Date of birth:

June 14th, 1886 (Bajenii de Sus/Bistrita, Austrian-Hungarian Empire)

Date of death:

September 13th, 1944 (Romania)

Nationality:

Romanian (1861-1947, Kingdom)

Grigore Balan was born on the 14th of June 1896 in Bistrita district (Bajenii de Sus). As teenager, he was member of the association for literature and art „Virtus Romano Rediviva” since the secondary school. He attended the Infantry School for Officers in Bucharest and graduated in 1915 as Sublocotenent (second Lieutenant). In 1918, after the unification of the Romanian provinces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with the Romanian Kingdom, in his native region it was established the Romanian National Council, which founded the National Guard. The young Locotent (lieutenant) Grigore Balan enrolled and played an important role to take over the former 17th Infantry Regiment infracstucture, the weapons and ammunition. He was promoted in the ranks of Capitan (Captain-1921), Major (1929), Locotenent Colonel (Lieutenant-colonel-1936) and Colonel (1940).

The beginning of the World War II found him CO of the Grupul 5 Vanatori de Munte (5th Mountain Infantry Group). He acted in accordance with the orders of his superior, the General Dumitrache, taking control over the Pig Hill and Casoaiei Plateau, on the 3rd of July 1941. Two days later he crossed the Prut River despite the powerful enemy resistance. The Colonel Balan crossed also the Nistru River, on the 19th of July, participating at the bloody battle from Malaya Belozherka. On the 15th of March 1942 the Romanian Brigazii 2 Munte (2nd Mixed Mountain Brigade) was transformed in the Divizia 2 Munte (2nd Mountain Division). At this time, the colonel Balan, still CO of the Grupul 5 Vanatori de Munte (5th Mountain Group), was tasked to cross the Don River and to engage the fight next to the German 1.Panzerarmee. During the month of October, 1942, the Grupul 5 Vanatori de Munte (5th Mountain Group) of the Colonel Grigore Balan fought to conquer the strategic locality of Alagir. On the last day of 1942, under a heavy Soviet pressure, the German 3.Panzerkorps was in retreat to Nalcik together with the Divizia 2 Munte (2nd Mountain Division) of General Dumitrache. The quick withdraw was payed with the sacrifice of many soldier. The remainings of the Grupul 4 Vanatori de Munte (4th Mountain Group) and Grupul 5 Vanatori de Munte (5th Mountain Group) were subordinated to the German 52.Armeekorps deployed on the western side of the Baksan River. The HQ of the Colonel Balan was placed in Karasubadar and it was a precious help for the General Dumitrache during the operations in Crimea. In May 1944, the Colonel Balan organized the defense at Hersones and facilitated the evacuation of the mountain infantry units by the Romanian Royal Navy.

On the 23rd of August, the day when Romania joined the Allied coalition, the Colonel Balan was already named General de brigadã (Brigadier) and deputy commander of the Divizia 1 Munte (1st Mountain Division). On the 7th of September 1944, the General Grigore Balan participated to free the Romanian city of Saint Gheorghe. Two days later, near-by his HQ, he was lethal wounded by the explosion of a German shell. He died on the way to hospital and burried with military honours in Bucharest.

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• Photo 1: Adrian Mociulschi
• Photo: Suman Col. (R) Gh., Mociulschi Dr. A.-L., Generalul Leonard Mociulschi in constiinta romanilor, Univers Stiintific Publishing House, Bucharest, 2008
  
• - Suman Col. (R) Gh., Elita Cotelor Inalte, Univers Stiintific Publishing House, Bucharest, 2006