Communist Romania

The Soviets pressed for inclusion of Romania's heretofore negligible Communist Party in the post-war government, while non-communist political leaders were steadily eliminated from political life. King Michael abdicated under pressure in December 1947, when the Romanian People's Republic was declared, and went into exile.

Rise of the Communists

When King Michael (Mihai) overthrew Ion Antonescu in August 1944, breaking Romania away from the Axis and bringing it over to the Allied side, Michael could do nothing to erase the memory of his country's recent active participation in the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Although Romanian forces fought heroically under Soviet command, driving through Northern Transylvania into Hungary proper, and on into Czechoslovakia and Germany, the Soviets still treated Romania as conquered territory, because Romanian authorities were unable to ensure order on the newly-liberated territories and clashes between Romanian and Hungarian nationalists erupted. For example, Romanian irregulars called "Iuliu Maniu's Guard" committed massacres against Hungarian civilians.

Related Topics:
Ion Antonescu - 1944 - Axis - Allied - Transylvania - Hungary - Czechoslovakia - Germany

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The Yalta Conference had granted the Soviet Union a predominant interest in Romania, the Paris Peace Treaties failed to acknowledge Romania as a co-belligerent, and the Red Army was sitting on Romanian soil. The Communists played only a minor role in Michael's wartime government, headed by General Nicolae R?descu, but this would change in March 1945, when Dr. Petru Groza of the Ploughmen's Front, a party closely associated with the Communists, became prime minister. Although his government was broad, including members of most major prewar parties including the Iron Guard, the Communists held the key ministries.

Related Topics:
Yalta Conference - Paris Peace Treaties - Co-belligerent - Red Army - Nicolae R?descu - 1945 - Petru Groza - Ploughmen's Front - Iron Guard

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The king was not happy with the direction of this government, but when he attempted to force Groza's resignation by refusing to sign any legislation, Groza simply chose to enact laws without bothering to obtain Michael's signature. On November 8, 1945, an anti-communist demonstration in front of the Royal Palace in Bucharest was met with force, resulting in numerous arrests, injuries, and an undetermined number of deaths.

Related Topics:
November 8 - 1945

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Despite the king's disapproval, the first Groza government brought land reform and women's suffrage. However, it also brought the beginnings of Soviet domination of Romania. In the elections of November 9, 1946, about 90% of the votes went to the "traditional parties", with Communists gaining less than 10%. However, with the support of the Soviet Army, the Communists and their allies claimed 80% of the vote and as the Rough Guide to Romania has it, "virtually every device ever used to rig an election was put into play". Using Machiavellian tactics, the communists worked with the Iron Guard to eliminate the role of the centrist parties; notably, the National Peasant Party was accused of espionage after it became clear in 1947 that their leaders were meeting secretly with US officials. Other parties were forced to "merge" with the Communists.

Related Topics:
Suffrage - November 9 - 1946 - National Peasant Party - 1947

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In 1946?7, tens of thousands of participants in the pro-Axis regime were executed as "war criminals." Antonescu himself was executed June 1, 1946. By 1948, all non-Communist politicians were either executed, in exile or in prison.

Related Topics:
1946 - 7 - June 1 - 1948

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By 1947, Romania remained the only monarchy from the Eastern Bloc. On December 30, 1947, the Communists made King Michael chose between abdication and a violent repression against all anti-communists, including the executions of the 1,000 students arrested earlier for anti-communist demonstrations. The king abdicated and the Communists declared a People's Republic; this was formalized with the constitution of April 13, 1948.

Related Topics:
1947 - December 30 - Abdication - People's Republic - April 13 - 1948

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The new constitution forbidden and punished any association which had "fascist or anti-democratic nature", which in reality meant that it forbidden any association which displeased the Communists. It also granted the freedom of press, speech and assembly, but only "for those who work".

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Justinian Marina, the new chosen Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church with the help of the Communist government disbanded the Romanian Greek-Catholic Uniate Church merged it with the Orthodox Church.

Related Topics:
Justinian Marina - Romanian Orthodox Church - Romanian Greek-Catholic Uniate Church

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