Ioan Mihail Racoviță

Ioan Mihail Racoviță (7 March 1889, Bucharest – 28 June 1954, Sighet Prison) was a Romanian Major General during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

He commanded the Romanian Cavalry Corps during the initial phase of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941. With his corps he advanced from Romania to the Caucasus. He participated in Operation Munchen, the Battle of the Sea of Azov and the Battle of the Caucasus. He was replaced on 1 January 1943 and called back to Romania.

He was recalled into active service on 25 January 1944 and took over the command of the 4th Army, which had to be completelty rebuilt after the Battle of Stalingrad. He led the army in spring and summer of 1944, in defensive battles in Northern Romania against the advancing Red Army. Together with the Wehrmacht, he repulsed several Soviet attacks in the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive, First Battle of Târgu Frumos and Second Battle of Târgu Frumos. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz.

After King Michael's Coup on 23 August 1944, he was appointed Minister of Defense in the new anti-German government of General Constantin Sănătescu.
He remained in this position until 5 November 1944, when he was named General Inspector of the Cavalry.

Between 20 May 1945 and 20 May 1946 he was the Commandant of 3rd Inspectorate-General.
He was then promoted to the rank of general and given the command of the 1st Army until 30 June 1947. On 1 September 1947 he was retired.

In June 1950, he was arrested and imprisoned at Sighet Prison, where he died on 28 June 1954.

• Order of Michael the Brave
  • 3rd Class (17 October 1941)
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (7 July 1944)