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48-791: On 27 September 1940, Romania withdrew from the Balkan Pact . On 8 October, Nazi German troops began crossing into Romania, and soon numbered over 500,000. On 23 November, Romania formally joined the Axis powers . On 27 November, 64 former dignitaries or officials were executed by the Iron Guard in the Jilava Massacre . The already harsh anti-Semitic legislation was expanded, included the expropriation of Jewish-owned rural property on 4 October, followed by forests on 17 November, and finally by river transport on 4 December. On 20 January 1941,

96-715: A Romanian communist regime had been established. Born in Târgu Jiu , Petrovicescu attended the military school for infantry in Craiova from 1896 to 1899, the officers' school in Bucharest from 1899 to 1900, and the military school for infantry and cavalry from 1906 to 1908. During World War I Romanian Campaign , he fought on the Moldavian front. Following the Union of Bessarabia with Romania in 1918, Petrovicescu, by then

144-553: A high-ranking officer, was named chief of the general staff in that province's territorial command. Later, until 1933, he was royal commissioner at the Chișinău army corps. After being named brigadier general , at the beginning of 1934, he was transferred to the national capital, where he served as royal commissioner at the Bucharest Military Tribunal. In this capacity, he was part of a panel of judges who tried

192-546: A joint speech by Antonescu and Sima and the funeral of the Guard's founder, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu. Balkan Pact The Balkan Pact , or Balkan Entente , was a treaty signed by Greece , Romania , Turkey and Yugoslavia on 9 February 1934 in Athens , aimed at maintaining the geopolitical status quo in the region after the end of World War I . To present a united front against Bulgarian designs on their territories,

240-552: A letter to Antonescu in this sense on 16 October, but the latter rejected the idea. Relations between Antonescu and the Guard reached breaking point after the Jilava Massacre. Despite the mounting tension, the two parties achieved a truce for the moment, which allowed a Legionary to keep the post of Bucharest Police Chief but provided for the public condemnation of the Jilava murders. Several antisemitic decrees were enacted by

288-526: A ten-year trade agreement was signed between Romania and Germany, providing for the "economic reconstruction" of Romania. On 27 September 1940, Romania withdrew from the Balkan Pact . That same day, a trade agreement was signed with one of the Pact members, Turkey . On 19 December, another trade agreement was signed between Romania and Yugoslavia , another member of the Balkan Pact. During the last days of

336-481: A well-armed Legionary police force, and actively supported arresting or even killing politicians who in the past had suppressed the Guard. The new police force also turned itself into a tool of racial repression, targeting the Jewish-Romanian community . Petrovicescu irritated Antonescu by upholding public acts of violent retribution, and this fall-out acquired importance by the close of 1940. In particular,

384-739: A year. The entrance of German troops in Romania was not an invasion, however, as it occurred with Antonescu's approval. The first German troops arrived in Romanian on 10 October, partly as a response to Antonescu's request for military assistance, in addition to their main goal of defending the Romanian oil fields. Romania subsequently joined the Tripartite Pact and the Anti-Comintern Pact on 23 November and 25 November, respectively. Despite this tightening of relations with Germany,

432-502: Is resurrected, as he promised, according to the Gospel. He is resurrected, rising from the grave to present to us Romania itself, buried by this sinful age.". A young Emil Cioran in his twenties strongly endorsed Codreanu's cult: "With the exception of Jesus , no other dead being has been so present among the living. Has anybody even thought about forgetting him? This dead man spread a perfume of eternity over our human dung and brought back

480-475: The Axis powers. On 27 November, 64 former dignitaries or officials were executed by the Iron Guard in Jilava Prison while awaiting trial (see Jilava Massacre ). Later that day, historian and former prime minister Nicolae Iorga and economist Virgil Madgearu , a former government minister, were assassinated. On 1 December, another Iron Guard rally took place at Alba Iulia to celebrate 22 years since

