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WorldWar2.ro Forum > The Interwar Period (1920-1940) > 1939-1940 Romanian news reels |
Posted by: Agarici September 28, 2013 11:58 am |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2i9bZ6VMtE They used to be found at a different link, now inactive. |
Posted by: Agarici September 28, 2013 09:51 pm |
Romanian section at 1939 New-York World Exhibition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI2GB5dFwWA |
Posted by: Agarici September 28, 2013 10:08 pm |
Series of 1939-1940 Romanian news reels, with sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFKcAhZVvZI LATER EDIT: The LARES national airline, sports - female (quite clumsy;)) bascketball and volleyball, sky, motor racing, vaulting - the Society for the protection of animals/pets (!), horse auction at the Baneasa hypodrome, domestic industry, Danube and Black Sea fishing, etc |
Posted by: Radub September 29, 2013 10:03 am |
In the film about the parades in Cernauti or Chisinau, I am confused by the "Roman Salute" (i.e. what has become to be known as the "Nazi salute"). What is the meaning of it? I do not think it is a "fascist salute" as such in the context of a "Romanian Moldova". It is obvious that the film was made while Bucovina and Basarabia were part of Romania, during the reign of Carol II (featured in the movies too) who was notoriously against the Iron Guard and not a "fascist" - he actually tried to suppress the Iron Guard since 1938 when he instated the "Royal Dictatorship" to placate the rise of fascism. Carol II outlawed the Fascist parties and imprisoned the leading members - some even suggest he may have caused Codreanu's assassination. The Iron Guard, who were fascist, came to power after Bucovina and Basarabia were taken by Russia. So, the fascists came to power after the abdication of Carol II (whose abdication was in fact caused by the loss of territories in the summer of 1940). So, when the Fascists came to power in Romania in the autumn of 1940, Bucovina and Basarabia were part of USSR - it was the territorial losses that brought the fascists to power. But that film depicts Basarabia and Bucovina as part of Romania, so it stands to reason that the film was made before the autumn of 1940 when fascists were not in power - there is footage of Romanian flags, the King and his son are obviously in charge, there is no mention of Russians having taken it. So, if the fascists were not in power, is that salute a "fascist salute" or was that salute just just the old "Roman Salute"? It is easy to imagine that the Romanians may have used the old "Roman Salute" to symbolise a link to the old Roman Empire rather than a declaration of fascist leanings. It seems to be a "nationalist" rather than "fascist" salute. Was this salute used beyond 1940? Another interesting note is that the soldiers salute "normally" with the palm pointing to the temple, while only the civilians use the "Roman Salute". The meaning of the salute may be a significant point to clarify. Some comments (mostly daft and provocative, as usual) to the videos criticise the displays of "fascism" in the videos. But "fascism" was illegal then. In my opinion, saluting the King (who outlawed "fascism") with a "fascist" salute would be... imprudent... to say the least. Radu |
Posted by: MMM September 29, 2013 10:08 am |
Well, Carol II was a huge fan (so to say...) of Mussolini and his regime and style and, more important, he would have accepted the Iron Guard / Legion / whatever name it had, provided he was their leader. Codreanu`s refuse towards that offer finally led to his execution. |
Posted by: Radub September 29, 2013 10:15 am |
You are right, I found the explanation here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Renaissance_Front It was a "light" version of "fascism" while not calling itself "fascist". Radu |
Posted by: MMM September 29, 2013 11:19 am |
Quite so... anyway, Carol II was attracted towards the Italians, but not at all towards the Germans, in spite of his ancestry! The Latin spirit prevailed. ![]() |
Posted by: Agarici September 29, 2013 01:35 pm |
There is much to say about Frontul Renaşterii Naţionale/Naţional Rebirth Front (FRN), later Partidul Naţiunii/The Nation's Party (PN). The roman salute was adopted as a sign of the Roman heritage and of nationalist pride, and has nothing fascist in itself, despite the similar appearance (a similar situation was that of the Finnish swastica sign during the Winter War and WW 2). Those who are talking about displaying fascist symbols in their commnents to those videos do not know what they are talking about. As for the FRN/PN, it was on the one hand conceived, according to the 1938 Constitution, as a substitute for a governing political party (the political „core” of the state administration, if you want - for example, the FRN membership was compulsory for the public servants) and for the puropse of incorporating and subordinating the various national trends and energies under the comon aegis of the government and the king, toghether with other institutions, some old and some new (Straja ţării, premilităria/the pre-military training, apararea pasivă/the passive defence, etc). On the other hand, through its totalitarian appearance, it was destined to look somekow alike to the Italian and German fascism, and to appear for the German and Italian leaders as a domestic alternative of the Iron Guard, which those tended to support. But contrary to its German-Italian "counterparts", it completelly