On June 28, 1940 Bessarabia and northern Bukovina were occupied by the Soviet Union. The event was part of a larger context of the Nazi and Soviet build-up to the World War II. The Soviet control of the region has ended in 1991 with the Soviet coup attempt and the dissolution of the USSR. Most of the territory consitutes nowadays the core territory of the independent Moldova, with small portions belonging to Ukraine. June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 1927 map of Bessarabia from Charles Upson Clarks book Bessarabia (Basarabia in Romanian, Бесарабія in Ukrainian, Бессарабия in Russian, Бесарабия in Bulgarian, Besarabya in Turkish) is a historical term for the geographic entity in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the East and the Prut River on the West. ... Bukovina (Ukrainian: , Bukovyna; Romanian: Bucovina; German and Polish: Bukowina; see also other languages) is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... “CCCP” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... During the Soviet Coup of 1991, also known as the August Putsch, Vodka Putsch or August Coup, a group of hardliners within the Soviet Communist party briefly deposed Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and attempted to take control of the country. ... This is a history of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. ...

Historical background

Soviet-Romanian relations

In 1918, after the collapse of the Russian Empire and Austria-Hungary, both Bessarabia and Bukovina had joined the Kingdom of Romania after votes by local diets. This was internationally recognized by peace treaties after World War I, signed by Great Britain, France, and other coutries. 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Anthem God Save the Tsar! The Russian Empire in 1914 Capital Saint Petersburg Language(s) Russian Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1721-1725 Peter the Great (first)  - 1894-1917 Nicholas II (last) History  - Established 22 October, 1721  - February Revolution 2 March, 1917 Area  - 1897 22,400,000 km2 8,648,688 sq... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... 1927 map of Bessarabia from Charles Upson Clarks book Bessarabia (Basarabia in Romanian, Бесарабія in Ukrainian, Бессарабия in Russian, Бесарабия in Bulgarian, Besarabya in Turkish) is a historical term for the geographic entity in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the East and the Prut River on the West. ... Bukovina (Ukrainian: , Bukovyna; Romanian: Bucovina; German and Polish: Bukowina; see also other languages) is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains. ... From 1859 to 1877, Romania evolved from a personal union of two vassal principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia) under a single prince to a full-fledged independent kingdom with a Hohenzollern monarchy. ... The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was the peace treaty which officially ended World War I between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

Lenin had initially supported the right of self-determination for the people included in the former Tsarist empire, of which Bessarabia had been a part. However Soviet Russia did not recognize the union of Bessarabia and Romania. It also never mentioned any claims to Bukovina, which had previously been part of Austria-Hungary. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ( Russian: Влади́мир Ильи́ч Ле́нин  listen?), original surname Ulyanov (Улья́нов) ( April 22 (April 10 ( O.S.)), 1870 – January 21, 1924), was a... Soviet Russia is sometimes used as a somewhat sloppy synonym to the Soviet Union — although the term Soviet Russia sometimes refers to Bolshevist Russia from the October Revolution in 1917 to 1922 (Although Russian communists officially formed RSFSR in 1918). ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ...

In the meantime, the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed on the left bank of the Dniester river in 1924 by the Soviet government. This was seen by the Romanian government as a Soviet threat: a possible starting ground for a communist invasion of Romania. Moldavian ASSR (Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Republic; Romanian: Republica Autonomă Socialistă Sovietică Moldovenească) was an autonomous region of the Ukrainian SSR between 12 October 1924 and 2 August 1940, encompassing Transnistria (now in Moldova) and parts which are now in Ukraine. ... The Dniester (Ukrainian: , translit. ...

On July 21, 1936, Maxim Litvinov and Nicolae Titulescu, the Soviet and Romanian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, signed a "Protocol of Mutual Assistance", which was interpreted as a non-aggression treaty between Romania and the Soviet Union, that de facto recognized the existing Soviet-Romanian border. The protocol stipulated that any common Romanian-Soviet action should be priorly approved by France. In negotiating with the Soviet Union, Titulescu was highly criticized by the Romanian far-right. However, both Titulescu and Litvinov were dismissed in 1936, respectively 1939. July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Maxim Litvinov Maxim Maksimovich Litvinov (ru: Макси́м Макси́мович Литви́нов) (July 17, 1876–December 31, 1951) was a Russian revolutionary and prominent Soviet diplomat. ... Nicolae Titulescu Nicolae Titulescu (March 4, 1882, Craiova - March 17, 1941, Cannes) well-known Romanian diplomat, at various times government minister, and President of the League of Nations. ...

