First Great Balkan Conflict
| The First Great Balkan Conflict | |
|---|---|
| Conflict | First Great Balkan Conflict |
| Date | 1954-1960 |
| Place | Eastern Europe |
| Result | • Destruction of the independent Romania • Creation of Socialist Republic of Romania |
| Major Combatants | |
| Republic of Romania |
Soviet Union Popular Movement for the Liberation of Romania |
| Strength | |
| ~1,000,000 (1958) | ~2,600,000 (1958) |
| Casualties | |
| Total dead: 500,000+ (Romania), Wounded: 1,000,303 (Romania) |
Total dead: Official Soviet estimate: 230,000 Wounded: 100,000 |
| Civilian Casualties: c. 10–15 million | |
| Victor: Soviet Union, PMLR | |
The conflict has been one of the bloodiest fights in contemporary history and helped lead to the eventual Second Great Balkan Conflict. This collection of conflicts helped spread the ideal of communism over the European continent and even into the Middle East.
Contents
Causes
From 1946-1954, the Romanian government had settled into a quasi-fascist state of being. Heavy influences were still being felt from the remaining National Socialists and Fascist groups fleeing from the Allies into Romania and its neighbors. This caused massive distrust to grow amongst the Romanian citizens against the growing police state.
The main causes of the conflict, however, were deeper rooted than the world thought:
• Growing communist sympathy amongst the Progressive Democtrat Party of Romania.
• Distrust of the West due to the seizure of West Germany.
• Widening class boundries between the wealthy Romanian aristocracy and increasingly growing poor.
• Influences from the Soviet Union and Kaliph al Musileem.
It Starts
Early on the morning of October 15, gunfire began to ring out within the city of Bucharest. The Popular Movement for the Libteration of Romania had been active recently within the capitol, spreading propaganda and the like. Rumors were spreading of a mass revolt against the fascistic regime and subversion was spreading. It was true, but more was to come.
PMLR and other workers assaulted the Executive Complex, attacking it with whatever they had nearby. Improvised explosives and gunfire could be heard throughout the city. The Romanian Republican Guard were successful in removing President Nikolai Restiji from the mansion and flew him to an undisclosed location so he was able to run the country without fear of being executed.
On the border with Moldova, tensions were growing high. The Romanian Army had been reporting Soviet movement and possible mobilisation along the border with Romania, but the Central Intelligence Bureau dismissed the accusations, confidence overtakig them. The mobilisation was in fact occuring; en mass.
Soviet soldiers crossed the border at 1 PM local time, forcing their way into the bordering villages and setting up camp. Word of this crossed the world within hours, but due to the recent destruction of the fascist regimes, Britian and the US wouldn't think of invading the Soviet Union for doing the exact thing they did merely a few years before.
The Revolution Hits Home
Soon after the Romanian October Revolution of 1954, groups of men, women, and children began fleeing the war torn nation. This would lead to eventual mass murders committed by both sides that wouldn't surface until the fall of Krushchev. Men and women were executed by the fascists for fleeing, and the communists for fighting back. This would lead to the eventual death of at least 10 million civilians on the Balkan Killing Fields.
These atrocities wouldn't ever be punished on a global scale. Reports surfaced in 1965 that the Chief Directorate of Corrective Labour Camps and Colonies (GULAG) interred hundreds of former fascist sympathizers into labour facilities and some were even reported to have been executed. These reports, however, were never confirmed.
All we know today, is that these atrocities did occur. The only reason the international community knows of this, is because of the massive population drop in 1961 after an armistice was signed and Romania fell into communist control and because of a few photos.
The Soviets Bombard Bucharest
Soon enough, Soviet forces begin reaching Bucharest; in the form of massive bombings. Having experience in urban warfare - and not wishing to have anymore - the Soviet Air Force began twenty-four hour bombing runs on the Romanian capitol, effectivelty destroying what was left of the city.
The Revolution had already caused massive destruction, however, the bombings killed more civilians than expected. Over a million people died in the catastrophic bombing runs. This drew criticism from the West, but the US and Britian still refused to acknowledge the atrocities being committed.
The death toll also rose amongst the Liberation Movement. The Republican Army was engaging the militia on the final front. The fascists knew they could not regain control of what was left of their nation, but they continued to fight nonetheless.
The Soviets Reach Bucharest - Romania Falls Into Communism
In December 1959, the Soviets finally reach Bucharest by land. The city is almost completely ruined and covered in corpses of the dead and dying. It is unknown what the response by the Soviet soldiers were, and we will probably never know.
The seizure of Bucharest was completely unnecessary and simply a symbollic occasion. The war eventually ended on Christmas Day. Soldiers on the fascist side put down their arms and were effectively hostages behind the Iron Curtain. Entire families had been lost in the six years of war. The communists were victorious.
In February of 1960, the former Romanian President signed a peace treaty with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Romania, causing the creation of the Socialist Republic of Romania and the destruction of capitalism in one more European country. This however, wouldn't be the last time Romania fell into war...
