A Romanian force of 420,000 men crossed the Carpathians to Transylvania in victory. Lacking in equipment, training, and good leadership, this valiant force was ultimately crushed by German and Austro-Hungarian troops. The country was now isolated, facing 600,000 Austro-German troops supported by the Turks and the Bulgarians. In 1917, with the arrival of German reinforcements from the Eastern Front following the Russian withdrawal from the conflict, Romania ceased resisting and signed an armistice treaty with the Central Powers on December 9. Although its dismemberment was ratified by the Treaty of Bucharest of May 7, 1918, Romania still ended the war in the victors’ camp, its territory intact, thanks to an ultimate declaration of war against the Central Powers on November 9, 1918, two days before the armistice.
