Iacob Zadik (also spelled Zadig or Zadic; ; ; December 8, 1867 – April 8, 1970) was a Romanian artillery and infantry commander, who rose to the rank of divisional general. An assimilated ethnic Armenian, he prepared for a career in the Romanian Land Forces beginning at age nine. This led him to complete military training at several schools, including the Higher War School, where he graduated in 1898. Involved in repressing the 1907 Peasants' Revolt, he fist saw field action during the Second Balkan War (1913). He spent the early years of World War I in France, appointed to the staff of Joseph Joffre, but returned in time to participate in the Romanian offensive of 1916. As one of the leaders of the First Army, Zadik then took part in the defense of Moldavia, specifically the battles of Mărășești and First Oituz. During the armistice period of early 1918, he took leadership of the 8th Infantry Division in Botoșani.
Zadik earned distinction especially for leading the 8th Infantry Division's November 1918 expedition into the Duchy of Bukovina, which helped that region unite with Romania. He then secured Romanian Bukovina's northern border by moving against the West Ukrainian People's Republic and the Austrian Sich Riflemen, capturing Archduke Wilhelm of Austria; in early to mid 1919, his 8th Division was on a peacekeeping mission to Pokuttia, which was the site of multiple conflicts between Poles and Ukrainians. Though he effectively secured Pokuttia for annexation by the Second Polish Republic, Zadik extended his protection toward the Ukrainian civilians. He later served briefly as the head of the military command in Bessarabia, which was later incorporated in his command of the 4th Army Corps. During the 1920s, he involved himself in containing criminal activity on the eastern borders of Greater Romania. Just before retiring in 1929, he drew controversy with his decision to institute a state of siege on Romania's border with the Soviet Union.
Zadik withdrew from active duty and took administrative positions, including one at the Aircraft Construction Enterprise, while also serving as vice president of Cultul Eroilor society in the late 1920s. His career in the arms was followed by his son Grigore, who specialized in anti-aircraft defense. After the introduction of a communist regime in 1947, Zadik Sr was singled out for having publicly supported Bessarabia's incorporation within Romania; he was consequently imprisoned during the 1950s, but rehabilitated the following decade. Though his name was left out of specialized works, he received decorations for his past service, and was rumored to have been rescued from poverty by high-ranking members of the Communist Party apparatus, including Emil Bodnăraș; in his final years, he made public statements in support of the national-communist party line. He died in 1970, aged 102.
Biography Early life The Zadiks were ethnic Armenians who had settled in the area during the Middle Ages,Antonian, p. 139 and whom the General described as "tied to the ancestral land [of Romania]."Filipciuc II, p. 236; Firoiu, p. 16 The son of Grigore and Eufrosina, Iacob was born on December 20 (Old Style: December 8) in Brătulești, Roman County,Filipciuc I, pp. 620–621 & II, p. 239. See also Antonian, p. 139; Firoiu, p. 16 which was then administered as part of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. His father, who lived between 1830 and 1902, was a Senator of Romania and leader of the Vaslui County council, as well as on officer of the Order of the Star of Romania and the Order of the Crown."Informațiuni", in Voința Națională, April 18 (May 1), 1902, p. 3 An agriculturalist, in 1889 he received an honorable mention at the Paris World's Fair.Georges Bibesco, Exposition universelle 1889. La Roumanie avant-pendant-après, p. 182. Paris: Imprimerie Typographique J. Kugelmann, 1890 Iacob himself shunned civilian life and chose a career in the military. In a 1967 interview with journalist V. Firoiu, he spoke of some his first memories, namely the recruitment and departure of young soldiers to fight in the Romanian War of Independence (1877–1878). He credited these events with instilling in him an "instinct for the army", adding: "everything I did from that moment on, I did with the army on my mind."Filipciuc II, p. 237; Firoiu, p. 16
Zadik initially studied in Iași at Trei Ierarhi school (1874–1878), followed by Institutele-Unite (1878–1886).Filipciuc I, p. 620. See also Firoiu, p. 16 After first persuading his parents, he was allowed to apply for the Military High School in that same city—according to his own testimony, he was only accepted because of his high grades, as the school was generally reserved for the children of Land Forces officers.Filipciuc II, pp. 235–236; Firoiu, p. 16 During the first years of the Kingdom of Romania, Zadik was a School Sergent, leading its 4th Grade; Nicolae Petala was his colleague, a Corporal of the 3rd Grade.Petre I. Sturdza, Amintiri: patruzeci de ani de teatru, pp. 23–24. Bucharest: Editura Casei Școalelor, 1940. He became an Artillery Sublieutenant in July 1888, before his graduation."Știrĭ mărunte", in Epoca, July 13 (25), 1888, p. 3
