Ecaterina Teodoroiu (Romanian pronunciation: [ekate'rina te.odo'roju]; born Catalina Toderoiu; January 15, 1894 - September 3, 1917) was a Romanian woman who fought and died in World War I, and is regarded as a heroine of Romania.
A Scouts' member, she had initially worked as a nurse but she subsequently decided to become a front-line soldier, being deeply impressed by the patriotism of the wounded and the death of her brother Nicolae, Sergeant in the Romanian Army.
It was an unusual decision for a woman of that epoch, so she was sent to the front rather reluctantly.
However, with the support of the Romanian royal family, soon she proved her worthiness as a symbol and as a soldier.
She is favourably compared to Queen Maria of Romania.