKpfw IV tanks remained in Dumitru's platoon. In the area of ​​​​the village of Hohenruppensdorf, his 2 tanks, supported by a Soviet anti-tank battery and a rifle platoon, repelled a German counterattack. In this battle, Dumitru's tankers destroyed one armored personnel carrier, and Soviet artillerymen knocked out three others. By 17 o'clock the Germans repeated the attack with the forces of 4 PzKpfw IV tanks and 4 armored personnel carriers with infantry. The crew of Dumitru set fire to a German tank, another was knocked out by Soviet anti-tank guns. The crews of the other two German tanks surrendered. Two more managed to retreat. German counterattacks ended only on 13 April.

In mid-April, the 2nd Romanian Tank Regiment became the 1st Tank Battalion. Dumitru was appointed commander of the 1st Panzer Company (6 PzKpfw IVs, 3 assault guns, 5 TACAMs, 2 R-2s and 3 armored vehicles). The battalion advanced on Chrik on 14 April. The Romanians got it - "Panthers" knocked out 2 PzKpfw IV and TASAM from an ambush.

Dumitru himself, who changed crew and tank, was wounded. He spent the following months in hospitals. Finished the war with the rank of lieutenant. After the hospital, Ion Dumitru continued to serve in the Romanian tank forces until 1953, after which he retired.

In total, Dumitru participated in the battles for 25 days: he fought on the side of the Germans for 5 days and 20 days as part of the Soviet 27th tank brigade. During this time, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers.

upclosed.com

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The sixth issue of the column "tank aces".
This issue will focus on Ion S. Dumitru (rum. Ion S. Dumitru; born March 1, 1921) - a Romanian officer, a master of tank combat, a participant in World War II. For 25 days of fighting, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers. At the same time, he fought for 5 days on the side of the Germans and 20 days - as part of the Soviet 27th tank brigade.

On July 1, 1943, Ion Dumitru was promoted to the rank of sublokotenent (second lieutenant) and was assigned to the 1st tank regiment, which was reorganized in Targovishte after the defeat of the Romanian army in the Battle of Stalingrad. Further training Dumitru took place in the training center of the 6th tank regiment of the Wehrmacht (Hannover, Germany).

Like most of the tankers of the 1st Panzer Regiment, Dumitru was sent to a Soviet prisoner of war camp. After several escapes, he ended up in Targovishte, where in mid-September he was enlisted in the newly formed 2nd Tank Regiment, where he was to fight under Soviet command against his former allies - the Germans.

In March 1945, as part of the 27th Tank Brigade (it is noteworthy that Romanian tankers fought against it in August 1944), the regiment was sent to the front in Slovakia. The sub-tenant Dumitru was appointed commander of a platoon of PzKpfw IV tanks. On March 26, having crossed the Hron River, Dumitru's unit broke into German positions, destroying 6 anti-tank guns and capturing a battery of 15 cm howitzers. Further progress was stopped by a counterattack by a platoon of German Tigers.

Two days later, on March 28, Dumitru's platoon attacked the Germans again near the village of Mal-Chetin, where they destroyed a StuG IV assault gun, an armored personnel carrier and two anti-tank guns. The Germans retreated, and the Soviet infantry occupied the village

In early April, after the liberation of Bratislava, Dimitru, who became the squad leader of 7 PzKpfw IVs and three self-propelled guns, replenished his unit with 9 tanks and assault guns, as well as 3 enemy armored personnel carriers.

In mid-April, the 2nd Romanian Tank Regiment became the 1st Tank Battalion. Dumitru was appointed commander of the 1st Panzer Company (6 PzKpfw IVs, 3 assault guns, 5 TACAMs, 2 R-2s and 3 armored vehicles). The battalion advanced on Chrik on 14 April. The Romanians got it - "Panthers" knocked out 2 PzKpfw IV and TASAM from an ambush.