Zadik then trained as an officer (to 1891),Filipciuc I, p. 620. See also Antonian, p. 139 by attending Bucharest's School of Officers. His focus was on artillery training, though he also took mandatory training in cavalry warfare; he specialized in training artillery regiments on location.Filipciuc I, p. 620 & II, p. 236; Firoiu, p. 17 He moved frequently, stationed with various regiments in Focșani, Brăila, Tulcea, Constanța, Bârlad, and Roman.Filipciuc I, p. 620 During his youth in the military, he befriended two writers, Mihail Sadoveanu (whose novels became favorites of his) and Emil Gârleanu (who was also a fellow officer).Filipciuc II, pp. 237–238; Firoiu, pp. 18–19 A Lieutenant in 1891, he was involved in a sexual scandal after Cojocaru, a jealous husband and army private, assaulted him; public controversy ensued when a military tribunal sentenced Cojocaru to a six-years prison term."Bucurescĭ 25 Iunie/7 Iulie 1891. E revoltător!", in Voința Națională, June 26 (July 8), 1891; "Ultime informații", in Lupta, June 22, 1891, p. 3; Constantin Bacalbașa, "Tribunalele militare", in Lupta, July 26, 1891, p. 1 (Part IV); July 30, 1891, p. 1 (Part V)
First commissions From 1896 to 1898, Zadik also studied at the Higher War School. He steadily rose through the ranks, becoming an army officer in 1901.Antonian, p. 139; Filipciuc I, p. 620 His son was born in Bucharest on March 27, 1898, following his father's career choices by enlisting for the army school at Dealu Monastery.Neagoe, p. 29 As a lieutenant colonel, Zadik Sr was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in Craiova, and later to the 7th Division in Roman. In the latter capacity, he was involved in repressing the Romanian Peasants' Revolt, organizing interrogations of officers who "have been in contact with the rebels".Indiscret, "Răscoalele din 1907. Unde's dosarele dela Ministerul de interne? Aŭ fost,—dar aŭ dispărut!", in Adevărul, January 27, 1912, p. 2 Zadik first saw action abroad during the Second Balkan War (1913).Filipciuc I, pp. 620, 621 He became Colonel, and was assigned to the Staff of the 3rd Army Corps in Galați, shortly before World War I; in October 1914, he was moved to the 4th Army Corps in Iași. In 1915–1916, he went on a mission to Joseph Joffre, commander of the French Army on the Western Front.Antonian, p. 139. See also Filipciuc II, pp. 236–237; Firoiu, pp. 17–18
Returning to Romania after its 1916 entry into the war, Zadik was assigned to the Northern Army at Bacău, and drafted plans for the Romanian offensive into Austria-Hungary. In September of that year, he became a Commander of the Order of Saint Stanislaus, and was recognized as an Officer of the Star of Romania in November. As Romania was faced with a massive counteroffensive and only held on to Western Moldavia, he became Chief of Staff of the First Army, reconstructed from surviving units at Podu Iloaiei (December 1, 1916); he was made brigadier general on April 1, 1917, and, from May 15, became Constantin Cristescu's second in command within the First Army. He was moved to the front during June, taking over defensive positions in Tecuci County and relieving the 1st Russian Army. By December, his son Grigore had been evacuated with the entire Dealu army school to Iași, and faced the prospect of being moved to safety in the Russian Empire. In January, he fell ill with epidemic typhus, and had to be hospitalized. Grigore's colleague and "forever a friend", engineer Constantin Nicolau, notes that the other Zadiks were by then living in Roman.Nicolau, pp. 22–23 He also recalls that Zadik Sr treated him "like a father".Nicolau, p. 61
During the defense of Moldavia, Zadik helped his troops achieve victory in the Battle of Mărășești, though he later credited success to "the Romanian peasant set out to defend his ancestral lands".Filipciuc II, p. 236; Firoiu, pp. 13–14, 18. See also Antonian, pp. 139-140 He was present for, though not directly involved in, the successful bayonet counterattack mounted by the "white ghosts"—soldiers of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, who dressed down to their underwear.Filipciuc II, pp. 232–233 While serving as a Secretary in the Ministry of War Ammunition (from September 1), Zadik held a command position in the First Battle of Oituz, and became an Officer of the Order of the Crown (he would receive its Grand Cross in 1919).Filipciuc I, pp. 620–621. See also Antonian, p. 141 Grigore Zadik saw action with the Romanian Air Corps (balloon section), despite being underage; as reported by the General, his son's missions were his only cause for worry during that stage of war.Filipciuc II, p. 236; Firoiu, pp. 14–15 Grigore survived the campaign and was made a Sublieutenant.
Bukovina expedition Preparations Zadik served in the Romanian War Ministry in 1918–1919, returning to active duty in 1919–1922.Antonian, pp. 139-140 From February 1918, at a time when Romania had sued for peace, he was serving as commander of the 8th Infantry Division, stationed in Botoșani.Filipciuc I, pp. 604, 620 This period witnessed his participation in the Great Union—specifically, the unification of Romanian-inhabited territories in Austria-Hungary with the Romanian Kingdom. In autumn 1918, after the Austrian governor of the Duchy of Bukovina, Josef Graf von Ezdorf, refused a request by Iancu Flondor to cede power, Zadik led the troops who occupied the province.Antonian, p. 140; Baboș, pp. 51–52; Filipciuc III, pp. 638; Olaru, pp. 23–24 These events witnessed a breakdown of social and military order in the Duchy. Early on November 5 (Old Style: October 23), Zadik received a report from Anton Ionescu, the Border Guards commander stationed in front of Ițcani, suggesting that the Austrian garrison had left that town, which the Austrian Gendarmerie could no longer protect against civilian violence.Filipciuc I, p. 604 That afternoon,Alexandru Tzigara-Samurcaș, Memorii. II: 1910–1918, p. 223. Bucharest: Grai și Suflet – Cultura Națională, 1999. Zadik received orders to take Ițcani and Suceava. The official motivation was provided by reports out of Burdujeni (a town now incorporated with Suceava), namely that "bands armed with rifles and machine guns are devastating the city".Filipciuc II, p. 239