Retribution as Marshal Ion Antonescu of Roumania (1882- 1946) Pays the Dreadful Price.

During World War II Roumania was one of the Axis countries that fought alongside Germany, especially in the Soviet campaign. They were led by Marshal Antonescu who is not known about too much by average Britons or Americans. I think this is because Roumania, although allied to Nazi Germany, fought in the Soviet theatre of conflict - plus the country is located in Eastern Europe by the Soviet Union's borders. The Western allies did not have much to do with this man, but he was a formidable ally to Germany. 

Ion Antonescu was born in the town of Pitesti, north west of Bucharest, Roumania's capital city. In 1904, he followed his father's wishes and joined the Romanian army as a Second Lieutenant. He went into the Special Cavalry section and quickly earned a standing for being tough and ruthless. He was a fiery character of small stature with red hair. Thus he was nicknamed The Red Dog. He also gained a name for questioning his superiors and would go over their heads on occasion because of his frustration at the way he thought the army was being run. 

There was a peasant's revolt in Roumania during 1907 and Antonescu led a cavalry unit during this time. He earned himself a good reputation among his superior officers and a bad one among some of the peasants. Either way, Antonescu was beginning to earn recondition and was praised by King Carol I. The crown Prince Ferdinand, who would become king in 1914, commended Antonescu's soldiering conduct in front of the garrison.

The young Antonescu went on to serve in the second Balkan war of 1913. In 1916 Roumania entered the First World War on the side of Russia, United Kingdom and France. The Romanian army attempted to invade Austro-Hungarian controlled Transylvania, but were pushed back by the forces of the Central Powers. During these difficult years Roumania lost Russia as an ally during the revolution of 1917. It left Roumania isolated when the new Russian Socialist government signed a peace deal with the Central Powers.

Roumania then signed a peace accord which they relented on when the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. From the turmoil of this, Roumania acquired Transylvania and Antonescu, as a young Major, had come through this time with a growing name and an ambition that drove him to aim for much higher things.

After the Great War, his standing was further strengthened with political campaigns and he went to Paris on diplomatic missions, meeting other people of great influence. He became deeper involved in many of the wranglings with his own political classes - often coming into conflict. He also got deeper involved with other European developments during the 1930s. Especially during the rise of Nazi Germany.

When parts of Czechoslovakia were annexed by Germany, he became increasingly alarmed and sent a letter of protest to King Carol II. For this a warrant of arrest was issued and he was interned in the Bistrita Monastery.

The political situation grew worse for King Carol II as Roumania was forced to relinquish land. This made the monarch more unpopular with his people. He was forced to treat with Antonescu, who was becoming more popular. The monarch was forced to abdicate and leave powers to Antonescu and in 1940, Marshal Ion Antonescu became Prime Minister of Roumania with full powers. In reality, a military dictator. 

From this moment on, Antonescu was caught up in the web of Germany's ambitions towards the East. He decided to work with them as an ally - a road that would lead to terror for the Jewish people of his nation and the Romany Gypsies too. Of course, had he resisted; he would have been swept aside by someone else who would do the same thing anyway - so it could be argued that he was caught up in the flow. He could have spoke out and gone into exile, but that is easier said then done and I am speaking with the benefit of hindsight. He became a willing participant and led Roumania into the Soviet campaign alongside Nazi Germany in 1941. 

His Romanian army was ill equipped for the war but took part in many notable actions. One of the main Romanian campaigns was the siege of Odessa. It is reported that 100,000 troops were lost during this battle and when the city did finally fall Antonescu ordered the large scale massacre of the Jewish population. A victory parade was held in Bucharest and there were plans to rename the city of Odessa; Antonescu.

His reversal of fortune soon came when the Soviet Union stopped the German army outside Moscow and began to push them back. Antonescu was persuaded to send Romanian troops alongside the Germans during the Caucasus campaign that would lead to the dreaded battle of Stalingrad. Roumania would loose 150,000 men killed, wounded or captured.

For a time, Marshal Antonescu dropped out of private life. Some think he had a nervous breakdown, while others say he was suffering from food poisoning or even syphilis.

In 1944 the Soviets entered Roumania and began to battle towards the country's capital Bucharest. Antonescu was arrested and handed over to the Red army. He was held captive near Moscow for a while, but later interrogated. He was held until 1946 when he was returned to Roumania after he had tried to commit suicide in the Soviet Union. After his trial he was sentenced to death for various war crimes (including the Odessa massacre of Jews) along with other ministers of his war time government. On June 1st 1946, he and three other political men from his dictatorship were led out to be shot by firing squad.