Dumitru himself, who changed crew and tank, was wounded. He spent the following months in hospitals. Finished the war with the rank of lieutenant. After the hospital, Ion Dumitru continued to serve in the Romanian tank forces until 1953, after which he retired.
In total, Dumitru participated in the battles for 25 days: he fought on the side of the Germans for 5 days and 20 days as part of the Soviet 27th tank brigade. During this time, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers.

wot-planet.com

Biography

He was born on March 1, 1921 in Robanesti (Rom. Robăneşti), Dolj county. He graduated from high school in Craiova. In 1941 he graduated from the military school in Timisoara, and in 1943 - from the school of infantry officers in Bucharest.

Service in the 1st Romanian Panzer Division

On July 1, 1943, Ion Dumitru was promoted to the rank of sublokotenent (second lieutenant) and was assigned to the 1st tank regiment, which was reorganized in Targovishte after the defeat of the Romanian army in the Battle of Stalingrad. Further training Dumitru took place in the training center of the 6th tank regiment of the Wehrmacht (Hannover, Germany).

In March 1944, as part of the 1st Panzer Division, called "Great Romania", he was sent to the front, to Moldova. The division was in the reserve of the 4th Army.

On the morning of August 20, 1944, the Soviet Iasi-Kishinev operation began. The Romanian tankers were ready for the Soviet offensive: the 1st Tank Regiment almost immediately launched a counterattack on the flank of the Soviet mechanized columns. At about 10 am, Romanian tankers collided with Soviet tanks near the village of Skobalteni. As a result of a 10-hour tank battle, the Romanians knocked out 60 Soviet tanks, forcing the enemy to withdraw from the battle. The Romanians themselves lost 20 cars. Presumably, the tank commander, Dumitru's sub-armour, knocked out at least one Soviet tank in this battle.

However, the Soviet troops bypassed the positions of the Romanians, and the 1st Tank Regiment was surrounded. At night, the Romanians began to retreat to the west, but in the dark the columns separated and only 13 PzKpfw IV tanks and 3 SPW 250 armored personnel carriers reached the village of Stornesti. Then the Germans joined them - several assault guns.

On August 23, a Soviet mechanized column - more than two dozen tanks - entered the positions of Romanian tankers, reinforced by German anti-tank guns, near the village of Sabaoani. The Romanians managed to shoot 22 Soviet tanks from an ambush. Dumitru chalked up one enemy tank.

An hour later, the Romanians continued their retreat, and the next day, on August 24, they became aware that the country's government had concluded a truce - the war with the Soviet Union was terminated.

As part of the 27th Tank Brigade of the Red Army

Like most of the tankers of the 1st Panzer Regiment, Dumitru was sent to a Soviet prisoner of war camp. After several escapes, he ended up in Targovishte, where in mid-September he was enlisted in the newly formed 2nd Tank Regiment, where he was to fight under Soviet command against his former allies - the Germans.

In March 1945, as part of the 27th Tank Brigade (it is noteworthy that Romanian tankers fought against it in August 1944), the regiment was sent to the front in Slovakia. The sub-tenant Dumitru was appointed commander of a platoon of PzKpfw IV tanks. On March 26, having crossed the Hron River, Dumitru's unit broke into German positions, destroying 6 anti-tank guns and capturing a battery of 15 cm howitzers. Further progress was stopped by a counterattack by a platoon of German Tigers.

Two days later, on March 28, Dumitru's platoon attacked the Germans again near the village of Mal-Chetin, where they destroyed a StuG IV assault gun, an armored personnel carrier and two anti-tank guns. The Germans retreated, and the Soviet infantry occupied the village.

On March 31, Soviet infantrymen, supported by Romanian tankers, met a German stronghold, which was defended by a Tiger platoon, a platoon of heavy anti-tank self-propelled guns, and a company of Hungarian PzKpfw IV tanks. In this battle, the allies were lucky: during a German air raid, one of the downed German bombers fell next to the Tigers, damaging two of them. Taking advantage of the enemy's confusion, the Romanian tankers attacked, destroying two and knocking out two more Hungarian tanks. The Germans retreated, taking the damaged Tigers in tow.

In early April, after the liberation of Bratislava, Dimitru, who became the squad leader of 7 PzKpfw IVs and three self-propelled guns, replenished his unit with 9 tanks and assault guns, as well as 3 enemy armored personnel carriers.