528-596: The Conducător suspected his Legionnaire subordinate of having played a part in organizing the Jilava Massacre of November 1940, during which the political elite associated with Carol's rule was mass murdered. On January 19, 1941, after the Nazi German Major Döring had been mysteriously assassinated in Bucharest, Sima's faction publicly questioned Antonescu's commitment to Romania's Axis allies, and

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576-406: The Conducător used the occasion to strip Petrovicescu of his cabinet office. The official explanation for his decision was that Petrovicescu had not taken the proper measures to secure the perimeter within nine hours of Döring's shooting. The next day, as Antonescu signaled his marginalization of the Guard, a large part of the country was gripped by a Legionnaires' rebellion . At an early stage of

624-617: The Union of Transylvania with Romania . Antonescu again attended, and gave a speech. After the National Legionary State was proclaimed in 14 September, the Legion became the ruling party but had to share executive power with the Army . The new Legionary regime had a ritual basis based on the cult of the Guard's dead leader (Codreanu) and other Legionary martyrs. Exhumation, public burial and rehabilitation of Legionary "martyrs"

672-574: The ritual murder of 200 Jews at the Bucharest slaughterhouse, while the Guardists were singing Christian hymns, "an act of ferocity perhaps unique in the history of the Holocaust". Within four days, Antonescu had successfully suppressed the coup. The Iron Guard was forced out of the government. Sima and many other legionnaires took refuge in Germany, while others were imprisoned. Antonescu abolished

720-624: The 1940 Treaty of Craiova signed by Romania under Nazi Germany's pressure, and after the 1941 Axis invasions of Yugoslavia and Greece , the pact effectively ceased to exist and Turkey remained as its only signatory that had avoided any conflict during WWII, even after joining the Allies in 1945. Constantin Petrovicescu Constantin Petrovicescu ( Romanian pronunciation: [konstanˈtim petroviˈtʃesku] ; October 22, 1883 – September 8, 1949)

768-644: The German Army into the country, and soon afterwards, de jure through the signing of the Tripartite and Anti-Comintern Pacts. It also did away with most of Romania's traditional political class during the Jilava massacre before being suppressed itself in January 1941, then formally abolished in February. Footage of several historically valuable speeches survives from the National Legionary State era, such as

816-504: The German minority in Romania (numbering 300,000 after Romania's territorial losses) was not entirely spared the process of Romanianization. While few Germans from Banat and Transylvania were repatriated to the Reich, the number of ethnic Germans from Southern Bukovina and Dobruja who were repatriated amounted to 76,500. The German-Romanian convention which sanctioned these repatriations

864-526: The Iron Guard (Legionnaire) assassins of Prime Minister Ion G. Duca and their moral accomplices. The latter category included Guard leaders Codreanu and retired general Gheorghe Cantacuzino-Grănicerul , as well as prominent affiliates such as Gheorghe Clime , Nichifor Crainic , and Mihai Stelescu . He voted to convict the assassins themselves (the Nicadori ), but supported the acquittal of Codreanu and Cantacuzino-Grănicerul. He soon after secretly joined

912-546: The Iron Guard attempted a coup, combined with a pogrom against the Jews of Bucharest. Within four days, Antonescu had successfully suppressed the coup, and the Iron Guard was forced out of the government. Horia Sima and many other Legionnaires took refuge in Nazi Germany , while others were imprisoned. Antonescu formally abolished the National Legionary State on 14 February 1941. The Iron Guard first formed an alliance with

960-601: The Legion also possessed almost 200 trucks. On 14 February 1941, the National Legionary State was formally abolished. Over 9,000 people implicated in the Legionary Rebellion were subsequently arrested, of which almost 2,000 (1,842, to be exact) were sentenced to various terms, ranging from a few months to life in prison. Between 1938 and June 1941, Romania produced over 5,000 ZB vz. 30 light machine guns. This accounts for an average monthly production of over 120 machine guns, meaning that around 500 were produced by

