Allegiance Romanian Army Years of service 1909—1944 | Service/branch Infantry Name Ilie Steflea | |
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Died May 21, 1946
Bucharest, Kingdom of Romania Rank General de corp de armata Battles/wars World War I-Romanian Campaign
World War II | ||
Romanian generals from World War II
Ilie Șteflea (April 11, 1888 – May 21, 1946) was a Romanian General during World War II and Chief of the Romanian General Staff between 20 January 1942 and 23 August 1944.
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Early life and career
Ilie Șteflea was born in Săliște (near Sibiu, Transylvania, at the time part of Austria-Hungary). Economic hardships forced his family to move to the Kingdom of Romania, to the newly acquired province of Dobruja.
Șteflea attended the primary school at Medgidia, and the secondary schools at Constanţa and at the Gheorghe Lazăr High School in Bucharest. He graduated first at the Military School for Infantry Officers in 1909, promoted to the rank of Sublocotenent (Second Lieutenant) and assigned to the 34th Infantry Regiment, based in Constanţa.
In 1915 he was sent on an information-gathering mission in Transylvania, in the Timiş Valley and Braşov.
After the war had started, Șteflea was given the command of a machine gun company in the 34th Infantry Regiment, holding the rank of captain. On 26 August 1916 he was wounded at Daidâr (now Shumentsi, Tutrakan Municipality) during the Battle of Turtucaia and evacuated to Moldova.
On 1 April 1917 he was assigned as instructor to the Military School for Infantry Officers in Botoșani, where he taught infantry tactics inspired by the French military doctrine and war experience.