During the First World War, there was a French medical mission in Galati that took care of over 50,000 wounded. Many of the French soldiers died in the years after the War, in 1919 and in 1920, when French troops remained in the area to support the Romanian army in defending Bessarabia, and to prevent Russia from annexing Bessarabia.

Located on the Maritime Danube and a few nautical miles away from the Sea, Galati was a strategic point, both from the economic and mostly from the military point of view.

After Romania's entry into the First World War, this strategic position and the defense line of Focsani - Namoloasa - Galati ensured that the city and the county find shelter from an actual occupation by a belligerent nation. However, the city of Galati was bombed both from Dobrogea, from the Macin Mountains, and from the Bugeac Hills in Bessarabia, suffering multiple destructions at that time. It was also bombarded by the zeppelines of the German army.

On 7-8 January 1918, took place the battle for the defense of the city, as the Bolshevik Russian troops (that played the role of our ally in the WWI) who were disorganized and were retreating, intended to occupy the city, which was defended, in turn, by the ground, air, and naval forces of Galati. The defeated Russian troops surrendered to the enemy ‒ the German Army ‒ that was cantoned beyond the Siret River.

Broader national WWI-context: A history of Romania's participation in World War I can be found on the following website: http://www.marelerazboi.ro/.