King Michael I led the 1944 Romanian coup d'état by ordering weapons against Nazi forces and arresting Prime Minister Ion Antonescu. Communist conspirators Emil Bodnăraș and Lucrețiu Pătrășcanu met with King Michael's representatives to plan the operation.
When did King Michael announce the end of the war in Romania?
King Michael announced over radio at 10 pm on the 23rd of August 1944 that Antonescu had been deposed. The announcement declared acceptance of an armistice with Allied Powers and the Soviet Union.
What happened to Ion Antonescu after the 1944 Romanian coup d'état?
Ion Antonescu was handed over to communists on the 1st of September before being returned to Romania for trial. He was executed in 1946 after a public proceeding.
How many Romanian prisoners of war were taken during the 1944 Romanian coup d'état period?
Approximately 140,000 Romanian prisoners of war were taken during this period. About 130,000 were transported to the Soviet Union where many died in prison camps.
Why is the 1944 Romanian coup d'état considered decisive by Albert Speer?
Albert Speer later described Romania's defection as decisive because it deprived Nazi Germany of critical oil resources. Hitler admitted for the first time that the war was lost due to this loss.