1008-525: The Ministry of Finance. However, Sima resigned on 7 July, because he was denied a purely Guardist cabinet, while his two colleagues retained their posts. An Iron Guard supporter and ideologue, Nichifor Crainic , became Minister of Propaganda. Following Sima's resignation on 7 July, he was replaced by another Guardist, Radu Budișteanu . The territory of the National Legionary State amounted to roughly 195,000 square km (or just over 75,000 square miles). It had

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1056-601: The National Legionary State during its 4 months of existence. According to British historian Dennis Deletant : "Thus ended a unique chapter in the history of Fascism in Europe. The Guard had been the only radical movement of the Right in Europe to come to power without the assistance of Germany or Italy, and the only one to be toppled during Nazi Germany's domination of continental Europe." The National Legionary State ushered in Romania's Axis membership, first de facto by welcoming

1104-507: The National Legionary State during its 4 months of existence. Between 1938 and May 1941, Romania produced 102 Rheinmetall 37 mm anti-aircraft guns. This accounts for an average monthly production of 2.5 pieces, meaning that around 10 were produced by the National Legionary State during its 4 months of existence. Between 1936 and July 1941, Romania produced 100 Vickers 75 mm anti-aircraft guns. This accounts for an average monthly production of 1.5 pieces, meaning that around 6 were produced by

1152-635: The National Legionary State during its 4 months of existence. Between the latter half of 1939 and March 1941, Romania produced 126 Malaxa armored tractors. This accounts for an average monthly production of just over 6 tractors, meaning that around 25 were produced by the National Legionary State during its 4 months of existence. During the National Legionary State, between October and December 1940, 20 IAR 39 light bombers were delivered. Between April 1939 and March 1943, Romania produced 210 Fleet 10G trainers. This accounts for an average monthly production of 4.5 aircraft, meaning that around 17 were produced by

1200-520: The National Legionary State, in its stead declaring Romania a "National and Social State." The suppression of the Rebellion also provided some data on the military equipment used by the Iron Guard, amounting to 5,000 firearms (revolvers, rifles and machine guns) and numerous grenades in Bucharest alone. The Legion also possessed a small armored force of two armored police cars and two Malaxa UE armored tracked carriers. For transport, in Bucharest alone,

1248-781: The National Legionary State, on 10 and 12 February, Britain and Belgium severed relations with Romania. Border skirmishes with the Soviet Union spanned across the duration of the National Legionary State. In the autumn of 1940, the Soviets occupied several Romanian islands in the Danube Delta. Frontier incidents occurred on a daily basis. Soviet troops were concentrated on the Romanian border, Soviet aircraft made incessant incursions in Romania's air space, and — in January 1941 — Soviet vessels attempted to enter Romanian waters by force. Tensions peaked in January 1941, when

1296-481: The National Legionary State. Jewish-owned rural property was expropriated on 4 October, followed by forests on 17 November, and finally by river transport on 4 December. On 10 November 1940, the National Legionary State faced a massive earthquake (the strongest one recorded in the 20th century in Romania), which destroyed 65,000 homes. In early October 1940, 15,000 German troops were deployed to Romania to protect

1344-496: The National Legionary regime on 14 September placed Antonescu and Sima on an equal footing. On 28 October, Sima accused Antonescu of violating the decree by allowing democratic parties to function. He asserted that such political diversity was contrary to the principles of a totalitarian state. Sima also wanted to apply Nazi principles to Romania's economy in order to bring all of it under centralized control. He addressed

1392-547: The Romanian Government in early 1938, when the then- Prime Minister Octavian Goga concluded an agreement with the leader of the Iron Guard, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu on 8 February 1938 for limited cooperation. However, this political arrangement displeased the King Carol II , who dismissed Goga on 11 February and replaced him with Patriarch Miron Cristea . Between 28 June and 4 July 1940 Horia Sima ,

