The Second World War,1940–1944

Abstract

Abstract The cession of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina at the end of June 1940, added to the undisguised aversion of the National Peasant and Liberal parties to the royal dictatorship and the homicidal tendencies of the Iron Guard toward the royal person. obliged Carol, whose prestige had reached its nadir, to turn to General Ion Antonescu as the one person capable of controlling the dangerous situation. The choice of Antonescu was not an easy one, for the dedicated career officer had made no secret either of his contempt for Carol or of his own ambition.