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

On August 23, 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression pact with an additional secret protocol with maps, in which a demarcation line through Eastern Europe was drawn, dividing it into the German and Soviet interest zones. One week later, on September 1, Germany started World War II by attacking Poland from the west; the Soviet Union attacked Poland from the east on September 17, and by September 28 Poland fell. August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Molotov signs the German-Soviet non-aggression pact. ... Map of Eastern Europe Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants Poland Germany, Soviet Union, Slovakia Commanders Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Fedor von Bock (Army Group North), Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group South), Mikhail Kovalov (Belorussian Front), Semyon Timoshenko (Ukrainian Front), Ferdinand ÄŒatloÅ¡ (Field Army Bernolak) Strength 39 divisions, 16 brigades, 4,300 guns, 880 tanks, 400 aircraft Total: 950... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the secret appendix of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union asserted "its interest" in Bessarabia, and Germany "declares its complete political disinteredness in these areas". Article III of the Secret Additional Protocol deals with Bessarabia: 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... Molotov signs the German-Soviet non-aggression pact. ...

With regard to Southeastern Europe attention is called by the Soviet side to its interest in Bessarabia. The German side declares its complete political disinterestedness in these areas.^[1]

International context 1939-1940

On November 30, 1939, following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the refusal by Finland to accede to Soviet demands, the Soviet Union invaded Finland. The ensuing Winter War lasted until March 12, 1940. Due to skillful defense by the Finns, especially along the Mannerheim line in the Karelian isthmus, the Soviets had to be satisfied with small territorial gains, including several villages, small towns and the city of Viipuri, and also obtained the right to build a Soviet naval base on the Hanko Peninsula (south west of Helsinki). November 30 is the 334th day (335th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Kliment Voroshilov, later Semyon Timoshenko Strength 250,000 men 30 tanks 130 aircraft[1][2] 1,000,000 men 3,000 tanks 3,800 aircraft[3][4] Casualties 26,662 dead 39,886 wounded 1,000 captured[5] 126,875 dead... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (72nd in leap years). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Mannerheim Line was a defensive fortification line on the Karelian Isthmus built by Finland against the Soviet Union. ... The Karelian Isthmus is the narrow stretch of land between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia. ... A view of Vyborg from the castle tower Vyborg (Russian: ; Finnish: ; Swedish: ; German: ) is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, 130 km to the northwest of St. ... Hanko, (Hangö in Swedish) in Finland is a small bilingual port town on the south coast of Finland, 130 kilometers west of Helsinki. ... Founded 1550 Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Area[1] - Of which land - Rank 185. ...

Between June 14 and June 17, 1940, the Soviet Union gave ultimatums to, and then occupied, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. (See Occupation of Baltic States.) June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The occupation of Baltic states generally refers to the occupation of the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) by the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany during World War II, and to the Soviet presence in the Baltics from 1945 until the re-establishment of their independence. ...

On June 22, 1940, four days before the ultimatum concerning Bessarabia, Marshal Pétain signed France's capitulation to Germany: Romania's biggest European ally and the arbiter in Romanian-Soviet relations lost almost half of its territory, including the capital, Paris. June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Philippe Petain Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951), generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain, was a French general, later Head of State of Vichy France, from 1940 to 1944. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ...

Next (after Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), would come the turn of the then Romanian provinces of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina to suffer the consequences of the Soviet-Nazi agreement. 1927 map of Bessarabia from Charles Upson Clarks book Bessarabia (Basarabia in Romanian, Бесарабія in Ukrainian, Бессарабия in Russian, Бесарабия in Bulgarian, Besarabya in Turkish) is a historical term for the geographic entity in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the East and the Prut River on the West. ... Bukovina (Ukrainian: , Bukovyna; Romanian: Bucovina; German and Polish: Bukowina; see also other languages) is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains. ...

June 1940 Soviet ultimatum

On June 26, 1940, at 22:00, Soviet People's Commissar Vyacheslav Molotov presented an ultimatum note to Gheorghe Davidescu, Romanian ambassador to Moscow, in which the Soviet Union requested that Romania return the region of Bessarabia by June 28 and transfer the northern part of the Bukovina region to the Soviet Union. June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Molotov (disambiguation). ... An ultimatum (Latin: ) is a demand whose fulfillment is requested in a specified period of time and which is backed up by a threat to be followed through in case of noncompliance. ... 1927 map of Bessarabia from Charles Upson Clarks book Bessarabia (Basarabia in Romanian, Бесарабія in Ukrainian, Бессарабия in Russian, Бесарабия in Bulgarian, Besarabya in Turkish) is a historical term for the geographic entity in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the East and the Prut River on the West. ...

In June 1940, days before the Soviet ultimatum, France's surrender (on June 22) and Britain's retreat from Europe rendered their assurances to Romania meaningless. On June 2, Germany informed the Romanian government that, in order to receive territorial guarantees, Romania should consider negotiations with the Soviet Union. Combatants France United Kingdom Canada Czechoslovakia Poland Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Germany Italy Commanders Maurice Gamelin, Maxime Weygand (French) Lord Gort (British Expeditionary Force) H.G. Winkelman (Dutch) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A) Fedor von Bock (Army Group B) Wilhelm von Leeb (Army Group C) H.R.H. Umberto di...

