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Gheorghe Vlădescu-Răcoasa

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Gheorghe Vlădescu-Răcoasa (October 22, 1895 – December 17, 1989) was a Romanian sociologist, journalist, left-wing politician, and diplomat.

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37-586: Born in Răcoasa , Vrancea County , his parents were Constantin (1862–1946), the village notary, and his wife Maria ( née Lefter; 1865–1965), a schoolteacher. He attended primary school in his native village and in Focșani between 1902 and 1906. From 1906 to 1914, he studied at Bârlad 's Gheorghe Roșca Codreanu High School . He then entered the law faculty of the University of Iași ; from 1914 to 1915, he contributed to

74-800: A ban on sociological teaching. Although this was partly relaxed in the 1960s, Vlădescu-Răcoasa had already reached retirement age, and spent the rest of his years in seclusion. His wife died in September 1975, following a long illness. Vlădescu-Răcoasa died at his Bucharest home in December 1989, aged 94. Four days later, he was incinerated at Cenușa crematorium ; his ashes were buried in Răcoasa. His son, who worked as an architect, died in 2002. His daughter died in Geneva in 2010. Vrancea County Vrancea ( Romanian pronunciation: [ˈvrant͡ʃe̯a] )

111-682: A frequent contributor to Societatea de mâine . In 1925, the Institute held a series of public speeches at the Carol I University Foundation ; these were covered by Vlădescu-Răcoasa in Adevărul , where he was editor, and he would later write about similar events in Dimineața . That spring, Gusti initiated the first of his monographic research campaigns, in Dolj County 's Goicea village; Vlădescu-Răcoasa

148-706: A mass rally in front of the Royal Palace to call for his resignation. As the protest carried on, communist agents opened fire from the Interior Ministry building situated across the street, killing several people. In a radio address later that day, Rădescu blamed the attack on Ana Pauker and Vasile Luca , calling them "hyenas" and "strangers without kin or God". The next day, the Communist Party orchestrated an unprecedented propaganda campaign against Rădescu. His son, Nicu, who had participated at

185-693: A united anti-communist opposition in exile called the Romanian National Committee . In 1950, after disagreements within the committee, he was one of the founders of the Liga Românilor Liberi ("The League of Free Romanians"), together with Grigore Gafencu, Nicolae Caranfil , Mihail Fărcășanu, Carol "Citta" Davila , Viorel Tilea , general Ion Gheorghe  [ ro ] , and Vintilă Brătianu . Rădescu died of tuberculosis on 16 May 1953 in New York City ; he

222-662: Is a county ( județ ) in Romania , with its seat at Focșani . It is mostly in the historical region of Moldavia but the southern part, below the Milcov River , is in Muntenia . At the 2021 census , the county had a population of 335,312 and a population density of 69.0/km (178.8/sq mi). Vrancea County covers an area of 4,857 km (1,875 sq mi). A curvedly shaped mountainous area, known in Romanian as

259-648: Is the most seismically active zone of Romania, with yearly earthquakes whose focal depths are between 80 and 160 km (50 and 99 mi) and therefore affect wide regions. The earthquakes with the epicenter in Vrancea are caused by the movements of the nearby fault blocks . Devastating earthquakes measuring 7 to 8 on the Richter scale have been recorded . The deadliest were the 1977 Vrancea earthquake , which killed over 1,500 people in Romania and Bulgaria , and

296-975: The Carpații de Curbură , lies in the western part of the county, at the Southern end of the Eastern Carpathians , with heights over 1,400 m (4,600 ft). To the East, the heights decrease into hilly areas and the lower valley of the Siret River . The main tributary of the Siret, which crosses the county, is the Putna River . A right tributary of the Putna is the Milcov , a river that divides Moldavia from Muntenia . The territory of Vrancea County

333-438: The 1940 Vrancea earthquake which killed over 1,000 people. The most powerful was the 1802 Vrancea earthquake with an estimated intensity of 7.9 on the moment magnitude scale , but which killed only 4 people. Other notable earthquakes were the 1738 Vrancea earthquake , the 1838 Vrancea earthquake and the 1986 Vrancea earthquake . The county is famous for its wines , being the biggest wine producer in Romania . Over 11% of

370-829: The Antonescu regime was overthrown , he was freed from Văcărești Prison . By September–October, he was publicly allying with the Romanian Communist Party . Following a cabinet reshuffle in November 1944, he was named Minorities Minister in the Constantin Sănătescu government, but quickly changed the department's name to the Minority Nationalities Ministry, considering the term "minority" to be pejorative. The cabinet resigned one month after Vlădescu-Răcoasa joined. A new cabinet

407-833: The Romanian Campaign of 1916 with the 5th Regiment Călărași , fighting against the German forces at the Carpathian mountain passes. For his bravery and skill at the Battle of Sălătrucu , in the Topolog Valley , he was awarded on 10 January 1917 the Order of Michael the Brave , 3rd Class. In April 1917 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel; he served as Chief of Staff for the 2nd Cavalry Division until 1 September 1918, and