On April 11, 1945, the 2nd Romanian tank regiment fought in Austria, where it participated in the battle for Vienna. By April 12, only 2 PzKpfw IV tanks remained in Dumitru's platoon. In the area of ​​​​the village of Hohenruppensdorf, his 2 tanks, supported by a Soviet anti-tank battery and a rifle platoon, repelled a German counterattack. In this battle, Dumitru's tankers destroyed one armored personnel carrier, and Soviet artillerymen knocked out three others. By 17 o'clock the Germans repeated the attack with the forces of 4 PzKpfw IV tanks and 4 armored personnel carriers with infantry. The crew of Dumitru set fire to a German tank, another was knocked out by Soviet anti-tank guns. The crews of the other two German tanks surrendered. Two more managed to retreat. German counterattacks ended only on 13 April.

In mid-April, the 2nd Romanian Tank Regiment became the 1st Tank Battalion. Dumitru was appointed commander of the 1st Panzer Company (6 PzKpfw IVs, 3 assault guns, 5 TACAMs, 2 R-2s and 3 armored vehicles). The battalion advanced on Chrik on 14 April. The Romanians got it - "Panthers" knocked out 2 PzKpfw IV and TASAM from an ambush.

Dumitru himself, who changed crew and tank, was wounded. He spent the following months in hospitals. Finished the war with the rank of lieutenant. After the hospital, Ion Dumitru continued to serve in the Romanian tank forces until 1953, after which he retired.

In total, Dumitru participated in the battles for 25 days: he fought on the side of the Germans for 5 days and 20 days as part of the Soviet 27th tank brigade. During this time, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers.

Awards

He was awarded the highest military award of Romania - the Order of Mihai the Brave 3rd class with Swords.

Bibliography

In 1999, he wrote the book "Tanks on Fire" (rum. Tancuri in flăcări), where he told how he fought both against the Soviet troops and against the German army:

Ion S. Dumitru. Tancuri in flacari. - Bucuresti: Nemira, 1999. - 462 p.

Literature

• Ucrain C., Dobre D. Tanchistii. IDCM. 1994 (Rom.)

Links

• Based on the book Tanks on Fire (Tancuri in flăcări) (English)
• Online .
• .