The German Minister of Foreign Affairs Joachim von Ribbentrop was informed by the Soviet side of its intentions regarding Bessarabia and Bukovina on June 24. Ribbentrop worried more for the fate of the ethnic Germans in these two provinces, claiming the number of Germans in Bessarabia to be 100,000. Also, Ribbentrop pointed out clearly that Germany has strong economical interests in the rest of Romanian territory, in what could appear as a partition of Romania between Germany and the Soviet Union. Joachim von Ribbentrop with his son. ...

The text of the ultimatum note of June 26 incorrectly^{[citation needed]} stated that Bessarabia is populated mainly by Ukrainians: "[...] centuries-old union of Bessarabia, populated mainly by Ukrainians, with the Ukrainian Soviet Republic". The Soviet Government demanded the northern part of Bukovina, a province considered to be connected with Galicia that had been annexed by the Soviet Union in 1939, in the effect of the Invasion of Poland. The northern part of Bukovina was requested as a minor "reparation for the great loss produced to the Soviet Union and Bessarabia's population by 22 years of Romanian domination of Bessarabia" (see union of 1918), and because its "[...] fate is linked mainly with the Soviet Ukraine by the community of its historical fate, and by the community of language and ethnic composition". Bukovina (Ukrainian: , Bukovyna; Romanian: Bucovina; German and Polish: Bukowina; see also other languages) is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains. ... Coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria Galicia (Ukrainian: , Polish: , Russian: , German: , Hungarian: , Czech: , Yiddish: , Turkish: , Romanian: ) is an historical region in East Central Europe, currently divided between Poland and Ukraine. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... Combatants Poland Germany, Soviet Union, Slovakia Commanders Edward Rydz-Śmigły Fedor von Bock (Army Group North), Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group South), Mikhail Kovalov (Belorussian Front), Semyon Timoshenko (Ukrainian Front), Ferdinand Čatloš (Field Army Bernolak) Strength 39 divisions, 16 brigades, 4,300 guns, 880 tanks, 400 aircraft Total: 950... This article provides only a brief outline of each period of the History of Romania; details are presented in separate articles (see the links in the box and below). ...

The Ultimatum also added: "Now, that the military weakness of the USSR in a thing of past, and the international situation that was created requires the rapid solution of the items inherited from the past, in order to fix the basis of a solid peace between countries".^[2]

Reply to the ultimatum

The Romanian government replied by suggesting it would agree to "immediate negotiations on a wide range of questions".^[3]

The second Soviet ultimatum note, that followed on June 27, requested the evacuation of the Romanian government from Bessarabia and northern Bukovina in four days.

On the following day, advised by both Germany and Italy, the Romanian government, led by Gheorghe Tătărescu under the rule of King Carol II, agreed to submit to Soviet demands and the territory was ceded at the beginning of July. Gheorghe I. Tătărescu (also known as Guţă Tătărescu, with a slightly antiquated pet form of his given name; 1886—March 28, 1957) was a Romanian politician who served twice as Prime Minister of Romania (1934-1937; 1939-1940), three times as Minister of Foreign Affairs (interim... Carol II of Romania, (15 October 1893 – 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. ...

The decision to accept the Soviet ultimatum and to commence a withdrawal (avoiding the usage of the word to cede) from Bessarabia and northern Bukovina was deliberated upon by the Romanian Crown Council during the night of June 27-28, 1940. The vote outcome, according to the journal of King Carol II, was: June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

• Reject the ultimatum: Ştefan Ciobanu, Silviu Dragomir, Victor Iamandi, Nicolae Iorga, Traian Pop, Ernest Urdăreanu
• Weak reject^[4]: Nicolae Hortolomei
• Accept the ultimatum: Petre Andrei, Constantin Anghelescu, Constantin Argetoianu, Ernest Ballif, Aurelian Bentoiu, Mircea Cancicov, Ioan Christu, Mitiţă Constantinescu, Mihail Ghelmegeanu, Ion Gigurtu, Constantin C. Giurescu, Ioan Ilcuş (minister of defence), Ion Macovei, Gheorghe Mironescu, Radu Portocală, Mihai Ralea, Victor Slăvescu, Gheorghe Tătărescu (prime-minister), Florea Ţenescu (chief of the General Staff of the Army)
• Abstained: Victor Antonescu.

