[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 122 (Tuesday, August 23, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROMANIA'S ALLIANCE WITH THE ANTI-FASCIST 
                        NATIONS IN WORLD WAR II

  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
heroic contributions made by the Romanian people and their former 
sovereign, Mihai I, in the struggle against Nazi tyranny. Throughout 
most of World War II, Romania was allied with Hitler's Germany--an 
alliance forged by Romania's dictator, General Antonescu. In the summer 
of 1944, while Allied forces were pushing German forces back on all 
fronts, the people of Romania did not sit idly by. The deposed king, 
Mihai I, took full advantage of the opening. On August 23, 1944, King 
Mihai gave the signal for a coup d'etat by ordering his palace guards 
to arrest General Antonescu. This done, King Mihai called upon the army 
to release Romania from the Nazi yoke and drive the German troops from 
the country, a task they accomplished in a matter of days. It is 
appropriate to take a moment to remember the brave actions of the 
Romanian people 50 years ago today.

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