1440-523: The Soviets demanded by ultimatum the control of the Danube Delta. Border clashes ensued near Galați ( Covurlui County ), where the Romanians were mining the Danube, during which between 26 and 100 were killed on both sides. On 20 January 1941, the Iron Guard attempted a coup, combined with a pogrom against the Jews of Bucharest. On 22 January, at the height of the Rebellion, the Iron Guard carried out

1488-524: The assumption of power by General Ion Antonescu and the Guard (together ruling a National Legionary State , with Antonescu as Conducător and Prime Minister), the new ruling party recommended Petrovicescu as Interior Minister, and he assumed that post. In October 1940, upon the recommendation of vice premier and new Legion head Horia Sima , Antonescu promoted Petrovicescu to the rank of divisional general retroactive to June 1, 1938, and returned him to active duty. As minister, he worked with Sima to create

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1536-524: The banned Guard and, in recognition for his stance during the trial, was named a member of its senate. At Codreanu's trial in April–May 1938, Petrovicescu appeared as a witness for the defence, praising Codreanu's "proper behaviour" and "patriotism". Due to his repeatedly expressed pro-Iron Guard sympathies, King Carol II retired him in September 1938. Two years later, following Carol's abdication and

1584-494: The census was conducted almost two months after the dissolution of the National Legionary State, Romania's borders were the same. King Carol II was forced to abdicate on 6 September 1940, and was replaced by his 19-year-old son, King Michael I . The first act of the new king was to grant General Ion Antonescu unlimited power as Conducător (leader) of Romania, relegating himself to a ceremonial role. A decree of 8 September further defined Antonescu's powers. To maintain his grip at

1632-727: The day that it was signed and was registered in the League of Nations Treaty Series on 1 October 1934. The Balkan Pact helped to ensure peace between the signatory nations but failed to end regional intrigues. Although the pact was designed against Bulgaria, on 31 July 1938, its members signed the Salonika Agreement with Bulgaria, which repealed the clauses of the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine and Treaty of Lausanne that had mandated demilitarised zones at Bulgaria's borders with Greece and Turkey, which allowed Bulgaria to rearm. With

1680-576: The fifty Romanian counties. The Guard was awarded four portfolios: Interior, Education, Foreign Affairs, and Cults. In addition, most of the permanent secretaries and directors in the ministries were also Guardists. As the dominant political force, the Guard also controlled the press and propaganda services. On 6 October 1940, Antonescu attended an Iron Guard rally dressed in Legionary uniform. On 8 October, German troops began crossing into Romania, and soon numbered over 500,000. On 23 November Romania joined

1728-670: The helm of the country, while at the same time conceding the leading role to the Iron Guard, Antonescu had King Michael proclaim Romania a National Legionary State on 14 September. The Legionary Movement/Iron Guard became the "only movement recognized in the new state", making Romania a totalitarian country. Antonescu became the legion's honorary leader, with Sima becoming Deputy Prime Minister. Five other Guardists became ministers, among them Prince Mihai Sturza (Minister of Foreign Affairs) and General Constantin Petrovicescu (Minister of Interior). Legionary Prefects were appointed in all of

1776-732: The main Iron Guardists in the conflicted cabinet headed by Ion Antonescu . In this capacity, he helped Sima obtain control of an armed structure, and, taking the party's side during the Legionnaires' rebellion of 1941, helped organize it in combat against Antonescu. Captured and tried, Petrovicescu spent the longer part of World War II in confinement or house arrest. He was retried for war crimes two years after King Michael's Coup of August 1944, and sentenced to life imprisonment . He died in Aiud Prison almost two years after

1824-651: The nominal leader of the Iron Guard after the death of Codreanu, served as Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Education. The Iron Guard was brought into the Ion Gigurtu 's cabinet , which took power on 4 July 1940, after the Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina . Three Guardists were appointed to the new government: Vasile Noveanu as Minister of Public Wealth, Sima as Minister of Religion and Arts, and Augustin Bideanu as Undersecretary of State at

