Subnostr

The Romanian Revolution began in a context of economic crises and shortages in the communist bloc of Europe. Ceausescu's regime (in power as president of the Romanian Socialist Republic since 1974, and also serving as general secretary of the Communist Party from 1965 to 1989) exported food at a low price while the local population paid dearly for it. Nicolae followed the same strategy as other dictatorships and used the police as a tool of repression to silence radios/TVs, arresting anyone under the pretext of being agents acting on behalf of other governments, infiltrated to undermine the communist cause of the country. He even had his own police force called the "Securitate," one of the most brutal and repressive that ever existed.

Bitman 1y ago

Before continuing with the thread, we need to understand how Ceausescu came to power and what life was like for Romanians before the revolution.

Romania had experienced tumultuous times since 1935. In early 1937, it came under the control of a fascist government, bearing significant resemblance to that of Nazi Germany. King Carol II of Romania dissolved the government a year later due to a failing economy and eventually installed the Orthodox patriarch in power as prime minister.

However, the sudden death of the patriarch and a peasant uprising caused renewed agitation for the Orthodox-rightist organization Iron Guard led by the young and charismatic leader Codreanu.

In June 1940, the Soviet Union invaded two essential Romanian provinces, prompting the king to seek an ally out of fear and apprehension to help protect them and keep the Legionary forces out of power.

On July 5, 1940, despite strong opposition from the population but out of fear of the USSR, Romania allied itself with Nazi Germany, only to be invaded by its ally as part of Hitler's strategy to create a massive eastern front against the Soviet Union. The king abdicated on September 6, leaving the country under the command of Prime Minister Ion Antonescu, who later regained the lost territory from the Soviets, albeit under a puppet state. The Germans utilized Romanian resources as part of the Nazi war effort, taking control of all Romanian oil wells and installations, which led to a severe crisis for the local population as Hitler relinquished the food harvest.

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Bitman 1y ago

While in power, Ion Antonescu aligned himself with the Iron Guard, offering positions in his government and deceiving some leaders into supporting him. Antonescu sought to bring the Iron Guard under his direct control because their activities and sympathy for the Romanian people and their cause were undermining state authorities.

The brief period that followed became known as the Legionary National State, which lasted from September 14, 1940, until its dissolution on February 14, 1941, totaling only five months.

With the puppet state fully operational under the Germans and Antonescu's ambition, the two armies began to cooperate. After the capture of Bessarabia and Bukovina, Antonescu sent the Romanian army into Soviet territory, determined to follow the German troops until the complete conquest of the Red territory.

This decision was met with disapproval from the Romanian people and politicians, including those from traditional parties and the Allies. Although Antonescu had spent most of his life in the military career, he failed to adequately prepare the Romanian army for a prolonged campaign. After the Germans and Romanians suffered significant losses in the Battle of Stalingrad and the Russians began their offensive that would only end in Berlin, Antonescu's popularity, which was not the best, rapidly declined.