In an attempt to hide his name under a council of more autoritative figures, Carol II has convinced Alexandru Vaida-Voevod to be sworn a minister during the night June 27-June 28. Vaida, along with all of the above, has signed the final crown council recommendation, on which Carol II ordered the Army to stand down, but it is not completely clear whether he participated in the deliberations and the vote. portrait of Nicolae Iorga Nicolae Iorga (a. ... Constantin Anghelescu (1870-1948) was a Romanian politician that served as an interim Prime Minister of Romania for five days, between 30 December 1933 and 3 January 1934. ... Constantin Argetoianu (1871—February 6, 1952) was a Romanian politician, one of the best-known personalities of interwar Greater Romania, who served as the Prime Minister between September 28 and November 23, 1939. ... Mitiţă Constantinescu (October 20, 1890—1946) was a Romanian economist and liberal politician. ... Ion Gigurtu (1886-1959) was a Romanian politician who served a brief term as Prime Minister of Romania in 1940 (from 4 July to 4 September), under the personal regime of King Carol II. Ion Gigurtu had economic and political interests in Nazi Germany and his government was the first... Gheorghe Mironescu was a Romanian politician who served as a Prime Minister of Romania for two times. ... Gheorghe I. Tătărescu (also known as Guţă Tătărescu, with a slightly antiquated pet form of his given name; 1886—March 28, 1957) was a Romanian politician who served twice as Prime Minister of Romania (1934-1937; 1939-1940), three times as Minister of Foreign Affairs (interim... Alexandru Vaida-Voevod (1872-19 March 1950) was a Romanian politician that served three terms as a Prime Minister of Romania and was a supporter and speakesman of the union of Transylvania with the Romanian Old Kingdom. ...

Out of a population of 3,776,000 (according to the 1930 census) in the territories occupied by the USSR, of which 2,078,000 (55%) were ethnic Romanians, 200,000 people (of different ethnicities) fled during those few days, most of them in several hours on June 28. The Romanian government wished to avoid, albeit temporarily, a war with the Soviet Union. Therefore, all military installations and casemates, built during a 20-year period in the event of a Soviet attack, were ceded without a single shot, the Romanian Army being strictly ordered not to respond to any provocation. June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... A Casemate is a heavy duty structure originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress. ...

International reaction to the ultimatum

To Romanian request for support, the British government replied that it would consider any teritorial loses by Romania as being temporary. Of all regional allies, with which Romania had treaties with military clauses (Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, ...), only Turkey replied that it would live up to treaty obligations by providing support in case of Soviet military agression.

"The Red Week"

On June 28, at 9:00, communiqué no. 25 of the Romanian Army General Staff announced officially to the population the content of the ultimatum, its acceptance by the Romanian government, and the intent to evacuate the army and administration to the Prut River (separating Bessarabia from the rest of Romania). By 14:00, three key cities—Chişinău, Cernăuţi and Cetatea Albă—had to be turned over to the Soviets. By July 3, the new border along the Prut was totally closed. June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... Length 953  km Elevation of the source -  m Average discharge -  m³/s Area watershed 27,500  km² Origin  Ukraine Mouth  Danube Basin countries Ukraine, Romania, Moldova The Prut, or Pruth river (Ukrainian: Прут) is 953 km long, originating in the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine and flowing southeast to join the Danube... County ChiÅŸinău Status Municipality Mayor Veaceslav Iordan, since 2007 Area 635 km² Population (2004) 647,513 [1] Density 1114 inh/km² Geographical coordinates Founded in 1436 Dialing code +373 22 Web site http://www. ... Chernivtsi (Ukrainian: ; Romanian: CernăuÅ£i; German: Czernowitz or Tschernowitz; Polish: Czerniowce; Hungarian: Csernovic; Yiddish: Tshernovits; Russian: , Chernovtsy) is a city in Northern Bukovina, Ukraine, capital of the Chernivtsi Oblast. ... Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi (Ukrainian: , translit. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ...

Only few people welcomed the Soviet annexation as a relief. Arround 200,000 decided to retreat to the rest of Romania, making hasty arrangement. Most of the population, unsure of what to expect next, treated the events with uneasy calmness. Nevertheless, during the retreat that took place from June 28 to July 3, the Romanian Army was attacked both by civilian Communists^{[citation needed]} and by the Soviet Army who entered Bessarabia before the Romanian administration finished retreating. In the process, the Romanian Army and the civilians that decided to retreat suffered many casualties^{[citation needed]}. June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ...

Aftermath of the territorial concessions

The territorial concessions of that year (1940) produced deep sorrow and resentment in the Romanian population, and hastened the decline in popularity of the regime led by King Carol II of Romania. He eventually fled the country and a government led by the Iron Guard and Ion Antonescu took power. Overall, the desire to recapture lost territory was the deciding factor leading to the entry of Romania into World War II on the side of the Axis against the Soviet Union. Carol II of Romania, (15 October 1893 – 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Office Prime Minister, Conducător of Romania Term of office from September 4, 1940 until August 23, 1944 Profession Soldier, politician Political party none, formally allied with the Iron Guard Spouse Rasela Mendel Date of birth June 15, 1882 Place of birth Piteşti, Romania Date of death June 1... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Soviet Bessarabia and Bukovina 1940-1941

