The 1989 Revolution – A Brief Summary

After almost 32 years from the event that massively changed the Romanian politics and the floor of power, we can surely say that the consequences are still visible as for today. From the clash between the Communist Party and the National Salvation Front, to how the world of parties looks today, these years, as well as those prior to the revolution changed the course of history massively.

But what really happened there?

The roots and the ascension to power

After the end of World War 2, Romania was still viewed as a country linked with the Nazis and therefore the Soviet Union was treating them as a conquered territory. While troops continued to occupy Romania, politicians associated with communists started to appear more and more on the scene of Romania. The King was not pleased with the direction of the events, therefore he refused to sign any documents from them. They initially backed down, but continued to work underground, by changing laws in order to force the king’s signature. During the 1946 elections, they had a fast ascension, claiming about 84% votes. One year later, Romania remained the only monarchy from the Eastern Block, this resulting in King Michael being forced to abdicate. With his phone lines being cut down and troops surrounding his mansion, he signed the document. Later on, by slowly removing centrist parties solely on the subjective basis of being linked with the Nazis and by forcing some to merge with them, the Communists got rid of some of their biggest threats. The public eye was exposed to the perspective that any party that had existed pre-war was a criminal assembly, composed only of war criminals. Many people were executed, imprisoned or exiled. The process of nationalizing everything had started. Gheorghe Gheorghiu Dej became the General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party. The situation was stabilized and Nicole Ceausescu succeeded him in power in 1965, after his death. An interesting irony from his years in office would be that, after seeing a low rate within births, he implemented discrimination against childless people and he forbade any means of abortion. During the late 60s these measures had a temporary impact, with many people being born around that time. Considering their age at the moment of the revolution, we could say that they were mainly the ones that brought the end for Ceausescu. But more of that later.

The revolution itself

We could name this part the high point of the story. After the built-up tension, the situation exploded. There were two main factors. First, it was the international influence from other countries around Europe, such as Poland, East Germany, Bulgaria, and so on, that went through a series of protests in order to abolish the mono-party system from that moment in time. Then, it was the anger grown within people from the last rough months. However, out of all countries that went through such revolutionary processes, Romania was the only one to use violent measures and to have victims as a consequence to these manifestations. From the exaggerated wish of Ceausescu to build more and more listening devices with the help of Securitate and a wish of his to pay all the debts that led the population into starvation, it didn’t seem like the things would end well soon. Securitatea was getting more and more aggressive, one of three people were spies for Securitate and it seemed like people had stopped forming a society, being only individuals trying to survive the jungle. Tension was induced within people, making everything seem grey and without any hope for change. Products were exported massively, leaving the population with a very limited stock of foods, ingredients, clothes and anything worth enough to be sent outside. Even if you had money, you had nothing to buy with them. People had enough, yet Ceausescu was ignorant towards their needs. He adopted a German style of leading, in which he ignored anything that was happening outside. Because of that, soon Romania started being seen badly, like a rebel that kept an absurd system. The other communist countries implemented at least some transparency in order to win over the population even a bit. Not even during March, when six activists of the Communist Party of Romania wrote a letter towards the leader in which they expressed their concerns, nor during the early December, when Ceausescu was advised by Gorbaciov to change something towards his own good, convinced the leader. To sum it up, during that short, yet intense month, there were about ten remarkable days in which the repulsed attitude of the population towards the system from the last 25 years was finally released.

The starting episode of the chain reaction

Everything begins with 11th of December. A small group of people, led by Laszlo Tokes gathered in Timisoara, in front of the Maria Square. However, the true protests started on the 16th, when it became clear that the crowd was not going to go away. Ceausescu called upon military forces and waited for the confirmation. On the 18th, he arrives in Timisoara, where the city centre is supervised by Securitate members. Groups of more than 2 are not allowed, but 30 students break the restrictions and go outside, defying the law and waving an anti-communism flag. Some of them are shot and injured. Many of the bodies of those who died are being hidden, in order to cover any signs of rebellion. Even with some officials that visited the Timisoara fabrics, the next day, about 100.000 people started protesting in the Opera Square. The Timisorean Salvation Front starts there. Even when Constantin Dascalescu and Emil Bobu, designated by Elena Ceausescu, meet the rebels, they refuse to make any changes of their wish. On the 21st, many trains full of workers arrive in Timisoara. At first, they were seen as the solution to abolish the spirit of those already existent there; however, they end up turning to the rebellion’s side, enlarging the number of rebels even more. After military forces start being overwhelmed by the situation and begin sympathizing with the anti-communist couse, Timisoara is declared a free city. Other cities from around the country join. Delegations of politicians try to go to the most important places in order to stop the chaos created. During the night of 20th to 21st, Arad protesters start vandalizing buildings as a sign of solidarity with Timisoara. More and more people join. It’s truly starting.

