Military training – historical events in Vidin and Calafat in 1877-1878 and preparation of a historical reconstruction from that period
07-08-09 May 2019 Calafat, Romania
Independence War Monument “1877-1878”
Local Employers Association for Small and Middle Enterprises Calafat organized on the 07-09 of May2019, a Military Training within the project “Remember the war, appreciate the liberty” financed under the Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme.
This event took place in the meeting hall of Cultural House Calafat, Independence War Monument “1877-1878” and Square Center and was addressed to young people/young students, to interested local stakeholders and to the project beneficiaries.
Team members present at the meeting from Lead Beneficiary, Agency for Regional Development and Business Center (ARDBC) Vidin was Mr. Eftim Stefanov – Chairman and Mrs. Petya Voyceva .
From Beneficiary 2, Local Employers Association for Small and Middle Enterprises Calafat meeting was attended by Mr. Ionel Dumitrescu- President, Mr. Alin Dumbrăvea – Project coordinator and Mrs. Marilena Baciu -accountant.
Lecturer/TRAINER of the military training was the President of the Soldiery Tradition Association “Bucharest" – Emil Boboescu. ExpertS in Historical Reconstructions and collector of old weapons – Ligian Tudoriu and Caludiu Vulpan. The Soldiery Tradition Association “Bucharest" is an association with cultural and educational field of activity, which aims to preserve the historical memory and patriotism and also has a remarkable experience in organizing historical reenactments. The interpreter for the event was Mrs. Borislav Mitrashkov. Also was invited the representatives of Military Association “Bdintsi” from Vidin and Sofia.
The agenda of the meeting was as follows:
First day: 07.05.2019
- Registration of the participants
- Presentation of the project and main activities and the program of the day;
- Equipping children with military uniforms;
- Military training – Presentation of “Romanian Army in Independence War” first redoubt
- Military training -Technical elements regarding infantry troups/second redoubt
- Technical meeting- Questions and answers session
Under point one of the Agenda, Mr. Alin Dumbravea, Project coordinator of Local Employers Association for Small and Middle Enterprises Calafat had the welcome speech.
After the welcome speech, Mr. Alin Dumbravea introduced the representatives of Lead Beneficiary to participants and to the other participants at the event. At this point of the meeting each representative of project beneficiaries presented their role in the project.
Under point two of the Agenda, Mr. Alin Dumbrăvea, made a presentation of the project, including objectives, goals, target groups in cross-border area, project expected results, and also, a description of the project’s activities in the Romanian and Bulgarian side.
Also, he outlined the importance of developing this kind of project in cross-border area, which has the aim to create and promote a representative tourist product for the cross-border area Calafat – Vidin by bringing to life the athmosphere of 1877-1878 Independence War battles and inauguration of an event, “Calafat and Vidin in 1877-1878 period”, with cross-border resonance. Another major challenge is the implication of young pupils in the reconstruction of this battle through the military trainings, putting them in direct contact with a military outfit and military everyday life for the corresponding historical epoch.
Mrs. Petya Voyceva highlighting the impact of this project in cross-border area, through epochal and historical atmosphere created through original items or uniforms and gear manufactured including edged weapons and fire arms replicas, congruent with the original historical items, for the period commemorated. After these discussions each child received the military unifom, completed equiped
The event continued with the presentation of the lecturer, Mr. Emil Bobescu representative of Soldiery Tradition Association, which has a short description of the next elements of the day program, which will include the reconstruction of the battle “Reenactment”.
In order to introduce the students in the historical atmosphere the presentation continuing with explanations regarding the military strategy used in the period of the 1877-1878, by the Romanian Army in the Independence War. After this short presentation the students goes in the field/place of Reenactment already prepared by the project team with the support of local authorities.
Then there were presented information on the number of combatants, how they were placed on the battle field and the adopted battle strategy. During the entire presentation period, the children were attentive, interactive and involved in the presentation.
The students repeat the scenario which include movement of the troops, handling weapons and attack tactics. Each participant received task and different roll in the battle reconstruction.
After the coffee break/hydration the training continued with new military exercise’s, the childrens repeat the first attack which is concluded with the first step of the scenario, the conquest of the first redoubt. The students/participants were involved in the change of ideas, they have questions sessions regarding some aspects of the military strategy used in that period and also they improve their military skills through the repetition of movements under the strictly guidance of military trainer Claudiu Vulpan.
We mentioned the fact that the number of participants were higher and for that the representatives of Soldiery Military Association worked/trained in three teams the childrens, having also the support of Mr. Ligian Tudoroiu and the support of Ivo Ivanov the head of organization Bdintsi from Vidin .
After the lunch break the training continued with the new step of the scenario the conquest of the second redoubt, the exercise’s of the part with “Marita episode” the military operations artillery strategy . The representatives of the provider ”Poveste cu Cai” they gave advice to the children’s about the pyrotechnics equipment and also they conduct the children in the filed on the safe way. All the movements and tactics are repeated several times.
Second day: 08.05.2019
- Technical meeting- Questions and answers session
- Military training- military exercises conquest of the redoubt
- Military training- Technical elements regarding infantry troups/second
- Technical meeting-Questions and answers session
The event start with a brief remembrance of the information’s related in the first day and after that the children repeat all the steps and movements made for the conquest of the first redoubt. After the coffee break the military training continued with presentation of the scenario related to the conquest of the second redoubt.
The students received informations related to the place of the cannons in the field, the movement of these cannons and also was mark the places where will be the ground impact effect. The children are instructed to avoid this ground impact effect, to stay in the safe area and to be careful in the weapon handling. In the second day of the training were used pyrotechnics materials ( blank bullets, guns shoots, ground impact effect and also smoke machineries) for each of this elements the children received information and they have been trained.
After the lunch break were repeated the learned movement of the battle scenario starting with the conquest of the first and second redoubts, including here also the “Marita episode”. After several repetitions the children take a coffee break.
The training continued with the final phase of the battle the conquest of the final redoubt and the Turkish capitulation and surrender of the sword to the representative of Romanian Army.
The actors involved in all those actions have given to this event a big and relevant contribution and children's safety in action.
Third day: 09.05.2019
- Technical meeting
- Participation to the Military Parade and historical episode “Marita”
- Reconstruction of battle – reenactment
- Returned the military equipment in good conditions.
The day starting with a technical meeting where the participants involved in the battle reconstruction received the finals information’s and they were organized and distributed in the action battle field.
During more than one hour and half they were trained and repeated all the technics learned in these two training days. The participants put in scene all the battle action and they continued to exercises the movements and actions of the scenario.
After the coffee break the students, representatives of Soldiery Tradition Association and Bdintsi Association and the actors of provider “Poveste cu Cai” participated in the Central Square of town to the Military Parade. After the military parade the students putting in scene some episode related to the aspect of Turkish and Romanian life encountered in that period, the “Marita episode” and Romanian prisoner’s episode.
After the lunch break the event continued in the area of Independence Monument 1877-1878 with the reconstruction of the battle following the scenario repeated along to three days of military training. To the final event participated also the representatives of local and county authorities, representatives of M.A.P.N and the representatives of State Secretary.
The event was closed by the President of LEASME Calafat, Mr. Ionel Dumitrescu through the speech of thanks a dressed to all participants involved in this event. The children’s have returned the military equipment in good conditions.