Out of six and a half of the districts composing Bessarabia, and out of a territory of the size of one district previously part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Soviet governmental commission headed by Nikita Khrushchev, the then head of the Ukrainian SSR, formed the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic as part of the Soviet Union. The other two and a half districts of Bessarabia, plus northern Bukovina (approximately the territory of a district) were allotted to the Ukrainian SSR. State motto (Ukrainian): Пролетарі всіх країн, єднайтеся! (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Official language None. ... Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (Russian: , Nikita Sergeevič Chruščiov; IPA: , in English, , or , occasionally ); surname more accurately romanized as Khrushchyov; April 17 [O.S. April 5] 1894[1]–September 11, 1971) was the leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. ... State motto: Пролетарь дин тоате цэриле, униць-вэ! Official language None. ...

Romania 1940-1944

Two months later, after giving in to more territorial demands—this time from Hungary and Bulgaria, which were supported by Germany and Italy (see Second Vienna Award)— and consequently faced with a national uprising, King Carol II of Romania abdicated (for the fourth and last time) and was forbidden ever to re-enter Romania. Power was taken by an alliance of Marshal Ion Antonescu, the chief of the Army, and remnants of the Iron Guard Legionary Movement (partly destroyed in 1938; see The Iron Guard#A bloody struggle for power), an anti-Semitic fascist party. Mihai, son of Carol II, succeeded him as king of Romania; the country was declared a National Legionary State. In January 1941 the Legionary Movement attempted a coup, which failed and placed Antonescu firmly in power. The Second Vienna Award was the second of two Vienna Awards. ... Office Prime Minister, Conducător of Romania Term of office from September 4, 1940 until August 23, 1944 Profession Soldier, politician Political party none, formally allied with the Iron Guard Spouse Rasela Mendel Date of birth June 15, 1882 Place of birth PiteÅŸti, Romania Date of death June 1... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Iron Guard is the name most commonly given in English to an ultra-nationalist, anti-Semitic, fascist movement and political party in Romania in the period from 1927 into the early part of World War II. Originally founded by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu on July 24, 1927 as the Legion... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Fascism is an authoritarian political ideology (generally tied to a mass movement) that considers individual and other societal interests inferior to the needs of the state, and seeks to forge a type of national unity, usually based on ethnic, religious, cultural, or racial attributes. ... King Michael and Queen Anne King Michael (Romanian Mihai) of Romania (born October 25, 1921) was the son of King Carol II and reigned from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940 until December 30, 1947. ... The National Legionary State (Romanian: Statul NaÅ£ional Legionar) was the Romanian government of September 6, 1940—January 23, 1941. ... The Legionnaires Rebellion and the Bucharest Pogrom occurred in Bucharest, Romania, between the 21st and the 23rd of January, 1941. ...

On June 22, 1941, Romania participated with Finland, Hungary and Italy to the German invasion of the Soviet Union, retaking Bessarabia and northern Bukovina by July 26. Despite disagreement from all political parties [2], Antonescu ordered the Romanian Army to continue the war eastward to Odessa, then Crimea, Kharkov, Stalingrad and the Caucasus. June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... Combatants Germany, Romania, Finland, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia Soviet Union Commanders Adolf Hitler, Ion Antonescu, C.G.E. Mannerheim, Benito Mussolini, Miklós Horthy, Jozef Tiso Joseph Stalin Strength ~3. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... For other uses, see Odessa (disambiguation). ... Motto: Процветание в единстве - Prosperity in unity Anthem: Нивы и горы твои волшебны, Родина - Your fields and mounts are wonderful, Motherland Location of Crimea (red) on the map of Ukraine. ... Kharkov (rus: Ха́рьков) or Kharkiv (ukr: Ха́рків) is the second largest city in Ukraine, a center of Kharkivska oblast. It is situated in the northeast of the country and has a population of two million. ... Stalingrad is the former name of two cities: Volgograd, Russia Karviná-Nové Město, near Ostrava, Czech Republic Other uses: The Battle of Stalingrad (a major turning-point of World War II and arguably the bloodiest battle in human history) Stalingrad (German film set during the above battle) Stalingrad... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Caucasus Mountains. ...

Moreover, the collaboration of a number of Bessarabian Jews with the Soviet occupation authorities was manipulated by the Romanian government of Antonescu as a pretext to massively deport and/or kill the remaining Jews of Bukovina and Bessarabia after Romania regained the territory in 1941 (see History of the Jews in Moldova#The Holocaust). This article is a brief outline of the history of the Bessarabian Jews . ... This article is a brief outline of the history of the Bessarabian Jews . ...

