| Conflict: | Battle of Sellenberk |
| Partof: | the Battle of Transylvania of the Romanian Campaign of World War I |
| Date: | 7 and 10 September 1916 |
| Place: | Sellenberk, Transylvania, Austria-Hungary (today Șelimbăr, Sibiu County, Romania) |
| Result: | Romanian victory |
| Combatant2: | |
| Commander1: | Ioan Culcer |
| Commander2: | Hermann von Staabs (10 September) Arthur Arz von Straussenburg (7 September) |
| Units1: | 1st Army
|
| Units2: | 1st Army/XXXIX Reserve Corps
|
| Casualties1: | Unknown |
| Casualties2: | Unknown |
The Battle of Sellenberk was a World War I military engagement fought between Romanian forces on one side and Central Powers forces (Austria-Hungary and Germany) on the other side. It was part of the wider Battle of Transylvania and resulted in a Romanian victory.
See main article: Nagyszeben Offensive. On 27 August 1916, Romania declared war on Austria-Hungary and proceeded to invade the Hungarian region of Transylvania. The Romanian campaign plan called for the Olt-Lotru Group of the Romanian 1st Army under the command of General Ioan Culcer to secure the basin between Nagytalmács (Tălmaciu/Talmesch) and Nagyszeben (Sibiu/Hermannstadt). The area between Nagyszeben and the northern exit of the Turnu Roșu Pass was the designated assembly area for the 1st Army's Olt-Lotru Group. Opposing the Romanian invasion of Transylvania was the Austro-Hungarian 1st Army under the command of General Arthur Arz von Straussenburg.[1] Nagyszeben (Sibiu/Hermannstadt) was occupied on 2 September by advanced troops of the Romanian 1st Army. However, the Romanians evacuated the city on the following day.[2] Erich Ludendorff referred to this in his memoirs, stating that, after taking Brassó (Brașov/Kronstadt) on 29 August, "Rumanian patrols were soon seen in Hermannstadt.".[3] The Romanians were plainly apprehensive that, in order to keep Nagyszeben under occupation, they would have to extend their bridgehead-like formation beyond capacity.[4]
The Romanian forces in the region consisted of the 1st Army's Olt-Lotru Group (2 divisions), which was placed by General Culcer under the command of General . Opposing the Romanians was the 51st Honvéd Division (commanded by General) of the Austro-Hungarian 1st Army.[5] [6]
The battle for Sellenberk (Șelimbăr/Schellenberg) started on 7 September.[6] However, on 8 September, following the German-Bulgarian victory at the Battle of Turtucaia in Southern Dobruja, the Romanian High Command ordered a halt to the Transylvania offensive.[7] [8] Also on 8 September, the XXXIX Corps of German General Hermann von Staabs assumed responsibility for operations in southern Transylvania.[9] One of the units placed under the command of von Staabs was the 51st Honvéd Division.[4] The battle was resumed on 10 September.[6] That same day, the Romanian 1st Army entered Sellenberk.[10] [11]
See main article: Veresmart Offensive. On 10 September, the Romanian 1st Army captured Sellenberk (Șelimbăr/Schellenberg), two miles southeast of Nagyszeben. This marked the end of the Romanian advance in the area for the ensuing fortnight.[12] Sellenberk - where Michael the Brave had defeated the Hungarians in 1599 - became the center of the main Romanian position north of the Turnu Roșu Pass.[13] [14]