Oituz (formerly GrozeÃÂti; ) is a commune in BacÃÂu County, Western Moldavia, Romania. It is composed of six villages: CÃÂlcâi (Zöldlonka), FerestrÃÂu-Oituz (Fà ±részfalva), Hârja (Herzsa), Marginea, Oituz, and Poiana SÃÂratà(Sósmezà Â).
Oituz was the site of three battles during the First World War: the First, Second, and the Third Battle of Oituz.
According to Iorgu Iordan, the commune's name is of Turkic origin; otuz or oltuz means "thirty" in some Turkic languages.
Poiana SÃÂratàvillage is part of Transylvania; in Austria-Hungary, it belonged to Háromszék County, and after a reorganization to Trei Scaune County in Romania until 1950.
At the 2002 census, Oituz had a population of 9,687, of which 99.8% were ethnic Romanians and 0.2% Hungarians; 49.2% were Romanian Orthodox, 48.9% Roman Catholic, and 1.8% Seventh-day Adventist. At the 2011 census, the population had decreased to 8,152; of those, 96.74% were Romanians. At the 2021 census, Oituz had 8,701 inhabitants, of which 93.41% were Romanians.
Hârja village lies along the Oituz Valley, on the national road DN11 connecting OneÃÂti to BraÃÂov, over a stretch of approximately 3 kilometers. It was established around the middle of the 17th century by shepherd families migrating from RucÃÂr and Dragoslavele (Muscel), Soveja (Vrancea), and Poiana Sibiului (Sibiu County). They settled in the area due to its extensive pastures and rich hayfields suitable for sheep farming.
The first nucleus of the settlement developed on the left bank of the Oituz River, later expanding into two smaller hamlets â FlocÃÂeÃÂti and JÃÂvrenii â situated on the right bank. In the 20th century, it served as the seat of a commune that included Poiana SÃÂratàand Oituz. After the 1968 territorial reorganization, the administrative center was established at Oituz village. During World War I, Hârja was a key point on the Oituz front. Between 30 September and 13 October 1916, the Battle of Hârja took place there, a tactical engagement that helped stop the advance of the Central Powers through the Oituz Pass.