Soviet Bessarabia and Bukovina after 1944

On August 23, 1944, with Soviet troops advancing and the Eastern Front once again falling within Romanian territory, King Mihai organized a coup against Antonescu, agreed to Soviet terms, and ordered military action in the western direction against Hungary (and theoretically Germany) to free Northern Transylvania, occupied by Hungary in August 1940 after the Second Vienna Award, and later continued the war on the territory of Hungary and Slovakia, in support of the Soviet troops. August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Read carefully- a chauvinist bias included! Romania with Northern Transylvania highlighted in yellow Northern Transylvania is a part of Transylvania which, after separation from Hungary in 1920 by the Trianon (Versailles) Treaty, was awarded by Germany and Italy to Hungary in line with the Vienna Awards of 1940. ... The Second Vienna Award was the second of two Vienna Awards. ...

On March 6, 1945 King Mihai was forced by Soviet troops stationed throughout Romania to accept a Communist-dominated government, and two years later to leave the country, beginning an era that only ended in 1989. March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (66th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

In 1947, as part of the Paris Peace Treaties, 1947, Communist Romania and Soviet Union signed a border treaty, leaving the two territories in the Soviet Union. 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... The Paris Peace Conference (July 29 to October 15, 1946) resulted in the Paris peace treaties signed on February 10, 1947. ... Anthem Zdrobite cătuÅŸe (1947 - 1953) Te slăvim Românie (1953 - 1968) Trei Culori (1968-1989) Capital Bucharest Language(s) Romanian Government Socialist republic Head of State  - 1947–1965 Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej  - 1965-1989 Nicolae CeauÅŸescu Legislature Marea Adunare NaÅ£ionalÇŽ Historical era Cold War  - Monarchy abolished...

During 1940-1989, the Soviet authorities promoted the events of June 28, 1940, as a "liberation", and the day itself was a holiday in the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... State motto: Пролетарь дин тоате цэриле, униць-вэ! Official language None. ...

Consequences for the local population

According to Alexandru Usatiuc-Bulgăr ^[5] up to 1953 there were:

32,433 people politically sentenced, of which 8,360 to death, or dead during interrogations. (These figures do not include the people shot on the spot who refused to flee in June 1940, for example the Governor of Bukovina.)

29,839 deported to Siberia on 13 June 1941, 35,796 on 6 July 1949 and 2,617 on 1 April 1951 (the last two figures are only for MSSR, excluding the territories now in Ukraine, from where people were also deported). These people were taken during the night, sometimes whole families with children. They had to be ready within one hour, and were transported to Siberia or Eastern Kazakhstan, in overcrowded railway cars for cattle, for four to six weeks, with no sanitation and very little food. Upon arrival, after weeks-long journeys by foot, to different destination points often deep in Taiga forests, they were forced to work in extreme cold and suffer humiliations, to the extent that half of them died in Siberia or on the way there. After Stalin's death, they were allowed to return to Moldavia, but they found that their houses and property had been confiscated, they could obtain no registration or documents, could be hired only with difficulty, were not eligible for pensions, health care, or social services. Siberian Federal District (darker red) and the broadest definition of Siberia (red) arctic northeast Siberia Udachnaya pipe Siberia (Russian: , Sibir; Tatar: ) is a vast region of Russia constituting almost all of Northern Asia and comprising a large part of the Euro-Asian Steppe. ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Siberian Federal District (darker red) and the broadest definition of Siberia (red) arctic northeast Siberia Udachnaya pipe Siberia (Russian: , Sibir; Tatar: ) is a vast region of Russia constituting almost all of Northern Asia and comprising a large part of the Euro-Asian Steppe. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... “Stalin” redirects here. ...

295,000 died during the famine of 1946-1947, provoked by the almost total confiscation of food and seeds from farmers' households "for the needs of the state".

220,000 died from August 1944 to May 1945, after being mobilized into the Soviet Army and sent to fight in Lithuania, Eastern Prussia, Poland and Czechoslovakia.

Many thousands died from epidemics as a result of 3.5 million Soviet solders passing through Bessarabia in 1944 (the German and Romanian troops opposing them until August 1944 numbered under 600,000).

This flag was symbolically used by the Moldavian passive underground resistance during 1945-1989^[6]

Thousands were mobilized into work camps (but at least they were formally, although very little, paid) and sent far away through the Soviet Union. In 1940 alone there were 56,365 such.

While 200,000 people fled from Bessarabia and northern Bukovina to the rest of Romania on 28 June 1940, most returned in 1941. But, in front of the returning Russian troops in 1944, fearing political condemnations or deportations similar to the one on 13 June 1941, up to 800,000 people moved westward to the remaining territory of Romania, leaving the main cities almost empty. These people were especially teachers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, with their families, virtually everyone that could be qualified as intellectual, who were the main target of Soviet persecutions. It took 25 years after the Soviet occupation of Bessarabia for a new "intelligentsia" to emerge, mainly from farmers' class - itself a remarkable national regeneration. June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ...