An excerpt characterizing Dumitru, Ion

“Yes, yes,” Pierre said, looking at Prince Andrei with shining eyes, “I completely, completely agree with you!”
The question that had been troubling Pierre from Mozhaisk Mountain all that day now seemed to him completely clear and completely resolved. He now understood the whole meaning and significance of this war and the forthcoming battle. Everything that he saw that day, all the significant, stern expressions of faces that he caught a glimpse of, lit up for him with a new light. He understood that latent (latente), as they say in physics, warmth of patriotism, which was in all those people whom he saw, and which explained to him why all these people calmly and, as it were, thoughtlessly prepared for death.
“Do not take prisoners,” continued Prince Andrei. “That alone would change the whole war and make it less brutal. And then we played war - that's what's bad, we are magnanimous and the like. This generosity and sensitivity is like the generosity and sensitivity of a lady, with whom she becomes dizzy when she sees a calf being killed; she is so kind that she cannot see the blood, but she eats this calf with sauce with gusto. They talk to us about the rights of war, about chivalry, about parliamentary work, to spare the unfortunate, and so on. All nonsense. In 1805 I saw chivalry, parliamentarianism: they cheated us, we cheated. They rob other people's houses, let out fake banknotes, and worst of all, they kill my children, my father and talk about the rules of war and generosity towards enemies. Do not take prisoners, but kill and go to your death! Who has come to this the way I did, by the same suffering...
Prince Andrey, who thought that it was all the same to him whether Moscow was taken or not taken in the same way as Smolensk was taken, suddenly stopped in his speech from an unexpected convulsion that seized him by the throat. He walked several times in silence, but his body shone feverishly, and his lip trembled when he began to speak again:
- If there was no generosity in the war, then we would go only when it is worth it to go to certain death, as now. Then there would be no war because Pavel Ivanovich offended Mikhail Ivanovich. And if the war is like now, then the war. And then the intensity of the troops would not be the same as now. Then all these Westphalians and Hessians led by Napoleon would not have followed him to Russia, and we would not have gone to fight in Austria and Prussia, without knowing why. War is not a courtesy, but the most disgusting thing in life, and one must understand this and not play war. This terrible necessity must be taken strictly and seriously. It's all about this: put aside lies, and war is war, not a toy. Otherwise, war is the favorite pastime of idle and frivolous people ... The military estate is the most honorable. And what is war, what is needed for success in military affairs, what are the morals of a military society? The purpose of the war is murder, the weapons of war are espionage, treason and encouragement, the ruin of the inhabitants, robbing them or stealing for the food of the army; deceit and lies, called stratagems; morals of the military class - lack of freedom, that is, discipline, idleness, ignorance, cruelty, debauchery, drunkenness. And despite that - this is the highest class, revered by all. All the kings, except for the Chinese, wear a military uniform, and the one who killed the most people is given a big reward ... They will converge, like tomorrow, to kill each other, they will kill, maim tens of thousands of people, and then they will serve thanksgiving prayers for having beaten there are many people (of which the number is still being added), and they proclaim victory, believing that the more people are beaten, the greater the merit. How God watches and listens to them from there! - Prince Andrei shouted in a thin, squeaky voice. “Ah, my soul, lately it has become hard for me to live. I see that I began to understand too much. And it’s not good for a person to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ... Well, not for long! he added. “However, you are sleeping, and I have a pen, go to Gorki,” Prince Andrei suddenly said.
- Oh no! - Pierre answered, looking at Prince Andrei with frightened sympathetic eyes.
- Go, go: before the battle you need to get enough sleep, - Prince Andrei repeated. He quickly approached Pierre, hugged him and kissed him. "Goodbye, go," he shouted. - See you, no ... - and he hastily turned around and went into the barn.
It was already dark, and Pierre could not make out the expression that was on the face of Prince Andrei, whether it was malicious or gentle.
Pierre stood for some time in silence, considering whether to follow him or go home. "No, he doesn't need to! Pierre decided by himself, “and I know that this is our last meeting.” He sighed heavily and drove back to Gorki.
Prince Andrei, returning to the barn, lay down on the carpet, but could not sleep.
He closed his eyes. Some images were replaced by others. At one he stopped for a long, joyful moment. He vividly recalled one evening in Petersburg. Natasha, with a lively, agitated face, told him how, last summer, while going for mushrooms, she got lost in a large forest. She incoherently described to him both the wilderness of the forest, and her feelings, and conversations with the beekeeper whom she met, and, interrupting every minute in her story, said: “No, I can’t, I don’t tell it like that; no, you don’t understand, ”despite the fact that Prince Andrei reassured her, saying that he understood, and really understood everything she wanted to say. Natasha was dissatisfied with her words - she felt that the passionately poetic feeling that she experienced that day and which she wanted to turn out did not come out. “This old man was such a charm, and it’s so dark in the forest ... and he has such kind people ... no, I don’t know how to tell,” she said, blushing and agitated. Prince Andrei smiled now with the same joyful smile that he smiled then, looking into her eyes. “I understood her,” thought Prince Andrei. “I not only understood, but this spiritual strength, this sincerity, this openness of the soul, this soul that seemed to be bound by the body, this soul I loved in her ... so much, so happily loved ...” And suddenly he remembered about how his love ended. “He didn’t need any of that. He didn't see it or understand it. He saw in her a pretty and fresh girl, with whom he did not deign to associate his fate. And I? And he is still alive and cheerful."
Prince Andrei, as if someone had burned him, jumped up and again began to walk in front of the barn.

