Ion Antonescu

Ion Antonescu (June 15 1882, Pite?ti – June 1 1946, near Jilava) was the prime minister and conduc?tor (Leader) of Romania during World War II from September 4, 1940 to August 23, 1944.

Political power

General Antonescu was appointed Prime minister by King Carol II in September 1940, after Romania was forced to surrender Bessarabia and northern Bukovina to the USSR (June 28, 1940), and the northern half of Transylvania to Hungary (August 30, 1940). Only two days after his appointment, he forced King Carol to abdicate. Carol's son, Mihai, became the new King. Antonescu named himself Conduc?tor (Leader) and assumed dictatorial powers, relegating the King to a merely decorative role.

Related Topics:
Carol II - Bessarabia - Bukovina - USSR - June 28 - 1940 - Transylvania - Hungary - August 30 - Mihai

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Facing the prospect of war on three fronts (Germany to the west, the Soviet Union to the east, and Bulgaria to the south), Antonescu sought an alliance with Nazi Germany, hoping to at least gain back the territories lost to the Soviets. This partnership was equally inviting to the Germans, because of Romania's important oil reserves.

Related Topics:
Bulgaria - Nazi Germany

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Antonescu approached the Fascist, anti-Semitic Iron Guard party and offered them seats in the Government (September 15, 1940). Antonescu desired to bring the Iron Guard under his direct control, because their paramilitary activities were undermining the authority of the state. The ensuing period was known as the 'National Legionary State' (Statul na?ional-legionar). Eventually, after their demands for extended powers were repeatedly turned down by Antonescu, the Iron Guard rebelled (January 21, 1941). Antonescu quickly crushed the rebellion (with the consent of Germany, whose economic interests demanded stability in Romania), outlawed the Iron Guard and had their top leaders imprisoned or expelled from the country.

Related Topics:
Iron Guard - September 15 - 1940 - January 21 - 1941

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Romanian troops joined the German Wehrmacht in their attack against the Soviet Union (June 1941) and reoccupied lost territories as well as the city of Odessa. In this city, Antonescu ordered one of the most brutal massacres in history, the Odessa Massacre. Even after the recapturing of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina, Antonescu took the Romanian army deeper into Soviet territory. This decision was met with disapproval both by Romanian politicians and by the Allied powers. After the Romanians suffered huge losses in the Battle of Stalingrad, Antonescu's popularity declined sharply.

Related Topics:
Wehrmacht - Odessa - Odessa Massacre - Bessarabia - Northern Bukovina - Allied powers - Battle of Stalingrad

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In the summer of 1944, as the Soviets were pushing the Germans closer and closer to Romania's eastern borders, Antonescu refused to change his stance and request an armistice (presumably because of his sharp sense of honour, but also because of his lack of political skills). Thus, on August 23, 1944, King Michael, supported by Romania's top political parties, dismissed him and put him under arrest.

Related Topics:
1944 - August 23

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