Why did Communism fall in Romania in 1989?

Communism in Romania

Inhabited mostly by Romanians, but with few sizeable minoritiesHungarian, German,

Gypsy, JewishLarge areas inhabited

by Romanians remained under foreign control:Transylvania under

HungariansBessarabia under

Russians

Background

Romania was a satellite of Nazi Germany until 1944

Was forced to concede a large portion of Transylvania back to Hungary and Bessarabia back to Russia

Switched sides in August 1944

Came under Soviet occupation after the war

During World War 2

Transylvania was recovered after the war, but relations with Hungary remained tense

Bessarabia turned into the Soviet Republic of Moldova

1947 – Old monarchy was overthrown, replaced by a communist regime.

Instauration of a Communist Regime

First Soviet Romanian leader

Was able to carry out an independent foreign and economic policy until his death.1948 – Red Army was

withdrawn from RomaniaLate 1950s – initiated the

creation of heavy industry

1952 – Opened up relations with the west

Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej (1947-1965) and De-Satellization

“[Romania] could, for instance, it is thought, obtain higher prices on the world market for much of what she is forced to export to Russia, foodstuffs included, in return for machinery and aid.”The Times of August 29, 1953

1957 - trade with the West had increased to 25% of Romania’s total trade

Early 1960s - Romania was more industrialized and productive

After World War II: 80% of the population had worked in agriculture

By 1963, 65% did.

Economic Changes up to 1965

Known for its independent foreign policy from the USSRDenounced the Soviet Union

after the invasion of Czechoslovakia

His aim was to make Romania a world power

Remained open to trade with the West

Was greatly inspired by China, North Korea and North Vietnam

Nicolae Ceaușescu (1965-1989)

1974 – Introduced the concept of President of Romania:Head of state, head of the

armed forces, head of the Communist Party

Introduced SystemizationMoving rural population

to large urban centersRural resettlementVillages were mandated to

be agriculturally self-sufficient

Nicolae Ceaușescu (1965-1989)

Created a Cult of Personality around himselfCensorship introducedBanned abortion and contraceptives

Was paranoid, and appointed his family members to high positions in the government (socialism in one family)

Used Securitate to control all aspects of private lifeTapped phone and fax lines, informers, planted

microphones in people’s houses, carried out assassinations

Cult of Personality

“The only unclear moment is whose dictatorship is it--[Nicolae] Ceausescu's himself or his wife's?” Mitterand on Ceausescu in 1989, talking to Gorbachev

Seen as a maverick from the West, he was offered help

He abused of this and borrowed $13 billion, but they devastated the country’s finance1980s – most of the

agricultural and industrial output was to be exported

1981 – food rationing introduced

1989 - GNP fell by 10%, shortages became more pronounced and unemployment began to rise

Nicolae Ceaușescu (1965-1989) – Debt

16th of December 1989 in Timisoara – Hungarian Reformed Church pastor was being evicted from his church and home (Laszlo Tokes)Many people started protesting and surrounded

the houseThe police opened fireThe whole country found out of this event despite

censorship and started revolting all around the country against the oppressors

21st of December – Ceausescu addresses an assembly of people accusing the protesters of fascismMost people jeered at him

Revolution

22nd of December – Romanian defense minister commits suicideThe army changed

sidesCeausescu managed

to escape with his wife, but were eventually recaptured

Show trial broadcasted on TV and executed

Revolution

The Securitate was worse than Soviet levels, but not as bad as East German ones

He saw Gorbachev’s policies as an aggression towards his managementCriticized perestroika, stating that he introduced it

10 years earlier in RomaniaDespite all his attempts to make Romania appear

as a strong international force, he was still looked down at from the other Eastern Countries as a delusional leader

After Ceausescu was kicked out from Bucharest, both Eastern and Western countries came in to aid (Gorbachev included) to help stabilize a new government

Romania and the other Eastern Countries

The National Salvation Front (NFL) led by Ion Iliescu (Ceausescu’s old supporter) eventually gained power and was elected leader of the country.

In the end, why did Communism (under Ceausescu) collapse in Romania?