The Romanian Legion
Romania was under communism after the 2nd World War, but it was really close to embracing the Romanian form of fascism called the Legionary Movement. What was their doctrine and what were they promoting?
The world today looks back with terrified eyes towards the totalitarian movements. During the second half of the last century Europe was divided between fascism and communism and being part of the Eastern Europe, Romania fell under communism, but before that, the country was really close to embrace fascism. The Legionary movement was a particular form of fascism founded in the 24th of June 1927, by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu.
Many historians say that the Legionary movement was not pure and original, being only a trend borrowed from the Italian fascism or from the German one. On the opposite, there are many other specialists who claim that the Romanian fascism had its own doctrines and objectives that substantially differed from the other two forms. The surprising fact is that over the past years the legionnaires still alive were interviewed and they are not ashamed of having been part of the movement and moreover they were talking about their achievements and about their "captain", Corneliu Zelea Codreanu. The movement was especially fighting against the spreading of the communism in Romania and against the U.R.S.S influence and expansion, but they were also anti-Semitic.
The differentiation factor came from their mystique orientation. They were profoundly religious and they were fighting for keeping the tradition intact. Therefore, they would fight against any other religion but the one of their forefathers, which was orthodoxy. Like any other social movements, they had some accomplishments and some faults. Many would say that the accomplishments are not enough to cover the gravity of the many faults.
A positive aspect of their doctrine was the fact that they promoted high values, such as love, compassion for the poor and ill and patience in suffering. They were also promoting high education. They used to select the members of the Legion from a scholar environment. The brightest students from schools, high-schools and universities, having high marks and not playing truant, were selected to be part of fraternities. The fraternities were smaller groupings spread all over the country in which the members were instructed to be religious and to respect the high society values. Another positive aspect was coming from the fact that they were not only theoreticians, but they also applied the teachings in the real life. They built shelters for the poor and they were helping widows or orphans.
The contrast comes from the selectivity regarding the application of these values. They were filled with hatred for the Hebrew people, for gypsies, for those who had other religion than orthodoxy and especially for communists. They used physical violence against them. In order to do this, they had meetings during the night when they were intensely preparing. Also they were taken to camps where they were military instructed to know how to use their weapons. The historical sources show that they caused many murders and many people died only because they were born Hebrews or gypsies.
The attacks decreased in frequency when the members of the Legion movement began to be persecuted for their political orientation. This happened before and after The Second World War. They were imprisoned and their leaders were executed. It is interesting though that many high and illuminated minds were taking their sides, such as the writer Mircea Eliade or the two great philosophers, Constantin Noica and Emil Cioran.
Many explained this phenomenon as being the only viable alternative at that time. The high values were trampled on the ground, communism was knocking at the Eastern border, people began to forget their God and corruption was ruling the political world. The Legionary movement offered the only different alternative and people were attracted to it. As Codreanu used to say, the country was not lacking political programs, they were lacking people. And that is what the legion promised: to make virtuous men and women. The problem is they wanted to do it at any expense and to somebody's detriment.
In conclusion, the Legionary Movement was a social, political and cultural movement. The members of this party were characterized by their anticommunism, anti-Semitic and mystique orientation. They were an alternative to the other parties in the '30s, before the great persecution under Carol the II began. The great majority condemns them today, but they still have certain admirers who justify and even praise them. It is however horrifying what they did and this is not a true Christianity spirit, Christ has never acted like that! It is horrible how people can deceive themselves thinking they do the work of God while they act like Satan! May God give us all discernment and sound mind.
Many historians say that the Legionary movement was not pure and original, being only a trend borrowed from the Italian fascism or from the German one. On the opposite, there are many other specialists who claim that the Romanian fascism had its own doctrines and objectives that substantially differed from the other two forms. The surprising fact is that over the past years the legionnaires still alive were interviewed and they are not ashamed of having been part of the movement and moreover they were talking about their achievements and about their "captain", Corneliu Zelea Codreanu. The movement was especially fighting against the spreading of the communism in Romania and against the U.R.S.S influence and expansion, but they were also anti-Semitic.
The differentiation factor came from their mystique orientation. They were profoundly religious and they were fighting for keeping the tradition intact. Therefore, they would fight against any other religion but the one of their forefathers, which was orthodoxy. Like any other social movements, they had some accomplishments and some faults. Many would say that the accomplishments are not enough to cover the gravity of the many faults.
A positive aspect of their doctrine was the fact that they promoted high values, such as love, compassion for the poor and ill and patience in suffering. They were also promoting high education. They used to select the members of the Legion from a scholar environment. The brightest students from schools, high-schools and universities, having high marks and not playing truant, were selected to be part of fraternities. The fraternities were smaller groupings spread all over the country in which the members were instructed to be religious and to respect the high society values. Another positive aspect was coming from the fact that they were not only theoreticians, but they also applied the teachings in the real life. They built shelters for the poor and they were helping widows or orphans.
The contrast comes from the selectivity regarding the application of these values. They were filled with hatred for the Hebrew people, for gypsies, for those who had other religion than orthodoxy and especially for communists. They used physical violence against them. In order to do this, they had meetings during the night when they were intensely preparing. Also they were taken to camps where they were military instructed to know how to use their weapons. The historical sources show that they caused many murders and many people died only because they were born Hebrews or gypsies.
The attacks decreased in frequency when the members of the Legion movement began to be persecuted for their political orientation. This happened before and after The Second World War. They were imprisoned and their leaders were executed. It is interesting though that many high and illuminated minds were taking their sides, such as the writer Mircea Eliade or the two great philosophers, Constantin Noica and Emil Cioran.
Many explained this phenomenon as being the only viable alternative at that time. The high values were trampled on the ground, communism was knocking at the Eastern border, people began to forget their God and corruption was ruling the political world. The Legionary movement offered the only different alternative and people were attracted to it. As Codreanu used to say, the country was not lacking political programs, they were lacking people. And that is what the legion promised: to make virtuous men and women. The problem is they wanted to do it at any expense and to somebody's detriment.
In conclusion, the Legionary Movement was a social, political and cultural movement. The members of this party were characterized by their anticommunism, anti-Semitic and mystique orientation. They were an alternative to the other parties in the '30s, before the great persecution under Carol the II began. The great majority condemns them today, but they still have certain admirers who justify and even praise them. It is however horrifying what they did and this is not a true Christianity spirit, Christ has never acted like that! It is horrible how people can deceive themselves thinking they do the work of God while they act like Satan! May God give us all discernment and sound mind.
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