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Holocaust in Romania - Corvinus Library - Hungarian History

Holocaust in Romania - Corvinus Library - Hungarian History

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he was both hurt and enraged by these assass<strong>in</strong>ations. However, thedocument also conta<strong>in</strong>ed the follow<strong>in</strong>g extract:“On my part, General, I would like to ask you to re<strong>in</strong>force the authority ofthe state without further delay; to entrust certa<strong>in</strong> officials with ensur<strong>in</strong>gorder; to strive—through all means at your disposal—for a return toexistential and f<strong>in</strong>ancial security for all categories of citizens, s<strong>in</strong>ce thisalone can guarantee the cont<strong>in</strong>uity of productive work, which is sonecessary for social and economic life. 2Iron Guard terror manifested itself <strong>in</strong> the most atrocious forms everwitnessed <strong>in</strong> the history of mank<strong>in</strong>d. It began with arbitrary searches ofhouses, arrests, evictions, beat<strong>in</strong>gs, rape, torture; ty<strong>in</strong>g to shame-posts;<strong>in</strong>dividual and collective robberies, and culm<strong>in</strong>ated <strong>in</strong> the plunder<strong>in</strong>g andsett<strong>in</strong>g ablaze of churches, factories, shops and flats, and <strong>in</strong> the horrify<strong>in</strong>gbloodbaths of the Iron Guard revolt.This terror was organized by “the Iron Guard Movement” and by certa<strong>in</strong>m<strong>in</strong>isters led by the deputy prime m<strong>in</strong>ister, Horia Sima . However, theother members of the government encouraged them by tolerat<strong>in</strong>g theiractions and provid<strong>in</strong>g them with immunity. The Leader of the Statepersonally aided them through m<strong>in</strong>dless legislation and adm<strong>in</strong>istration.The aims of Iron Guard terror varied accord<strong>in</strong>g to the person or <strong>in</strong>stitutiontargeted. The country’s Christian community was <strong>in</strong>timidated <strong>in</strong> order toparalyze the awaken<strong>in</strong>g of remorse <strong>in</strong> the few people whose united actioncould have led to the formation of a certa<strong>in</strong> type of public op<strong>in</strong>ion. Jewswere to be elim<strong>in</strong>ated from economic life; their property was to be robbedso that—irrespective of whether it was to become the possession of“members of the Iron Guard Movement”—an enormous weapon could be2 In men tion <strong>in</strong>g this state ment made by the Pres i dent of the Na -tional Party of Peas ants, we must note the am bi gu ity and un clearfor mu la tion, which <strong>in</strong> ev i ta bly forces us to ask whether Mr IliuManiu <strong>in</strong> cluded Jews <strong>in</strong> “all types of cit i zens”?68

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