The text discusses the establishment of a communist government in Romania after the country’s complete occupation by the Red Army in October 1944. Joseph Stalin, unwilling to tolerate a bourgeois-landlord regime behind the military forces executing a global revolution, facilitated the rise of a communist government on March 6, 1945. This government was designed to appear favorable to both the population and the international community, implementing Soviet ideologies swiftly, especially after King Michael was ousted in December 1947. Stalin aimed for rapid communization of Romania, followed by military development to support worldwide revolution.
Party leaders were taken aback by the mentality of those joining the newly formed ruling communist party, the Romanian Workers’ Party (PMR). Emil Bodnăraș, a staunch communist ideologue, reported on the local political landscape, revealing a stark contradiction: despite having very few party members, locals were eager to claim land for personal use, desiring private properties and agricultural expansion. This was condemned by party leadership, as it mirrored pre-existing practices of local elites—termed “kulaks”—just before nationalization efforts began.
The new totalitarian regime, while recruiting followers from all social strata, faced a fundamental contradiction in its ideology—citizens aspired to personal wealth, contrary to the communist principle of equality in poverty. Historical traditions in the region emphasized wealth accumulation through any means, undermining the party’s attempts at ideological reform. There was little improvement in state institution perceptions; acts of public service were often motivated by personal gain, revealing a widespread acceptance of corruption, where laws were lightly regarded if risks remained minimal.
Despite efforts to transform these beliefs, ingrained traditions persisted, necessitating a blindness to personal wealth accumulation among party members. The attitude ingrained in the populace was that amassing wealth was acceptable if executed discreetly to avoid legal repercussions. Even with state crackdowns on corruption leading to imprisonment of some, the desire for wealth remained prevalent, signifying that leadership positions offered more opportunities for personal enrichment.
In summary, the post-World War II communist establishment in Romania faced significant challenges, grappling with deep-rooted cultural attitudes toward wealth and corruption, despite the party’s ideological stance on equality and communal ownership.