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444-799: The Rădescu government . Soon after the situation changed, as conflicts over the armistice agreement emerged, especially over Moscow's demand for $ 300 million in reparations; Rădescu also resisted the Soviet order to deport Germans from Romania to the Soviet Union. To assist with the imposition of a communist government, the Soviet NKGB and the Romanian communists supported the Patriotic Defense Guards ; these paramilitary organizations, which appeared after August 1944, were placed under

481-638: The Soviet Union . In 1942, Rădescu wrote an article critical of the German ambassador Manfred Freiherr von Killinger and his constant intrusion in the internal affairs of Romania. He was interned as a political prisoner in the Târgu Jiu camp . On 23 August 1944, immediately after Antonescu's downfall in King Michael's Coup , Rădescu was released from prison. On 15 October he was appointed Chief of

518-516: The upcoming election as part of the FND. In September, he replaced the deceased Mitiță Constantinescu as party president, and in the November election, won a seat as deputy for his home county. The following day, he was named full professor of economic sociology and social policy at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies (ASE). In November 1947, Vlădescu-Răcoasa was named ambassador to

555-578: The Army on 5 February 1933 and transferred to the retired reserves. Upon presenting his resignation, he accused "profiteering politicians" and King Carol II 's camarilla of commercializing military life. That same month Rădescu joined the People's Party of Marshal Alexandru Averescu . In the mid-1930s, he became involved in nationalist politics; he supported a far right movement called Cruciada Românismului ("The Crusade of Romanianism"), aimed at

592-826: The Cavalry School, graduating in June 1900 and being promoted to lieutenant in 1903, and then at the Higher War School in Bucharest (1904–1905), being promoted to captain on 4 October 1909. In the summer of 1913 he saw action with the 1st Cavalry Division in the military campaign in Bulgaria during the Second Balkan War . He was promoted to major on 1 April 1916, and served in World War I during

629-603: The Romanian General Staff at the insistence of the Soviet government, which favored him for his independence and his reputation as an ardent anti-fascist who was respected by the people. He became prime minister on 7 December 1944. The Soviet government initially supported him; on a visit to Bucharest, the Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrey Vyshinsky , publicly expressed Soviet confidence in

666-665: The Soviet Union, and was also accredited to Finland. He arrived in Moscow in December, and in February 1948, was present for the signing of a friendship treaty between the Soviet Union and what was now the Romanian People's Republic . In April, while on a visit to Bucharest, he was named to the Great National Assembly committee preparing the 1948 Constitution of Romania , delivering a noted speech in favor of

703-532: The command of Emil Bodnăraș . On 15 January 1945, Rădescu ordered the dissolution of the Guards, but Teohari Georgescu and Bodnăraș ignored the instructions. At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister Petru Groza , anticipating the imminent agrarian reform , encouraged the peasants to forcibly take the land of the big landlords. On 24 February 1945, the Communist Party of Romania and its allies organized

740-619: The county surface is covered with vines . The county's best known wine regions are Panciu – 8,100 ha (20,000 acres), Odobești – 7,000 ha (17,000 acres), and Cotești . In addition, the county's main industries are the following: County's main destinations: The Vrancea County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections , consists of 32 counsellors, with the following party composition: Vrancea County has 2 municipalities, 3 towns and 68 communes Nicolae R%C4%83descu Nicolae Rădescu ( Romanian pronunciation: [nikoˈla.e rəˈdesku] ; 30 March 1874 – 16 May 1953)

777-533: The couple's son Iustinian was born in 1922, and their daughter Mioara in 1923. In 1922, he was editor-in-chief at Nicolae Iorga 's Neamul românesc , and became editing secretary in autumn. In 1923, he obtained a university degree at Bucharest, became director of Gazeta Copiilor and was officially named Gusti's teaching assistant. In 1924, he founded a university organization in support of the League of Nations , serving as president until 1928. The same year, he became

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814-600: The cultural "Romanization" of Germans and Hungarians in Transylvania . This short-lived movement was a splinter group of the Iron Guard , created by Mihai Stelescu . After Stelescu was assassinated in July 1936 by an Iron Guard death squad , Rădescu became a leader of the movement, which quickly faded afterwards. Because of his political stances and his opinions regarding the royal camarilla, he started being monitored by

851-517: The direction of Joseph Stalin , he warned that the Soviet Union would not allow Northern Transylvania to be returned to Romania if Rădescu were to remain prime minister. As a result of all these pressures, Rădescu resigned his position on 1 March. On 6 March 1945, the first Communist-dominated government of Romania took office under the direction of Petru Groza. Over the next few years, the Communists completely consolidated their power. One of

888-406: The end of the following year. Later in 1920, he became Dimitrie Gusti 's first teaching assistant in his sociology seminar, and continued helping with the course until 1929. In early 1921, Gusti's Social Institute took shape; within this organization, Vlădescu-Răcoasa would serve as administrative director and represent the organization on the international level. In May, he married Margareta Popescu;