Social and demographic consequences

Although, not targeting Romanians as an ethnic group, but rather the pre-Soviet civil society as a political class, the Soviet occupation inaugurated also an anti-Romanian Soviet politicide and ethnic cleansing of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina. Between 1940 and 1941, 300,000 Romanians were deported, of whom 57,000 were killed (not counting the GULag).^[7] These policies also continued from 1944 until 1956, after which they were reduced to isolated cases. Gulag ( , Russian: ) is an acronym for Главное Управление Исправительно—Трудовых Лагерей и колоний, Glavnoye Upravleniye Ispravitelno-trudovykh Lagerey i kolonii, The Chief Directorate [or Administration] of Corrective Labour Camps and Colonies of the NKVD. Anne Applebaum, in her book Gulag: A History, explains: The word Gulag has also come to signify not only the administration of the... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

According to other sourses, in total throughout USSR, around 2,344,000 Romanians were arrested, persecuted or deported one way or another^{[not specific enough to verify]}, of whom 703,000 perished.^[8][9].

These policies mostly targeted the elites of Bessarabian Romanians which did not leave for Romania in 1940 and 1944-1945, including former teachers, doctors, clergymen, lawyers, policemen and soldiers, larger landowners (nobility and richer peasants, called by the Soviets kulaks), members of political parties (including former members of the clandestine Communist Party of Romania), as well as those who expressed any kind of dissent, which altogether constituted a significant part of the population and included the majority of the educated population, the bearers of Romanian culture. Yet, they were by no means restricted to ethnic Romanians, as many ethnic Ukrainians, Russians, Jews who inhabetted the region before 1940 were also deported en masse on social and political grounds. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. ... English barrister 16th century painting of a civil law notary, by Flemish painter Quentin Massys. ... For the band, see The Police. ... This article is about a military rank. ... Landowner or Landholder is a holder of the estate in land with considerable rights of ownership or, simply put, an owner of land. ... Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... In a detail of Brueghels Land of Cockaigne (1567) a soft-boiled egg has little feet to rush to the luxuriating peasant who catches drops of honey on his tongue, while roast pigs roam wild: in fact, hunger and harsh winters were realities for the average European in the... The collectivisation campaign in the USSR, 1930s. ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... The Romanian Communist Party (Romanian: Partidul Comunist Român) was a Communist political party in Romania until 1989. ...

Soviet authorities sought to fill this intellectual gap, and also to build a Soviet and party apparatus. Immediately after the war, Stalin carried out a major colonization and de facto Russification campaign in what was now Soviet Moldova, Chernivtsi oblast, and Budjak. Many Russians, Ukainians, along with a smaller number of other ethnic groups, who migrated from the rest of the USSR to Moldova, arrived to rebuild the heavily war-damaged economy. Mostly they were factory and construction workers who settled in major urban areas, as well as military personnel stationed in the region. During the Soviet rule, up to one million people settled in Moldova. Socailly, this group was quite diverse and consisted in addition to industrial and construction worker, and retiring officers and soldiers of the Soviet army, aslo of engineers, technicians, but also of many unqualified workers, or people without strong family or native land ties, many of which with little or no education at all, and some outright criminals. In modern usage, the term communist party is generally used to identify any political party which has adopted communist ideology. ... Iosif (usually anglicized as Joseph) Vissarionovich Stalin (Russian: Иосиф Виссарионович Сталин), original name Ioseb Jughashvili (Georgian: იოსებ ჯუღაშვი&#4314... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... State motto: Пролетарь дин тоате цэриле, униць-вэ! Official language None. ... Administrative center Chernivtsi Governor Volodymyr Kalish (?) Oblast council  - Chairperson  - Council seats ? (?) ? Subdivisions  - Raions  - Cities of oblast subordinance  - Cities   -Towns  - Villages 11 2 11 8 398 Area Total  - Land  - Water (% of total)  Ranked 24th 8,097 km² ? km² ? km² (?%) Population  - Total (2006)  - Density  - Annual Growth Ranked ? 904,423 113/km² ?% Average... The fortress of Akkerman / Cetatea Albă (14th century), situated near the city of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi. ... In classical economics and all micro-economics labour is one of three factors of production, the others being land and capital. ... This article is about a military rank. ... For the Technical Symposium of NITK Surathkal Engineer , see Engineer (Technical Fest). ... A technician is generally someone in a technological field who has a relatively practical understanding of the general theoretical principles of that field, e. ...

The antagonism between the Romanians/Moldovans, and often also the pre-1940 Russian and Ukrainian minorities on one side, and the "newcomers" (cf "venetici" in Romanian) has featured during the anti-Soviet and anti-Communist events in 1988-1992, and also was an important reason for the brief 1992 War of Transnistria that took the lives of several hundred people. Combatants Transnistria Russian volunteers Ukrainian volunteers Moldova Casualties 823 Transnistrian fatalities,[1] 90 Cossacks,[2] and an unknown number of other casualties ~1,000 total casualties Official figures: 172 combatants, ~400 civilians [] The War of Transnistria involved armed clashes on a limited scale that broke out between the Transnistrian separatists...

