Map showing the territorial gains (darker shades) of Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Greece, primarily at the expense of Turkey, agreed in the Treaty of Bucharest following the Second Balkan War. Despite its gains, Bulgaria also lost territory to both Romania and Turkey.
The Balkan States According to the Treaty of Bucharest; Acquisitions of New Territory shown by darker shades
"The Romanian army ought not to count on Russian troops in defending its extended frontier, chief of staff Mikhail Alekseev had warned General Berthelot on 12 October when the latter stopped at STAVKA en route to Romania. On a map of Romania Alekseev drew 'a large blue line' along the Siret river from Galaţi to the Carpathians. This he termed 'the only line of defense.' Alekseev repeated the same theme directly to the Romanians, urging them to prepare the evacuation of Wallachia and to build fortifications on the Siret. It became clear that additional Russian troops would be sent only to defend Moldavia at the left wing of the Russian Front. Elsewhere the Romanians would be essentially on their own."
Romania entered the war on the side of the Entente Allies hoping for significant Russian support and an offensive on the Salonica Front that would prevent Bulgaria from attacking. Russian chief of staff Alekseev was prepared to support a Romanian army on the Russian left, but not to advance towards the Romanian capital of Bucharest in Walachia, a region that covered half of Romania's territory and a salient that was proving indefensible. French General Berthelot stopped at Stavka, Russian military command, on his way to Romania as a military advisor.
The Romanian Battlefront in World War I by Glenn E. Torrey, page 110, copyright © 2011 by the University Press of Kansas, publisher: University Press of Kansas, publication date: 2011
1916-10-12, 1916, October, Romania, Alekseev, Wallachia, Walachia