925-581: The first decrees of the Groza government (issued on 7 March 1945) was to impose mandatory domicile for General Rădescu. Pursued by the Communist authorities, Rădescu sought refuge in the British legation , stayed there for about two months, and was then handed over to Romanian authorities, who had guaranteed his safety but placed him under house arrest . His personal secretary, Adriana Georgescu-Cosmovici ,

962-607: The host city for the 14th International Sociological Congress, but this was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II. In 1942, during the Ion Antonescu dictatorship, he founded the Patriotic Union , an anti-fascist organization led by communist and leftist intellectuals. He was arrested in March 1943 and the following February received a 15-year prison term for banned political activity. In August 1944, one day after

999-758: The initiative to the full assembly. In May, he was awarded the Order of the Star of the Romanian People's Republic , second class. In February 1949, while Vlădescu-Răcoasa was in Moscow , his party voted to dissolve itself. In August, he left Moscow, and his appointment formally ended in October. The termination of his ambassadorial mission was linked to the gradual decline in Foreign Minister Ana Pauker 's influence. By 1951, Vlădescu-Răcoasa

1036-551: The leader of such a government, Vlădescu-Răcoasa was assigned as state secretary for nationalities, remaining as such until his resignation in November 1946. In August, King Michael I named him a grand officer in the Order of the Star of Romania . In early 1946, what was by then the Union of Patriots became the National Popular Party, with Vlădescu-Răcoasa as vice president. The party soon decided to take part in

1073-578: The rally (he had been recruited into the Party in 1940), wrote an open letter to his father; the letter, published in Scînteia and România Liberă on 28 February, accused Rădescu of issuing the order to shoot peaceful demonstrators. Radio Moscow called Rădescu the "Butcher of Palace Square ". Concomitantly, Vyshinsky arrived in Bucharest and demanded from King Michael the resignation of Rădescu; at

1110-514: The secret police ( Siguranța Statului ). After King Carol II abdicated in September 1940, Rădescu charged dictator Ion Antonescu with collaborating with the Nazis . As noted by ex- President Emil Constantinescu at a memorial ceremony, Rădescu opposed the advance of Romanian troops beyond the Dniester River after Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina had been recaptured in 1941 from

1147-554: The weekly Cuvântul studențimii . He interrupted his studies in 1916, when Romania joined World War I and he was mobilized. An infantry lieutenant, he was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1917, interned at Breesen and released late in 1918. Upon his return to civilian life, he resumed his studies, this time at the literature and philosophy faculty of the University of Bucharest . In September 1920, he became editing secretary for Curierul Artelor weekly, and would remain as such until

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1184-542: Was a Romanian army officer and political figure. He was the last pre- communist rule Prime Minister of Romania, serving from 7 December 1944 to 1 March 1945. The son of small landowners (Radu and Zamfira), Rădescu was born on 30 March 1874 in Călimănești , Vâlcea County . He attended the Military School for Officers, graduating on 1 July 1898 with the rank of second lieutenant. He pursued his military studies at

1221-622: Was among the participants. The following year, he joined the team studying Rușețu , Brăila County . In 1926, he published Institutul Social Român. 1919–1926 . From 1926 to 1928, he undertook studies at the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International Studies , obtaining a doctorate in social sciences. In 1929, Vlădescu-Răcoasa became the International Labour Organization 's representative in Romania, and remained in this position until 1940. In this capacity, he took part in numerous international conferences through 1937. Together with Gusti, he contributed to Bucharest's selection as

1258-557: Was arrested and was subjected to rape and torture at Malmaison Prison in Bucharest. On 17 June 1946, he managed to flee on board a plane to the British Crown colony of Cyprus , where he was detained in a refugee camp by the authorities until the Paris Peace Treaties were signed in 1947. Via Lisbon and Paris he ended up in the United States . Once in America, he and other exiled Romanian political figures, including Augustin Popa  [ ro ] , Mihail Fărcășanu , Grigore Gafencu , and Constantin Vișoianu , came together to form

1295-430: Was formed under Nicolae Rădescu , and the former retained his post. A national minorities statute was approved in February 1945; this document reportedly benefited Romania during the Paris Peace Conference . Later that month, a rally in Giurgiu attended by over 8,000 demanded a communist-led National Democratic Front (FND) government; Vlădescu-Răcoasa was the most prominent speaker. On March 6, when Petru Groza became

1332-455: Was promoted to colonel in April 1919. On 27 May 1920 Rădescu was appointed adjutant of King Ferdinand , after which he served as military attaché in London (1926–1928). Upon his return, he was promoted in March 1928 to brigadier general. He served as commanding officer of the 4th Brigade Roșiori , after which he was attached to the Inspectorate-General of Cavalry, and then commanded the 1st Cavalry Division (1931–1933). He resigned from

1369-404: Was rector of ASE, professor in its faculty of cooperation, and principal researcher at the Romanian Academy 's juridical section. In December 1952, he was named director of the Central University Library of Bucharest , serving until September 1956. From 1957 to 1963, he worked as scientific director at the Academy's library. His complete marginalization from politics during the 1950s coincided with

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