Despite this huge immigration, the 1959 census showed a significant drop in population from 1940, showing how badly the local population was affected by the events of 1940-1956.

Positive view of the occupation

During the 1930s, laws were passed in Romania forbidding Jews to occupy state offices, such as administration, police, and army. Unlike in Germany, Jews were not forbidden to practice medicine or teaching, and no infringements were made on the Jewish cultural life. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ...

A portion of the population of Bessarabia viewed the Soviet annexation as a relief. It has been claimed that it was mostly left-wing oriented.^{[citation needed]} During the retreat that took place from June 28 to July 3, the Romanian Army was attacked both by civilian Communists^{[citation needed]} and by the Soviet Army who entered Bessarabia before the Romanian administration finished retreating. In the process, the Romanian Army suffered several thousand casualties^[10] (needs a second source), and throughout Romania the view was spread (partly encouraged by the state) that Jews betrayed Romanians in their darkest hour, leading to a significant rise in the anti-Semitic sentiment. June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ...

"In the chaos generated by a hasty and unorganized Romanian retreat many things happened that were not supposed to happen [...] Jew and Ukrainian population, in the enthusiasm generated by the departure of Romanian authorities, which made out of this province the worst administered part of the country, have treated the retreating Romanians in a way that will cost them dearly one year later."^[11]

The general sentiment with which the population received the occupation was mixed: while some people welcomed and supported it (most passively, but some actively), the middle class, and particularly intellectuals^{[citation needed]} and those better-to-do economically were not happy about the coming infringements on freedom of speech^{[citation needed]}, the introduction of a state ideology, the confiscation of private property, and political deportations. These dramatic and tragic consequences affected the local population of all ethnic groups; only a small politically-connected minority of the pre-1940 population did not suffer from executions, deportations, famine, diseases, or being turned into cannon fodder.^{[citation needed]} Also, some non-Romanians retreated in June-July 1940.

References

1. ^ Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact of August 23, 1939. Complete text online at wikisource.org.
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ The actual result of the first vote was 11 Reject the ultimatum, 10 Accept the ultimatum, 5 For negotiations with the USSR, and 1 Abstained.
4. ^ Different sources do not agree on this name from the journal of Carol II: reject, weak reject, accept can be found. It is suspected that the main reason Carol kept the journal was to present to the posterity as if he was ill-advised by his ministers.
5. ^ Alexandru Usatiuc-Bulgăr "Cu gîndul la "O lume între două lumi": eroi, martiri, oameni-legendă" ("Thinking of 'A World between Two Worlds': Heroes, Martyrs, Legendary People"), Publisher: Lyceum, Orhei (1999) ISBN 9975-939-36-8
6. ^ Alexandru Usatiuc-Bulgăr
7. ^ R. J. Rummel, Table 6.A. 5,104,000 victims during the pre-World War II period: sources, calculations and estimates, Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War, University of Hawaii.
8. ^ R. J. Rummel, Table 7.A. 13,053,000 victims during World War II: sources, calculations and estimates, op.cit.
9. ^ R. J. Rummel, Table 8.A. 15,6133,000 victims during the Postwar and Stalin's twilight period: Soviet murder: sources, calculations and estimates, op.cit.
10. ^ Paul Goma (2006). "Săptămâna Roşie". 
11. ^ Nicolas M. Nagy-Talavera (1970). "Green Shirts and Others: a History of Fascism in Hungary and Romania". 

August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Paul Goma (b. ...

External links

• "Molotov-Ribbentrop pact", from Wikisource
• (English) Modern History Sourcebook, a collection of public domain and copy-permitted texts in modern European and World history, http://www.lituanus.org/1989/89_1_03.htm
• (Romanian) "Text of Litvinov-Titulescu pact"
• (Romanian) "Joachim von Ribbentrop to Viaceslav Molotov, regarding of Bessarabia and Bukovina, June 25, 1940"
• (Romanian) "The Ultimatum notes and Romanian responses"
• (Romanian) Alexandru Usatiuc-Bulgăr "Cu gîndul la "O lume între două lumi": eroi, martiri, oameni-legendă" ("Thinking of 'A World between Two Worlds': Heroes, Martyrs, Legendary People"), Publisher: Lyceum, Orhei (1999) ISBN 9975-939-36-8
• (English) "Romanian Army in the Second World War"
• (English) George Ciorănescu, "40th Anniversary of Annexation of Bessarabia and Northern Bucovina", Radio Free Europe report, July 23, 1980.
• (English) George Ciorănescu, "The Problem of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina during World War II", Radio Free Europe report, December 2, 1981.
• (English) International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania: Final Report (2004)