Marshal Ion Antonescu

Maybe i didn't understand, antonescu's army robbed tombe stones from Ukraine jewish cemeteries and dropped in Bucharest jewish cemetery after the war. And were they been hiding such a long time ( in their pockets )

Lets not make jokes about that tomb stones - scares me too much
But, for what credible reason they do that, mr. emil?

Iama

I thought Emil Cernauti was joking !!! as i said didn't understand the meaning of his words in theory and in practical way.

The isssue continuing the fight beyond the Dnister River is debatable. It wasn't entirely Antonescu's will, although he took the decision, considering the position of power he was in at the time. There was a letter from Hitler on 27 July 1941, which asked the for further cooperation to the Bug River. However, already from 17 July, Romanian troops had forced the Dnister. In the given strategical situation it would have been extremely difficult to stop at the 1940 frontier, as the Finnish army did, because they were already at the eastern edge of the front, while in the south the fighting advanced several thousand kilometers. The same issue should exist wether the Romanian army should have continued fighting in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Austria in late 1944 and in 1945, but I haven't seen it debated as much. Once you commence a war you fight it until the enemy or you are defeated.

As for the Germans not directly requesting Romanian cooperation it is also debatable. The plans for Barbarossa included Romanian troops even though Antonescu was told several days before it began. It is true that he offered the Romanian assistance willingly, by I doubt that somebody else wouldn't have done it in his place (if he refused, probably the Germans could have found someone that would have accepted).

The referendums were held in moments favorable on the front and when the bulk of tho Romanian army had returned from Odessa and everybody thought that was it and were content.

Of course, no one can imagine that Romanian troops could have just stopped on spot the moment they reached the previous border. I think what could have been done in case Antonescu refused Hitler's proposal, was to not send any more divisions to front and to retreat the existing ones in time.

I said that Antonescu bears the full responsibility because in making his mind, he did not consult nor the government, neither the king or political parties (which in fact were oposing his decision).

I guess by "find" you mean impose someone else and by force, and I think it was a risky situation days before operation Barbarossa had to begin. But nobody question participation on Bessarabia and Bukovine, but beyond the Dniester.

Another thing to consider about Antonescu's responsibilities is the 1942 campaign, when he took the decision to send more troops than could have been properly equipped. The decision resulted in the replacement of gen. Iacobici, Chief of the general Staff, who protested against it. The debacle at Stalingrad wasn't Antonescu's fault directly, but a more limited Romanian contribution (maybe limited to the Caucasus) would have costed less Romanian lives.

Didn't General Iacobici oppose the crossing of the river and the advance into the USSR?

What other generals opposed the advance into Russia, and which Generals favoured Antonescu's decision?

PS: Ion Antonescu stood firm by his principle that when an army engages an enemy in battle, this army must go to the end of the world and pursue this enemy until it has defeated him. He said ~ It is a principle that has been applies ever since Ghengis Khan, until our present age, when an army goes to war againt a foe, it must keep on fighting until this foe has been defeated"..

He stood by his argument and never yealded from that position. He never apologised nor ever changed his mind, ..in 1941 when Romanian troops went into Russia..and again in 1946 during his trial, and ultimately before the firing squad.

This post has been edited by Der Maresal on January 20, 2005 05:54 am

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No. Iacobici commanded the 4th Army during the last phase of the battle for Odessa, east of the Dnister. If he was against going beyond it, he would have resigned earlier.

The conflict with Antonescu started after the letter sent to Hitler onm 5 January, in which the marshal expressed his intention to participate in the 1942 spring campaign with 10 divisions, which later could have been reinforced by others. On 8 January, Iacobici sent Antonescu a memoin which he stated that the Romanian participation should be as small as possible and reminded that the unpopularity of the present war, far away from our borders, as well as the problem of national security regarding Hungary. On 17 January he sent another memo in which he stated that it isn't appropiate and possible to participate in the 1942 spring campaign with a force more than 8 divisions strong. It wasn't possible to properly equip more divisions. Antonescu dimissed his memos and Iacobici resigned, being replaced with Steflea the CO of the 3rd Infantry Division (Antonescu's command in the 30s). In September 1942, there were 26 Romanian divisions outside national borders, at Stalingrad and in the Caucasu. Of these, those at Stalingrad, used improperly by the German command suffered the most.

As always, when posting a photo, mention the source, please.

I think Marshall Antonescu try,how she can in that time,to preserve our country like an independent one(and not a colony or a province,like others countries),despite the germans implication in our politics,and even to rebuild the so-called Great-Romania,infact a country who reunite all the romanian teritories.She do mistakes,ofcourse,but no man is perfect.I believe she deserve a much better faith,especially today,when is supose we ar free.Even in comunist period,in late 80`,i read favourable articles about him in historical magazines.I will make a comparation,even if man who i want to compare with Antonescu dont deserve even to be mantionated.Ex-general Pacepa,a traitor,receive back shes rank and facilities,and a man like Antonescu,who died because want the good for shes country is still blamed by some peoples.

I didn't know Antonescu was a female...

Gen. Dénes

Sorry for that,i know my english is bad,but i learn from TV.

From XXL channel

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And yet it is men like Antonescu that remain in the memory of history, much more then the likes of 'I.C.Bratianu and Titulescu.

and from another source...that: "one will never really find truly great leaders,..... in a democracy..." sad and true.


This post has been edited by Der Maresal on January 21, 2005 06:50 pm

For Denes and Cantacuzino,i am happy you peoples agree with my posts,and only bad thing about this is my bad english .

For an uneducated person, that only listens to the knews on TV and hears about the demolishing of Antonescu's statue, probably. If one would go deeper and read about the characters, learn about their actions, I doubt that one would brush aside and forget the "likes" of Ion and Ionel Bratianu.