Bucharest, The finale

The conflict finally reaches the capital. Journalists are suspected of writing articles in which they advise the rebels regarding the military forces, even if the details were extremely subtle. Ceausescu comes back from his Iran official meeting on the 20th, during the evening, when he holds a speech for the National Television, in which he is pointing the positive sides of the economy. Either he doesn’t want to show that something is off, or he truly cannot comprehend.

21

After desperately trying to raise the salary of workers with 100 lei, the leader experiments different measures in order to regain his authority. During a meeting on the 21st, the live transmission is interrupted by some protests. The press stops the transmission during those moments, leaving it unclear until today whether or not were there some Timisorean protesters. Security becomes more violent. They start dressing as civilians, in order to find out anything; during the night tanks, tabs and soldiers start making rounds to stop the growing courage of the people. The civilians are being injured and killed by the soldiers in the street. However, the army doesn’t stop. After suppressing the crimes, the place is cleaned. How many victims? Well, only about 50 killed, 462 injured and 1.245 arrested. The next day, a new round of protesters is marching to the capital. At the order of Ceausescu to shoot them, the minister of defence in office, Vasile Milea, cannot bear the responsibility and kills himself. The newly elected minister played at two tables. He listened to the orders received from the couple in power, yet, in a subtle way, he asked troops to back off. As a result, the CC building was blocked by people from outside. Seeing this, the Ceausescu couple takes the helicopter and leaves around midday, on the 22nd. The military chef that was with them announces the revolution, explaining that the couple was on their own. To reach Snagov, they land and drive for a while. The other attendant fakes engine trouble, convincing them to arrive in Targu-Mures. They hide for a while in an agricultural institute, only to be arrested at 15:30. The television is taken over by the rebels, and, during the whole afternoon, the victory surrounded by chaos is celebrated. During the same evening, the initially Timisorean front, gone National, is announced as the new leading organ. International messages from around the world, including the USA, the USSR, Hungary, Bulgaria and so on, arrive, in order to congratulate the Romanians. Medical and basic support are loaded to Romania. The last clashing parties with forces that supported the system. Sudden attacks occur on the evening of the 23rd onto important monuments; the military marches there to defend them. In order to prove their loyalty to the movement, civilians receive guns and are instructed to shoot anyone who makes any suspicious moves. The reason is unclear , the basis was that the events were self-defence mechanisms to ensure that the terrorists are gone. During the Christmas Eve day, Bucharest looked horrible. You couldn’t distinguish anything aside from the confusion created in the last days and the armed forces. The next day, at around 4PM, the Ceausescu couple is executed, two days after they were discovered and arrested. After the National Salvation Front takes the power, led by Ion Iliescu, they ban the Communist Party and international relations are starting to be improved. Romania enters a healing process. The trials of the Revolutionist continue as for today, even if there have been three decades ever since then.

The impact as of today

Today we can watch the problem in a more objective way, since there has been some time ever since it happened. However, we can see it in our own way, acknowledging its two points of view. While it had advantages considered essential at that time, it also brought disadvantages. During the 70s, the economy prospered, we were left with a subway and many flats as a result of demolishing maybe...too many architectural monuments. It’s clear that, compared to other generations, ours will never feel on our own skin the authenticity of the revolution, of what it meant. However, we can still do our own research and ask questions to those who were around then, to have at least an idea of what went on during those fateful days.

Nevertheless, it will assuredly remain a crucial part of our history. It will remain to our own latitude and perception to have any opinion on it. With all these consequences that happened over time and that led to our current present, if only one of them wouldn’t have happened, who knows where would we be today?