Figure 1.--The German High Command approved of Ion Antonescu who seized power with the cooperation of the Iron Guard and right-wing military elements. German officers had already been working with the Romanian military. Antonescu concerned about further Soviet demands, requested a German military mission (October 1940). As a result, German forces began moving into Romania (October 8). The Germans rapidly deployed 0.5 million troops to Romania. Here we see some of the German troops, probably in May 1941 just before the invasion of the Soviet Union.

The German High Command approved of Ion Antonescu who seized power with the cooperation of the Iron Guard and right-wing military elements. German officers had already been working with the Romanian military. Antonescu concerned about further Soviet demands, requested a German military mission (October 1940). As a result, German forces began moving into Romania (October 8). The Romanians requested a military training missioin. Hitler dispatched a full Panzer combat divsion which primarily was used to secure the oil fields. [Mazowwer, p. 131.] Other units soon followed. Romania after the Soviet partition was a country that was afraid of further Soviet incursions. German intervention was seen by many Romanians as protection from the Soviets. Antonnescu upon assuming power asked for German troops to ensure that the Soviets did not intervene. Hitler dispatched the 13th Panzer Division and units of 2nd Panzer as well as anti-aircraft units and Luftwaffe squadrons. Obstensibly these forces were to train the Romanians, from Hitler's perspective they were there to protect the oil fields. The Germans rapidly deployed 0.5 million troops to Romania. This not only secured the Ploesti oil fields, but put them in a position to pressure Yugoslaia and Greece and later to launch the southern phase of Barbarossa into the Ukraine. Just before Hitler launched Barbarossa, Antonescu announced, "When it's a question of action against the Slavs, you can always count on Romania," [Beevor, p. 20.]

Sources

Beevor, Anthony. Stalingrad (1998).

Mazower, Mark. Hit;er's Empire: How the Nazis Ruled Europe (Penguin Press: New York, 2008), 726p.

Created: 4:35 AM 6/14/2010
Last updated: 9:34 AM 6/10/2011