Introduction

Abstract

This introductory chapter shows how nationalism, religion, antisemitism, and anticommunism fueled Romania’s “holy war” from 1941 to 1944. Romanian soldiers believed they participated in a just war against Soviet aggression. Indeed, shared antisemitism, anticommunism, and to a much lesser extent anti-Slavism, bound Romania to Nazi Germany. So much so that the Romanian Army closely collaborated with the German Army in Adolf Hitler’s “war of annihilation.” While anti-Slav racism was less prevalent than in the German Army, the Romanian Army was anxious to take vengeance on Jews in eastern Romania, whom it accused of treachery, and it was more than willing to back the S.S. in implementing the “Final Solution” in the Soviet Union. Romania’s holy war consisted of two interlinked campaigns: fighting on the front, and slaughtering Jews and communists in the rear. The same ideology that justified sacrifice in battle also predisposed Romanian soldiers toward genocide against Jews.