Hitler's Forgotten Ally: Ion Antonescu and his Regime, Romania, 1940 -1944

Romania fielded the third-largest Axis army in the European war. A military contribution of such magnitude, coupled with the delivery of oil to the German war machine and the personal respect which Ion Antonescu enjoyed from Hitler, places Romania on a par with Italy as a principal ally of Germany. Antonescu's precise role and the policies of Romania under his direction - especially towards the Jews - has been impeded in English-speaking accounts by the lack of a complete biography - this volume aims to fill this gap. Ion Antonescu Was Romania's Ruler From 6 September 1940 To 23 August 1944 And A Major Ally Of Hitler During The Second World War. Romania Fielded The Third Largest Axis Army Of The European War, Joined The Tripartite Pact On 23 November 1940 As A Sovereign State, Participated In The Attack On The Soviet Union On 22 June 1941 As An Equal Partner Of Germany, And Was Never Occupied By The Wehrmacht. A Military Contribution Of Such Magnitude, Coupled With The Delivery Of Oil To The German War Machine And The Personal Respect Which Antonescu Enjoyed From Hitler, Places Romania On A Par With Italy As A Principal Ally Of Germany, And Not In The Category Of A Minor Axis Satellite. Hitler's Forgotten Ally Offers An Understanding Of Antonescu's Precise Role And The Policies Of His Romania Based On The Most Complete Biography Of The Leader Available In English.--jacket. The Prelude To Antonescu's War -- Antonescu's Path To Power -- Antonescu And The National Legionary State -- Military Dictatorship And War -- Antonescu And The Jews -- Antonescu And The Holocaust -- Deportation -- Transnistria: The Fate Of The Jews And Romas -- Suspension Of Deportation, Repatriation And Emigration Of Jews -- The Coup Of 23 August 1944 -- The Trial Of Ion Antonescu. Dennis Deletant. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 280-365) And Index. This book is the first complete study in English of Antonescu's part in the Second World War. Antonescu was a major ally of Hitler and Romania fielded the third largest Axis army, joined the Tripartite Pact in November 1940 as a sovereign state and participated in the attack on the Soviet Union of 22 June 1941 as an equal partner of Germany. Ion Antonescu was Romania's ruler from 6 September 1940 to 23 August 1944 and major ally of Hitler during the Second World War. Romania fielded the third-largest Axis army of the European war, joined the Tripartite Pact on 23 November 1940 as a sovereign state, participated in the attack on the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941 as an equal partner of Germany and was never occupied by the Wehrmacht. A military contribution of such magnitude, coupled with the delivery of oil to the German war machine and the personal respect which Antonescu enjoyed from Hitler, places Romania on a par with Italy as a principal ally of Germany, and not in the category of a minor Axis satellite. Antonescu and Nazi Germany offers an understanding of Antonescu's precise role and the policies of his Romania based on the most complete biography of the leader available in English Cover 1 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 8 Abbreviations of Primary Sources 10 Introduction 12 1 The Prelude to Antonescu's War 19 2 Antonescu's Path to Power 48 3 Antonescu and the National Legionary State 63 4 Military Dictatorship and War 80 5 Antonescu and the Jews 113 6 Antonescu and the Holocaust 138 7 Deportation 161 8 Transnistria: The Fate of the Jews and Romas 177 9 Suspension of Deportation, Repatriation and Emigration of Jews 216 10 The Coup of 23 August 1944 241 11 The Trial of Ion Antonescu 256 12 Conclusion 273 Annex 289 Notes 291 Bibliography 366 Index 377 A 377 B 378 C 379 D 381 E 381 F 381 G 381 H 382 I 383 J 383 K 384 L 384 M 384 N 386 O 386 P 386 R 387 S 388 T 389 U 389 V 389 W 390 Y 390 Z 390