Constantin Atanasescu (11 April 1885 – 1949) was a Romanian
lieutenant general during World War II. He retired in 1940, but was promoted to general in 1947 while in reserve.
After
World War I, Atanasescu rose through the ranks of the
Romanian Army; he was promoted to lieutenant colonel (1919), colonel (1923), brigadier general (1934), and major general (1939). From 1937 he was the Commanding Officer of the 6th ''Călărași'' Cavalry Regiment. In 1940, he became the Army's
Inspector General
An inspector general is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is "inspectors general".
Australia
The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (Australia) (IGIS) is an independent statutory off ...
of
Cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
.
On June 26, 1940, the
Soviet Union demanded that the regions of northern
Bukovina
Bukovinagerman: Bukowina or ; hu, Bukovina; pl, Bukowina; ro, Bucovina; uk, Буковина, ; see also other languages. is a historical region, variously described as part of either Central or Eastern Europe (or both).Klaus Peter BergerT ...
and
Bessarabia
Bessarabia (; Gagauz: ''Besarabiya''; Romanian: ''Basarabia''; Ukrainian: ''Бессара́бія'') is a historical region in Eastern Europe, bounded by the Dniester river on the east and the Prut river on the west. About two thirds of Be ...
be evacuated of all Romanian military personnel and civilian administration, and that the territories be ceded to the USSR. Due to overwhelming international pressure, the Romanian government was forced to accept the ultimatum, and the
Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina commenced on June 28. During the retreat of the Romania Army from Bessarabia, Atanasescu abandoned his troops and fled to
Galați
Galați (, , ; also known by other alternative names) is the capital city of Galați County in the historical region of Western Moldavia, in eastern Romania. Galați is a port town on the Danube River. It has been the only port for the most par ...
; his actions were blamed on ethnic minorities, including Jews.
Also in June 1940, France
capitulated to
Nazi Germany. Later that summer, the pro-France
Romanian government ceded Southern Dobruja to
Bulgaria under the
Treaty of Craiova and
Northern Transylvania
Northern Transylvania ( ro, Transilvania de Nord, hu, Észak-Erdély) was the region of the Kingdom of Romania that during World War II, as a consequence of the August 1940 territorial agreement known as the Second Vienna Award, became part of ...
to
Hungary under the
Second Vienna Award. These events led to
General Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu (; ; – 1 June 1946) was a Romanian military officer and marshal who presided over two successive wartime dictatorships as Prime Minister and ''Conducător'' during most of World War II.
A Romanian Army career officer who made ...
coming to power as ''
Conducător'' of Romania and President of the
Council of Ministers in September 1940. After forcing
King Carol II to abdicate, Antonescu used Decree Law No. 3,094 of 9 September 1940 to remove from the army Atanasescu and several other generals considered to be close to Carol II and accused of behaving inappropriately as high military commanders during the dramatic circumstances of the summer of 1940.
[Decretul-lege nr. 3.094 din 9 septembrie 1940 al Conducătorului Statului Român relativ la scoaterea din cadrele active ale armatei, publicat în ''Monitorul Oficial'', anul CVIII, nr. 210 din 10 septembrie 1940, partea I-a, p. 5.306 (in Romanian).][Decretul regal nr. 1.649 din 1 septembrie 1944 referitor la generali reintegrați în drepturi, publicat în ''Monitorul Oficial'', anul CXII, nr. 205 din 6 septembrie 1944, partea I-a, p. 6.248 (in Romanian).] The decree-law provided for the removal of several generals from the active ranks of the army with the following justification:
Considering that by flattery and methods incompatible with the dignity of a soldier they occupied high commands, then encouraged the frivolity and a lack of officer dignity; Considering that the incapacity of these general officers led to the demise of the army and to serious actions leading to the loss of the borders; Considering that an example of duty and responsibility must be set for the Nation by sanctioning those who have been guilty of these violations.
Antonescu fell from power on 23 August 1944, as a result of
King Michael's Coup. The effects of the decree-law were annulled on 1 September 1944, and General Atanasescu was reinstated with full rights starting with the date of his retirement.
[ He was then placed in reserve on the same day for old age, effective 24 April 1944.][Decretul regal nr. 1.652 din 1 septembrie 1944 pentru trecere din oficiu din pozițiunea de activitate în pozițiunea de rezervă, publicat în '' Monitorul Oficial'', anul CXII, nr. 205 din 6 septembrie 1944, partea I-a, p. 6.248 (in Romanian).] A royal decree of 4 October 1944 annulled the effects of the decree of transfer to the reserve and elevated him to the rank of general of army corps, effective 24 January 1942.[Decretul regal nr. 1.785 din 4 octombrie 1944 pentru anulare de decret, publicat în ''Monitorul Oficial'', anul CXII, nr. 232 din 7 octombrie 1944, partea I-a, p. 6.544 (in Romanian).]
Awards and honors
*Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Romania
The Order of the Crown of Romania is a chivalric order set up on 14 March 1881 by King Carol I of Romania to commemorate the establishment of the Kingdom of Romania. It was awarded as a state order until the end of the Romanian monarchy in 1947. ...
(8 June 1940)[Decretul Regal nr. 1.906 din 8 iunie 1940 pentru numiri de membri ai ordinului „Coroana României”, publicat în ''Monitorul Oficial'', anul CVIII, nr. 131 din 8 iunie 1940, partea I-a, p. 2.789 (in Romanian).]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atanasescu, Constantin
1885 births
1949 deaths
Romanian Land Forces generals
Romanian military personnel of World War I
Romanian military personnel of World War II
Grand Officers of the Order of the Crown (Romania)