lacked an esential trait - an ideology. It was also meant to counterbalance the quite obvious pro-Alllied bias of the Romanian government, even after declaring its neutrality following the start of WW 2, in the context of the country’s increasing commercial (and military - in terms of armaments purchase) dependence towards the Axis powers. For similar reasons, a (rather mild, comparing to Germany) anti-Jewish legislation was adopted, in several series, until September 1940. The contemoprary observers, as well as the majority of historians never failed to underilne the operetta traits of the Romanian totalitarianism until September 1940. As an obvious example in this regard is the fact that many of the former leaders of the political factions joined FRN. Moreover, in August 1940, among the members of the Crown Council were Iuliu Maniu, the leader of The National Peasant Party, and two members of the Iron Guard, the political forces those represented being the most important adversaries of the king personal rule. Also the king rich and influential mistress, „duduia” (“Miss”) Elena Lupescu, was of (known) Jewish origin. Wisible in the neews reels are the widespread (for the high dignitaries, starting with 1938) dark blue (or white for the Summer) FRN uniforms, peacked caps and yellow-cross armbrands. |
Posted by: Agarici September 29, 2013 01:50 pm |
As a note, interesting how similar were the 1938-1940 strajeri uniforms with the latter pionieri uniforms from the communist era. |
Posted by: MMM September 29, 2013 07:38 pm | ||
The entire concept of the organization was pretty much the same, inspired a little from the USA with its „scouts”, IIRC. |
Posted by: Radub September 29, 2013 09:30 pm |
it looks like the "white beret" of the "strajeri" was carried over to the "pionieri" movement - that may be a link. Radu |
Posted by: Agarici September 29, 2013 09:58 pm |
OFF-TOPIC: Well, at least "Şoimii patriei" movement must have been original. ![]() |
Posted by: MMM September 30, 2013 06:46 am |
Not as far as I know... Only starting at 9-10 years they were supposed to understand the advantages of communism and so on... |
Posted by: Radub September 30, 2013 07:37 am |
Here is a resource on the "pioneer movement" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_movement "Soimii Patriei" does not really have an equivalent in the Scouting Movement. The earliest stage of "scouting" are "Cub Scouts" aged 9 to 11, which is actually the age when a child would join the "pioneers" in Romania. "Soimii Patriei" were younger than that. I have relatives and friends involved in the Scout Movement at various levels and it is radically different from "pioneers", the most important difference being the lack of any political ideology. Also, the scout movement has a strong emphasis on the "outdoors" and "self-improvement", which weas never part of the "pioners". Radu |
Posted by: guina September 30, 2013 01:05 pm |
Actually,"Soimii patriei" was not an original romanian youth organisation,it was copied after soviet " Oktiabriata " (little octombrist ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Octobrist |
Posted by: MMM September 30, 2013 07:23 pm | ||
Sweet mother of Lenin! ![]() Nothing new under the sun... I guess I shall make a good deed tomorrow and translate that page into Romanian... „micul octombrist” ![]() |
Posted by: Agarici September 30, 2013 07:27 pm | ||
Interesting. Thanks for the tip, Guina. However, "Şomii patriei" as far as I remember started at an even earlier age then the "Little Octobrists" - at least around 5, or the year one would "graduate" from creşă/nursery and would qualify for grădiniţă/kindergarden. I can't remember how or when one was "invested" as a "şoim". ![]() |
Posted by: Agarici September 30, 2013 07:30 pm |
PS: for our English-language speaking friends, "Şoimii patriei" means "The Hawks of the Motherland". ![]() |
Posted by: Radub September 30, 2013 09:24 pm |
In English, the word for "soim" is "falcon". "Hawk" is "uliu" in Romanian. "Falcons of the Fatherland" is a better translation because "patria" is a latin word derived from "pater" meaning "father". If you want to keep it non-gender specific (i.e. neither "mother" nor "father" land) you can use the word "homeland". Radu |
Posted by: Agarici September 30, 2013 10:07 pm | ||
[Way off-topic] It sounds even more impressive for a 5 y. o. ![]() |
Posted by: MMM October 01, 2013 05:59 am | ||
Also way off-topic: Believe me, I know! I just finished reading Dune series this summer (you know, Atreides, falcon, hawk, stuff...), but it sounds much more amusing this way! Back on topic: it is sad and not particularly efficient to try brain-washing from such a tender age. Or was it efficient? ![]() |
Posted by: guina October 01, 2013 12:24 pm |
Efficient ?,Do you have any doubts?,Just look around you,look at thr russians,moldavians,look at what they say in opinion pools.To the fact that the germans fought to the end.But the germans were lucky enoug to benefit from a real program of denatzification,while we continue to be brainwashed,abou how patriotic the securitate were,how they fought for the benefit of the country and its people.The state TV ( I cant call it public because it isnt) incessantly runs old movies that are purely historical lies ( how" tovarasii" fought in "ilegalitate" against....,how securitate fought in the mountaines against "bandits",etc,etc ) and children and not only,whach this things and believe them. So.... But Im sure your question was rethorical. take care. |