On the 25th of August, on the eve of the battle of Borodino, the prefect of the palace of the emperor of the French, m r de Beausset, and colonel Fabvier arrived, the first from Paris, the second from Madrid, to the emperor Napoleon in his camp near Valuev.
Having changed into a court uniform, m r de Beausset ordered the parcel brought by him to the emperor to be carried in front of him and entered the first compartment of Napoleon's tent, where, talking with Napoleon's adjutants surrounding him, he began to uncork the box.
Fabvier, without entering the tent, stopped talking with familiar generals at the entrance to it.
Emperor Napoleon had not yet left his bedroom and was finishing his toilette. He, snorting and groaning, turned now with his thick back, then with his fat chest overgrown with a brush, with which the valet rubbed his body. Another valet, holding the bottle with his finger, sprinkled cologne on the well-groomed body of the emperor with an expression that said that he alone could know how much and where to sprinkle cologne. Napoleon's short hair was wet and tangled over his forehead. But his face, although swollen and yellow, expressed physical pleasure: "Allez ferme, allez toujours ..." [Well, even stronger ...] - he kept saying, shrugging and groaning, rubbing the valet. The adjutant, who entered the bedroom in order to report to the emperor on how many prisoners had been taken in yesterday's case, handing over what was needed, stood at the door, waiting for permission to leave. Napoleon, grimacing, looked frowningly at the adjutant.

wiki-org.ru

Hello, in the upcoming World of Tanks MMO game update version 0.8.0, everyone is paying attention to the global: global physics updates, a new render, hard testing new Soviet tank destroyers and considering purchasing the premium British tank Matilda Black Prince. I want to draw attention to one point, which historically relies"World of Tanks".
New medals and in-game rewards will be added to game content 0.8.0, including analogues of the Burda medal: Pascucci (for 3 self-propelled guns), Dumitru(for 4 self-propelled guns).

Current in-game description of Burda's medal

Game description of Dumitru's medal in WoT 0.8.0

Awarded for destroying 4 enemy SPGs in a tank or tank destroyer in one battle.
Ion S. Dumitru- Romanian tank ace. Participated in World War II for only twenty-five days. Of these, he fought for five days on the side of Germany and twenty - as part of the Soviet 27th tank brigade. On March 6, 1945, the unit, which included Dumitru, destroyed six German anti-tank guns and captured a battery of 15 cm howitzers.

Ion S. Dumitru(Ion S. Dumitru) - Ion's training took place in the training center of the 6th tank regiment of the Wehrmacht in Germany, on July 1, 1943, Ion Dumitru was awarded the rank of sublokotenent (second lieutenant) and given direction to the 1st tank regiment, which was reorganized after the defeat Romanian army near Stalingrad. In March 1944, as part of the Romania Mare (Great Romania) tank division, he was sent to the front, to Moldova.

On the morning of August 20, 1944, the Iasi-Kishinev offensive began. The Romanian troops were ready for the Soviet offensive and were on duty in combat readiness, early in the morning the 1st Tank Regiment launched a counterattack on the flank of the Soviet columns. Romanian tankers, including tank Dumitru, collided with Soviet tanks near the village of Skobalteni on the border of Romania and Moldova. The battle was protracted and lasted about ten hours. The Romanians knocked out 60 Soviet tanks, while losing 20 vehicles. Romanians acted from ambushes like shooting games online. Dumitru chalked up a couple of Soviet tanks.

Then the Romanians retreated inland, and 3 days later, on August 23, 1944, at the positions of Romanian tankers and German 75mm anti-tank guns near the village Sabeoani Soviet fur came out. column - more than two dozen tanks, armored vehicles, infantry. And again the Romanians acted from an ambush, destroying 22 Soviet tanks - shooting all Soviet tanks and self-propelled guns into the sides. Dumitru's account was replenished again.

The next day, August 24, the Romanians learned that the country's government had signed a truce - the war with the Soviet Union was terminated. The further fate of Ion Dimitru is shrouded in speculation. For example, according to one of the versions, a combat officer of the Romanian army was given a captured PzKpfw IV tank, appointed a platoon commander and sent to fight in Slovakia with a former ally of Romania - Germany. Something is unbelievable.
I did not find photos of Ion Dumitru, although in 1991 he wrote the book "Tanks on Fire" (Tancuri in flacari), where he described 5 days of the war on the side of Romania during the Soviet Iasi-Chisinau operation.


