The Nagyszeben Offensive was a Romanian military operation during the opening stages of the Battle of Transylvania, during the Romanian Campaign of 1916 in World War I. It was fought against Austro-Hungarian forces and resulted in a Romanian victory, the city of Nagyszeben (Sibiu/Hermannstadt) being reached within a week. A further week of minor operations following the one-day Romanian occupation of the city resulted in the stabilization of the Romanian front line in the region for the ensuing fortnight.

Ioan Culcer was a Wallachian-born Romanian military leader and politician. Culcer served as a lieutenant during the Romanian War of Independence (1877–1878) and as a general during the Second Balkan War and World War I. In early 1918, he served as Minister for Public Works in the First Averescu cabinet.