How the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife were executed, and why in Romania they now respectfully remember him
How the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife were executed, and why in Romania they now respectfully remember him

Video: How the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife were executed, and why in Romania they now respectfully remember him

Video: How the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife were executed, and why in Romania they now respectfully remember him
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Trial of the ruler of Romania Nicolae Ceausescu
Trial of the ruler of Romania Nicolae Ceausescu

In 1989, events took place in Romania that radically changed the appearance of the country - the last leader of socialist Romania was overthrown, who for a quarter of a century had gone his own way. The overthrow of the regime of Nicolae Ceausescu turned out to be bloody and ended with the execution of the former leader of the country and his wife.

Nicolae Ceausescu speaks to the Romanian people
Nicolae Ceausescu speaks to the Romanian people

The future ruler of Romania, Nicolae Ceausescu, came from a peasant family. Already at a young age, he experienced the oppression of capitalism, then joined the Communist Party, was imprisoned "for politics."

Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu
Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu

In 1965, Nicolae Ceausescu became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Romania, in fact, the first person in the country. The next two and a half decades of his reign can be evaluated in different ways. Some argue that these were years of genocide and economic collapse, while others, on the contrary, saw a general upsurge.

A real cult of personality has developed around Ceausescu. The period of his reign was almost officially called the "Golden Age of Ceausescu", and the dictator himself was called the "Secular God", "Seer" and "Genius of the Carpathians".

Nicolae Ceausescu and Mikhail Gorbachev, 1985
Nicolae Ceausescu and Mikhail Gorbachev, 1985

At the same time, there was real devastation in the country. Due to the lack of external funding, a card system had to be introduced, and there was often a shortage of food. Therefore, in December 1989, thousands of Romanians took to the streets. Residents of the city of Timisoara protested against poverty and lawlessness, which have become the norm. Nicolae Ceausescu was openly called a dictator and a Stalinist. An angry crowd demanded the removal from power of the 71-year-old man and his wife Elena, who was also a very influential person.

Romanian soldier in front of a flag with a carved coat of arms
Romanian soldier in front of a flag with a carved coat of arms

Like many rulers before him, Ceausescu ordered open fire on the crowd demanding his resignation. But the army, which entered the capital in tanks, refused to shoot at civilians. When it became clear that the revolution could not be stopped, Nicolae and Elena fled from Bucharest by helicopter. But they did not fly far. In the city of Targovishte, the spouses were arrested and an urgent trial was held.

Tanks in Bucharest, December 24, 1989
Tanks in Bucharest, December 24, 1989

The process took place on December 25 in the premises of a military unit. Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu were charged with the destruction of the national economy, an armed uprising against the people, the destruction of state institutions, and genocide.

Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu at the trial
Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu at the trial
Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu at the trial
Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu at the trial

The entire process, which lasted less than two hours, was filmed. It is difficult to name what happened, except as a trial. The whole session was reduced to squabbles and squabbles between the prosecutors and the accused. The verdict was known in advance: the death penalty. On the same day, the Ceausescu spouses were shot at the wall of the soldiers' restroom.

The shooting of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu
The shooting of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu
The place of execution of the Romanian dictator and his wife has become a popular tourist attraction
The place of execution of the Romanian dictator and his wife has become a popular tourist attraction

Decades later, the events of December in Romania are remembered in different ways. Some believe that this is how the country got rid of the "leash" from Moscow at once, while others regret that time and the "strong ruler". According to a poll conducted, if Nicolae Ceausescu had taken part in the next elections, about 40 percent of Romanians would have given their vote for him.

In just a few years "Big brother", the Soviet Union, also disintegrated … Thus ended the history of one of the most unusual countries of the 20th century.

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