One of the reviews of this book: “Nonsense from the series“ battle at Skobalteni ”, when they invent what they want in hindsight. And then they try to create a “documentary basis” for a fictitious one.

I am somewhat offended, it even seems strange that the medal named after the Romanian, who fought for both of them, is in the game, but the medal of Vladimir Bochkovsky is not! Bochkovsky is a true master of tank combat, an ace, a hero of the Soviet Union. During the Great Patriotic War, he destroyed 36 enemy tanks and, like Dumitru, also participated in the Iasi-Kishinev operation, but on the other side of the barrel.

Here is a medal waiting for us in the MMO game World of Tanks. My question is: “if I get it, will it be possible to return it back to the developers”? And let them pin it on their foreheads!

gosu-wot.com

Ion S. Dumitru (rum. Ion S. Dumitru; born March 1, 1921) is a Romanian officer, master of tank combat, participant in World War II. For 25 days of fighting, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers. At the same time, he fought for 5 days on the side of the Germans and 20 days as part of the Soviet 27th tank brigade.

Biography

Born March 1, 1921 in Robanesti (rum. Robanesti) Dolj county. Graduated from high school in Craiova. In 1941 he graduated from a military school in Timisoara (he was one of its first graduates in 1941), and in 1943 from an infantry officers' school in Bucharest.

In "Greater Romania" against the Red Army

On July 1, he was promoted to the rank of sublokotenent (second lieutenant) and given direction to the 1st Tank Regiment, which was reorganized after the brutal defeat of the Romanian army in the Battle of Stalingrad. Part was at that time in Targovishte. Dumitru underwent his further training in Germany, in Hannover, at the training center of the 6th Panzer Regiment of the Wehrmacht.
In March 1944,

Received the name "Great Romania", was sent to the front, to Moldova. The division was in the reserve of the 4th Army. On the morning of August 20, the Iasi-Chisinau operation began. The Romanians were ready for the Soviet attacks. The 1st Tank Regiment almost immediately launched a counteroffensive against the Soviet mechanized columns. At 10 o'clock in the morning, Romanian tankers collided with Soviet tanks - this happened near the village of Skobalteni. After a 10-hour battle, 60 Soviet tanks were reported to the headquarters of the Romanian army. The Romanians themselves lost 20 cars. The tank commander, Dumitru's sub-armour, knocked out at least one Soviet tank.
The next day, after a Soviet air raid, Dumitru was left without a tank. According to some reports, the car was damaged as a result of strikes by the Soviet Air Force, according to others, it got up for technical reasons. The lieutenant and his crew were given another tank. Just in time: the division, battered by the Soviet offensive, began to retreat to the west. The Romanians retreated at night, off-road, 13 Pz tanks entered the column. IV and 3 SPW 250 armored personnel carriers. The Germans also joined them - several assault guns and anti-tank guns towed by captured Soviet trucks.
On August 23, Romanians and Germans met a Soviet mechanized column - more than two dozen tanks. They managed to catch the Soviet forces by surprise. From an ambush, tanks and anti-tank guns shot 22 Soviet tanks. Dumitru chalked up one enemy tank.
Then the Romanians continued their retreat - on August 24 they became aware that the country's government had concluded a truce - the war with the Soviet Union was stopped.

in the 2nd tank regiment against the Wehrmacht

Most of the tankers of the 1st Tank Regiment were sent to the camps. Dumitru was among them. After several escapes, he ended up in Targovishte, where in mid-September he was enrolled in the newly formed 2nd tank regiment of the "new" Romanian army, which was supposed to fight under Soviet command against the former allies - the Germans. The regiment consisted of a headquarters, a reconnaissance company (8 armored vehicles and 5 armored personnel carriers), the 1st tank battalion (8 Pz. IVs and 14 TAs) and the 2nd tank battalion (28 R-35/45 and R-35, 9 T- 38, 2 R-2, 5 TACAM R-2).
In March 1945, the regiment was sent to the front, to Slovakia. It is noteworthy that he was subordinate

