The destruction of the Jews of Romania
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Jewish history in Romania has been recorded as early as the 2nd century when the Roman Empire had established its rule over an area of land that was then known as Dacia. Inscriptions and coins as well as Jewish tombstones have been have been found in such places as Sarmizegetusa and Orsova.Anti-Semitism in Romania began as early 1579 when the sovereign of Moldavia, Petru Schiopul, ordered the banishment of the Jews on the grounds that they were ruining established merchant businesses, and for allegedly exploiting the Christian population in order to enrich themselves.
The mostly Sephardic Jewish population then had to endure great hardships during the Russo-Turkish war in 1769-74. They were massacred and robbed of their property in almost every town and village in the country. Despite these early pogroms Jewish communities still managed to flourish. The number of Jews in historic Transylvania jumped from two thousand in 1766, to thirty thousand in 1880. By 1825, Jewish population in Wallachia was estimated at between 5,000 and 10,000 people.
At the Congress of Berlin in 1878, which finalized Romanian independence, the great powers made the grant of civil rights to the Jews a condition of that independence in spite of opposition by the Romanian and Russian delegates. After heated debates parliament modified the article of the constitution which made citizenship conditional on Christianity, but stated that the naturalization of Jews would be carried out individually, by vote of both chambers of parliament.
However, it was only after World War I was legislation enacted to emancipate Romanian Jewry. Despite the prevalent anti-Semitism that abounded in Romania, Jews played an important role in the transformation of of the nation from a feudal system into a modern economy and were also active in the country’s cultural life. Romania was the birthplace of the Yiddish theater. It also produced many of the first chalutzim who settled in Israel.
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The bias against Jews continued into the 20’s and 30′, student movements began against the Jews at the major universities were organized and financed by the Ministry of the Interior. Once such movement was founded by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu and called itself “The Legion of the Archangel Michael” (precursor to the Iron Guard), the legion formed terror cells and claimed responsibility for the murder of several Jews.
The Legion was known for skillful propaganda, including a very capable use of spectacle. Utilizing marches, religious processions and patriotic and partisan hymns and anthems, along with volunteer work and charitable campaigns in rural areas in support of its anti-Communist, anti-Semitic, anti-liberal, and anti-parliamentary philosophy.
Read the full article here: http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/nazioccupation/romanianjews.html
The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team
www.HolocaustResearchProject.org
