To Victor (or anyone else who may know)

[Plutonas]

This post is in regards to Romanian fascism, and more specifically, a post you made on the old forum. The question is on the excerpt you posted: "Decaderea poporului roman se datoreaza unor elemente de rasa inferioara...anume corcirii sangelui stravechi daco-roman, geto-roman cu sange fanariot si tiganesc, iar acum, in urma, cu sange jidovesc.”

Having read (well, actually a better description would be skimmed) "For My Legionnaries" by Codreanu I find it odd that the above quote could be attributed to the Iron Guard. While the Iron Guard and the Legion of Archangel Michael were certainly anti-Jewish, I am quite suprised the same organization harbored anti-Greek feelings as Greece was also under a fascist regime at this time (1936-1941), but more importantly the religious aspect. There is no doubt that the Iron Guardists were devout Orthodox Christians, so it strikes me as odd that they would discriminate against co-religionists. But perhaps "fanariot" explains everything?

Furthermore, Codreanu himself was not a full Romanian (being part German and Ukranian) and so it would be unlikely for him to speak about mixing with other ethnic groups. In fact, in "For my Legionnaires" I distinctly remember when he states that Slavs, Germans, Greeks, Hungarians living in Romania all eventually assimilate into patriotic Romanians, with the only exceptions of the Jews and the Turks who never assimilate.

As such, I doubt the above quotations can be attributed to him. My guess is that it comes from either Horia Sima or Antonescu (the latter of which placed business restrictions on Greeks, Armenians, and Jews). If this is so, what text can I find this in?

Lastly, I will tell you I have a great interest in European Fascist and National Socialist regimes, but my knowledge of the Iron Guard is unfortunately quite elementary. If you know of any suggested reading material on the subject, I would greatly appreciate it.

-Plutonas

[Victor]

I will have to look up the source of that quote and get back to you tommorow.

[Victor]

The quote was from an article entitled “Rasa si destin national” (Race and national destiny) published in “Cuvantul” (the Legion’s newspaper) on 16 January 1941.

The fact that the Greeks were also Eastern Orthodox had no importance. Many Gypsies were also Eastern Orthodox. Their idea was to create a “pure” Romanian nation, without Jews, Greeks or Gypsies, which they probably saw as the cause of many Romanian flaws.
The Legion is a mystery for me too. I haven’t studied it too much, since my interest lies more in the Romanian armed forces and especially the Air Force during WWII, to which I have dedicated two web pages.

Ovidius seems to know more about the Legiohn and can surely recommend you books about it.

[Plutonas]

Thank you for the information, Victor. I greatly appreciated it.

Interestingly, Antonescu assumed military dictatorship that same month.

[Victor]

Yeah, less then a week later.

[Ovidius]

Plutonas wrote:

While the Iron Guard and the Legion of Archangel Michael were certainly anti-Jewish, I am quite suprised the same organization harbored anti-Greek feelings as Greece was also under a fascist regime at this time (1936-1941), but more importantly the religious aspect. There is no doubt that the Iron Guardists were devout Orthodox Christians, so it strikes me as odd that they would discriminate against co-religionists. But perhaps "fanariot" explains everything?

Indeed, fanariot explains everything. "Fanariot", not "Greek".

The Fanariots(members of the cliques that took the leadership of Romanian princedoms in the 18th century with Turkish support) were not all Greeks. But all of them(or at least the vast majority) were members of the mafia that dominated the economic life of the Turkish Empire; mostly pirates and all kinds of scum from a corrupt empire. Those guys had ruined the weak economy of the Romanian states, and left them in a quasi-total debacle. It's obvious they deserved only hatred and contempt.

As for the Gypsies, the reason behind the words should be obvious for any Romanian.

Furthermore, Codreanu himself was not a full Romanian (being part German and Ukranian) and so it would be unlikely for him to speak about mixing with other ethnic groups. In fact, in "For my Legionnaires" I distinctly remember when he states that Slavs, Germans, Greeks, Hungarians living in Romania all eventually assimilate into patriotic Romanians, with the only exceptions of the Jews and the Turks who never assimilate.

Corneliu Zelea Codreanu was half-Polish(by his father) but fully assimilated, therefore his idea about assimilation was sound.

As such, I doubt the above quotations can be attributed to him. My guess is that it comes from either Horia Sima or Antonescu (the latter of which placed business restrictions on Greeks, Armenians, and Jews).

Marshal Ion Antonescu had no political or doctrinary relation to the Iron Guard. He had been known prior to 1940 as a devout Anglophile, therefore his association in 1940 with the Legion was quite weird. The only possible explanation is that Hitler had asked him to do it, to test his loyalty for the Reich. The fact that Hitler asked him to restore order without scruples in 1941, and the treatment Antonescu applied to the Legionnaires after that, speak for this hypothesis.

~Regards,

Ovidius

[Plutonas]

Indeed, fanariot explains everything. "Fanariot", not "Greek".

The Fanariots(members of the cliques that took the leadership of Romanian princedoms in the 18th century with Turkish support) were not all Greeks. But all of them(or at least the vast majority) were members of the mafia that dominated the economic life of the Turkish Empire; mostly pirates and all kinds of scum from a corrupt empire. Those guys had ruined the weak economy of the Romanian states, and left them in a quasi-total debacle. It's obvious they deserved only hatred and contempt.

Perhaps all Phanariots were not Greeks, but the vast majority certainly were. The anti-Phanariot sentiments were not forgotten even when Alexander Ypsilantis launched a revolt against the Ottoman empire in Jassy, proclaiming Greece's independence. The Romanians, despite being asked to join the effort, refused.

I agree that the Phanariots certainly deserve indignation (by Romanians AND Greeks alike) for their treachery and collaboration with the Turks, but a line should be drawn between them and the Greeks.

In any case, that quote makes a clear reference to Greeks (since in 1941 phanariots no longer existed).

Marshal Ion Antonescu had no political or doctrinary relation to the Iron Guard. He had been known prior to 1940 as a devout Anglophile, therefore his association in 1940 with the Legion was quite weird. The only possible explanation is that Hitler had asked him to do it, to test his loyalty for the Reich. The fact that Hitler asked him to restore order without scruples in 1941, and the treatment Antonescu applied to the Legionnaires after that, speak for this hypothesis.

Yes, I was aware of that; shortly after Antonescu's rise to power, the Iron Guard was violently supressed. This was despite the fact that the Iron Guard, being one of first fascist movements in the Balkans, had won prestige from Nazi Germany.

-Plutonas

P.S. Would you be so kind as to reccomend me any books on the matter of the Iron Guard/Legion of St. Michael the Archangel? I've had a hard time trying to find anything written in English.