VI. The World Wars and the Interwar Period, 1914–1945 > C. Europe, 1919–1945 > 19. The Balkan States > e. Romania > 1938, Jan. 18
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1938, Jan. 18
 
King Carol dissolved the parliament, which had not yet met. For contradictory reasons, this unconstitutional procedure led to protests from all the other parties, while the anti-Semitic policy quickly brought the country to the verge of business collapse.  1
 
Feb. 10
 
The king dismissed Goga, using as a pretext the fact that the courts had invalidated several of the anti-Semitic laws. Goga and his followers had thoroughly discredited themselves and had really strengthened the position of the king, who now assumed complete control of the situation. A new “concentration” cabinet, containing seven former premiers, was established under the leadership of the patriarch, Miron Cristea. The constitution was suspended and all political parties were suppressed. Rigid censorship was instituted. These moves were violently opposed by both the Iron Guard and the National Peasants' Party of Maniu.  2
 
Feb. 24
 
A plebiscite, however, properly managed by the government, approved Carol's action by an overwhelming vote (only 5,300 opposed).  3
 
April 19
 
The leader of the Iron Guard, Corneliu Codreanu, was condemned to six months' imprisonment for libel, and then (May 27) to ten years at hard labor for treason. The government's attack upon the Iron Guardists now assumed major proportions. Many of Codreanu's followers were arrested and imprisoned after discovery of an alleged plot against the king.  4
 
Oct
 
Trade unions were dissolved by decree and replaced with guilds, which were considered as vocational bodies subordinate to the aims of the royal dictatorship.  5
 
Nov. 30
 
DEATH OF CODREANU. He and 13 other Iron Guardists were reported shot by their guards while being moved from one prison to another.  6
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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