1872-476: The oil refineries at Ploiești , which were essential for the German war effort. This unilateral German action, carried out without consulting Benito Mussolini ( Hitler 's Axis ally and leader of Fascist Italy ), prompted the latter to launch an invasion of Greece . The ensuing Greco-Italian War resulted in a military blunder, as the Greeks counter-attacked and occupied parts of Italian-ruled Albania for half

1920-637: The riots, leading Guard member Viorel Trifa issued a manifesto which directly blamed the "brave and upright" minister's dismissal on Antonescu's alleged sympathy for "the British government of freemasons ", accompanying such claims with antisemitic language. Other such theories popularized by the Legionnaires had it that Antonescu had personally encouraged Demetrios Sarandos, Döring's Greek-Turkish killer, to carry out his action, thus aiming to discredit Petrovicescu's political abilities. Petrovicescu

1968-602: The same territory as modern day Romania, with the exception of Northern Transylvania , which had been ceded to Hungary in the aftermath of the Second Vienna Award . It also possessed several islands in the Danube Delta , as well as Snake Island in the Black Sea . These have been part of Ukraine since 1948. A Romanian census was conducted on 6 April 1941 and recorded a population of 13,535,757. Though

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2016-417: The signatories agreed to suspend all disputed territorial claims against one another and their immediate neighbours following the aftermath of the war and a rise in various regional irredentist tensions. Other nations in the region that had been involved in related diplomacy refused to sign the document, including Italy , Albania , Bulgaria , Hungary and the Soviet Union . The pact became effective on

2064-491: The sky over Romania." Soon after Codreanu's reburial, however, the Legion committed the Massacre , killing over 60 former dignitaries. The Legion thus achieved its goals: the old order collapsed under its blows and all of the Legion's enemies were punished. The reburial of Codreanu's body took place on 30 November, in attendance was Antonescu, Sima, von Schirach , Bohle and 100,000 Iron Guardists. The decree which established

2112-525: Was a Romanian soldier and politician, who served as Interior Minister from September 14, 1940, to January 21, 1941, during the National Legionary State . A sympathizer and secret member of the fascist Iron Guard movement, he was also the royal commissioner involved in the 1934 acquittal of Guard leader Corneliu Zelea Codreanu . Petrovicescu was assigned his ministerial position by Codreanu's successor Horia Sima , serving as one of

2160-468: Was an important destabilising element during the subsequent events, which saw his and the Guard's fall into disgrace. He is believed to have had the personal initiative for one of the most notorious acts of violence carried out at the time, by ordering the Legionnaires to occupy the headquarters of the Siguranța Statului secret police and open fire on the soldiers and civilians outside. Petrovicescu

2208-472: Was arrested and tried along with other former Legionnaire government officials. In summer 1941, he was sentenced to five or seven years' imprisonment. In 1944, he was sent to Sibiu to live under house arrest. Following the 1944 coup d'état , which changed Romania's political orientation away from the Axis, Petrovicescu was again arrested, being held in the prisons of Alba Iulia and later Sibiu. In 1946, he

2256-461: Was retrospectively regarded by Sima as the most important task justifying the Legion's accession to power. The exhumation of Codreanu's remains and subsequent reburial (21-23 November) reaffirmed Condreanu's charisma as the foundation of Legionary ideology. On the day of Codreanu's reburial, the main Legionary newspaper, Cuvântul ( The Word ), wrote: "It is the day of the Captain's resurrection. He

2304-411: Was signed on 22 October 1940. According to the convention, the Romanian state received the real estate previously possessed by the repatriated Germans in exchange for paying compensation to the Reich. The newly-acquired property (lands and houses) would be used by the Romanian state to accommodate ethnic Romanian refugees from Bulgaria , displaced in the aftermath of the Treaty of Craiova . On 4 December,

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