The Red Army - it was against her that the Romanian tankers fought in August 1944. Dumitru's sub-combatant was the commander of a platoon of tanks Pz. IV. On March 26, having crossed the Hron River, Dumitru's unit broke into German positions, destroying 6 anti-tank guns and capturing a battery of 15 cm howitzers. Further progress was stopped by a counterattack by the German Tigers. The Romanians had to retreat. They did not suffer losses.
On March 28, Dumitru's platoon attacked the Germans again near the village of Mal-Schetin, where his crew, together with the crew of Sergeant Cojocaru, destroyed a StuG IV assault gun, an armored personnel carrier and two anti-tank guns, as well as several transporters. The Germans retreated, and the Soviet infantry occupied the village.
On March 31, Romanian tankers and Soviet infantry met a strong German group - it included a platoon of Tigers, a platoon of heavy anti-tank self-propelled guns (Dimitru believed that these were Ferdinands), as well as a company of Hungarian tanks Pz. IV. The allies were also attacked by German aircraft. At the same time, one German bomber was shot down and fell next to the Tigers, damaging two of them. Incredible military success! Taking advantage of the confusion of the enemy, the Romanian tankers launched an attack, destroying two and knocking out two more Hungarian tanks. The Germans retreated in panic, taking the damaged Tigers in tow.
In the evening of the same day, almost in the dark, the 2nd Romanian tank regiment attacked a village with a Catholic church fortified by the Germans. Heavy German artillery inflicted serious damage on Soviet and Romanian units. However, Dumitru's tankers managed to destroy the temple where the artillery observer was stationed. In the night battle, Dumitru's platoon destroyed six German armored personnel carriers. Tankers from another platoon knocked out a German tank defending the village.
In early April, after the liberation of Bratislava, Dimitru, who became the commander of a squad from 7 Pz. IV and three self-propelled guns, replenished the account of his unit in several battles with 9 tanks and assault guns, as well as 3 enemy armored personnel carriers.
By April 11, 1945, the Romanian tank regiment was already fighting in Austria, it participated in the battle for Vienna. On April 12, the Dumitru platoon (only 2 Pz. IVs remained in it), the Soviet anti-tank battery and the rifle platoon were counterattacked by the Germans near the village of Hohenruppensdorf. Tankers Dumitru destroyed one armored personnel carrier, three others were knocked out by Soviet artillerymen. By 17 o'clock the Germans hit with larger forces - 4 Pz IV and 4 armored personnel carriers with infantry. The crew of Dumitru set fire to a German tank, another was damaged by the Soviet anti-tank team. The crews of the other two tanks surrendered. Two APCs were also shot down. Two more managed to retreat.
On April 13, the German counterattacks ended. The enemy retreated. The Romanian tank regiment suffered heavy losses. In mid-April, it became the 1st tank battalion. Dumitru was appointed commander of the 1st tank company (6 Pz. IVs, 3 assault guns, 5 TACAMs, 2 R-2s and 3 armored vehicles). The battalion advanced on Chrik on 14 April. The Romanians got it - the "Panthers" from an ambush knocked out 2 Pz. IV and TASAM. Another Pz. IV failed for technical reasons. Dumitru himself, who changed crew and tank, was wounded. He spent the next months in hospitals.
In total, Dumitru participated in the battles for only 25 days. Five against the Red Army and 20 against the Germans. During this time, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers. The tanker was awarded the highest military award in Romania - the Order of Mihai Viteazu of the third degree with swords. He was given the rank of lieutenant. After the hospital, Ion Dumitru continued to serve in the Romanian tank forces until 1953, after which he retired. He wrote the book "Tankers in Battle", where he told how he fought both against the Soviet troops and against the German army.

Most of the tankers of the 1st Tank Regiment were sent to the camps. Dumitru was among them. After several escapes, he ended up in Targovishte, where in mid-September he was enrolled in the newly formed 2nd tank regiment of the "new" Romanian army, which was supposed to fight under Soviet command against former allies - the Germans. The regiment consisted of a headquarters, a reconnaissance company (8 armored vehicles and 5 armored personnel carriers), the 1st tank battalion (8 Pz. IVs and 14 TAs) and the 2nd tank battalion (28 R-35/45 and R-35, 9 T- 38, 2 R-2, 5 TACAM R-2).

In March 1945, the regiment was sent to the front, to Slovakia. It is noteworthy that he was subordinate to the 27th tank brigade of the Red Army - it was against it that the Romanian tankers fought in August 1944. The sub-tenant Dumitru was the commander of a platoon of tanks Pz. IV. On March 26, having crossed the Hron River, Dumitru's unit broke into German positions, destroying 6 anti-tank guns and capturing a battery of 15 cm howitzers. Further progress was stopped by a counterattack by the German Tigers. The Romanians had to retreat. They did not suffer losses.

On March 28, Dumitru's platoon attacked the Germans again near the village of Mal-Schetin, where his crew, together with the crew of Sergeant Cojocaru, destroyed a StuG IV assault gun, an armored personnel carrier and two anti-tank guns, as well as several transporters. The Germans retreated, and the Soviet infantry occupied the village.

On March 31, Romanian tankers and Soviet infantrymen met a strong German group - it included a platoon of Tigers, a platoon of heavy anti-tank self-propelled guns (Dimitra believed that these were Ferdinands), as well as a company of Hungarian tanks Pz. IV. The allies were also attacked by German aircraft. At the same time, one German bomber was shot down and fell next to the Tigers, damaging two of them. Incredible military success! Taking advantage of the confusion of the enemy, the Romanian tankers launched an attack, destroying two and knocking out two more Hungarian tanks. The Germans retreated in panic, taking the damaged Tigers in tow.

In the evening of the same day, almost in the dark, the 2nd Romanian tank regiment attacked a village with a Catholic church fortified by the Germans. Heavy German artillery inflicted serious damage on Soviet and Romanian units. However, Dumitru's tankers managed to destroy the temple where the artillery observer was stationed. In the night battle, Dumitru's platoon destroyed six German armored personnel carriers. Tankers from another platoon knocked out a German tank defending the village.

In early April, after the liberation of Bratislava, Dimitru, who became the commander of a squad from 7 Pz. IV and three self-propelled guns, replenished the account of his unit in several battles with 9 tanks and assault guns, as well as 3 enemy armored personnel carriers.

By April 11, 1945, the Romanian tank regiment was already fighting in Austria, it participated in the battle for Vienna. On April 12, the Dumitru platoon (only 2 Pz. IVs remained in it), the Soviet anti-tank battery and the rifle platoon were counterattacked by the Germans near the village of Hohenruppensdorf. Tankers Dumitru destroyed one armored personnel carrier, three others were knocked out by Soviet artillerymen. By 17 o'clock the Germans hit with larger forces - 4 Pz IV and 4 armored personnel carriers with infantry. The crew of Dumitru set fire to a German tank, another was damaged by the Soviet anti-tank team. The crews of the other two tanks surrendered. Two APCs were also shot down. Two more managed to retreat.

On April 13, the German counterattacks ended. The enemy retreated. The Romanian tank regiment suffered heavy losses. In mid-April, it became the 1st tank battalion. Dumitru was appointed commander of the 1st tank company (6 Pz. IVs, 3 assault guns, 5 TACAMs, 2 R-2s and 3 armored vehicles). The battalion advanced on Chrik on 14 April. The Romanians got it - the "Panthers" from an ambush knocked out 2 Pz. IV and TASAM. Another Pz. IV failed for technical reasons. Dumitru himself, who changed crew and tank, was wounded. He spent the next months in hospitals.

In total, Dumitru participated in the battles for only 25 days. Five - against the Red Army and 20 - against the Germans. During this time, he and his crews chalked up at least 5 tanks and 3-4 armored personnel carriers. The tanker was awarded the highest military award in Romania - the Order of Mihai Viteazu of the third degree with swords. He was given the rank of lieutenant. After the hospital, Ion Dumitru continued to serve in the Romanian tank forces until 1953, after which he retired. He wrote the book "Tankers in Battle", where he told how he fought both against the Soviet troops and against the German army.