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Military Military Aviation The Navy Diplomacy Prince and Princess Bibescu The Economy and the Great Depression The Royal Family Orders and Decorations Government Transport Railways Classes of Trains in Romania Air Transport The Legion of the Archangel Michael Grand Hotels in Bucharest Lodgings The Press Identity Cards

1920 map, with German place-names in some cases

 

a mid-Twenties map, with major rail lines noted, and internal air routes of the Thirties in blue. Note that Iași is spelled "Jassy" here

 

most of a 1931 map of Romania; link goes to a higher-resolution version

 

     Information from the World Almanac and Book of Facts for 1932:

 

ROUMANIA, KINGDOM OF   AREA, 122,282 square miles; divided, Old Roumania, 53,489; additions confirmed by the 1919 peace treaties, Bessarabia, 17,146; Bukovina, 4,030; Transylvania, 22,312; Crisana, 8,038; Maramuresh, 6,258; Banat, 11,009.   POPULATION, 17,393,149; divided, Old Roumania, 7,904,104; Bessarabia (joined March, 1918), 800,098; Transylvania (joined December, 1918), 2,678,367; Crisana, 1,316,981; Maramuresh, 766,666; Banat, 1,582,133 (Census of 1917). Roumanians by race number 13,000,000. Preliminary figures of the census of Dec. 29, 1930, indicate a population of over 18,000,000.   CAPITAL, Bucharest; population, census of 1930, 630,000. Other cities, Kishiney, (Chisinan), 175,000; Cernauti, 175,000; Galati, 130,000; Ploesti, 115,000; Timisoara, 110,000; Jassy (Iasi), 100,000; and Klansenberg (Kluj), 100,000.   King, Carol II, born Oct. 15, 1893, eldest son of King Ferdinand (died July 20, 1927) and Queen Marie, Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, grand-daughter of Queen Victoria, born Oct. 29, 1875. He married Princess Helen of Greece, March 10, 1921 and was divorced June 21, 1928. Heir, Crown Prince Michael, born Oct. 25, 1921, and king under a regency from July 20, 1927 to June 6, 1930. His present title is Grand Voyvoda of Alba Julia.   Premier, and Minister of Education, Prof. Nicholas Jorga, April 18, 1931.        Crown Prince Carol, who had renounced his right of succession to the Roumanian throne Dec. 31, 1925, who had been divorced by his wife, Princess Helen of Greece on June 21, 1928, and whose escapades had become the scandal of Europe, returned from France where he had enjoyed asylum to Bucharest by airplane June 6, 1930, was welcomed by Parliament, the people, most of the ministers and his brother. The premier, Julia Maniu, loyal to the boy King Michael, resigned. Foreign Minister Mironescu took the premiership on June 8. After an enthusiastic street demonstration, and pledge of support by the army, the Roumanian parliament declared null and void all acts relating to 700      Foreign countries -- Roumania

the Crown Prince's abdication and exile and recognized him as King de jure since the death of his father, July 20, 1927. The new king took the oath of fealty to the constitution and was proclaimed King Carol II. The Liberals who had abstained from voting later acquiesced. Carol proclaimed his son, the former boy King Michael, Grand Voyvoda of Alba Julia, and declared Princess Helen the Queen of Roumania. She, however, has remained unreconciled to her husband and has refused annulment of their divorce (Oct. 15, 1930).       This work done, Minonescu gave way on June 13 to Maniu as Premier. The latter announced to Parliament that the King's return was no coup d'etat but that Carol had informed the government of his wish to return and the government, supported by the Regency, had agreed, the King on his return to abide by the decision of the Assembly as to whether he should be regent or king.      At the general election on June 1, 1931, the recently formed government of Prof. Nicholas Jorga received 48% of the poll, thereby Roumanian law winning 75% of the seats -- 291 supporters  in a chamber of 387 deputies. The National Peasants who in 1928 gained a sweeping victory when led by former Premier Maniu and formed the government until Prof. Jorga became Premier in April, got but 15% of the votes polled, and but 27 seats. In the Senate elections that followed the government's success was even greater.      Roumania, whose history began as a Roman colony, was formed within Turkey-in-Europe by the union of the Danubian principalities Wallachia and Moldavia, in 1861; proclaimed its independence May 21, 1877, during the Russo-Turkish War, and was so confirmed by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878, losing Bessarabia, however, to Russia. The World War resulted in the return of Bessarabia, the addition of Transylvania from Hungary and of Bukovina with part of the Banat, Crisana and Maramuresh from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, based on ethnological grounds.      The treaty of the powers ratifying the union of Bessarabia to Roumania concluded by Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan, Oct. 28, 1920, was ratified by Italy, March 9, 1927 and thereby became effective. Soviet Russia promptly announced that not having been a party to the treaty, she declined to admit its validity or power.      Roumania is bounded on the north by Hungary,           Foreign Countries -- Roumania       701

 

 

Czechoslovakia, and Poland, on the east by the Ukraine (Russia) and the Black Sea, on the south by Bulgaria and Serbia, and on the west by Yugo-Slavia and Hungary. It is about the size of New England, New York, and New Jersey. For 300 miles the Danube forms its southern boundary; the last 250 miles of its course (from Oltenitza to the Black Sea), it flows through Roumania. The Dniester forms its northeast boundary for 300 miles. The Carpathian Mountains extend from north to south to the middle of the country, whence the Transylvanian Alps extend 200 miles due west. These mountains formed the old western boundary.      The forests are extensive (17,905,000 acres), and the timber industry important. The soil is very fertile, making the country a granary of Europe. Four-fifths of the population engages in agriculture and stock-raising.       The area sown to cereals in 1930 was 27,258,355 acres, a decline of 450,000 acres from 1929, notwithstanding which there was a large surplus for export. The wheat harvest in 1930 was 3,559,080 metric tons; oats, 1,156,654 tons; maize, 4,519,920 tons; barley, 2,371,306 tons; rye, 464,529 tons; potatoes, 1,814,057 tons; hay, 2,572,001 tons; sugar beets, 892,674 tons. From 397,020 acres in 1929, 148,532 metric tons of sunflower seeds were harvested. Orchards cover 844,658 acres. Seri- culture is important:  1,102,000 pounds of cocoons were produced in 1930. The honey production, 1930, was over 3,500 tons. The value of the cereal exports in 1930 was 9,992.3 million lei (about $59,958.800).      The livestock census of 1929 returned:  Horses, 1,958,509; cattle, 4,334,441; buffaloes, 186,606; sheep, 12,406,428; goats, 372,807; and pigs, 2,412,498.      Of the forest land 7,390,000 acres are State property of which 2,194,000 are in the Government administration and 5,196,000 are managed by private companies under State supervision. Public institutions own 3,301,000 acres while 7,531,000 are private property. The Ministry of Agriculture places the value of the Roumanian forests at $347,421,000, the value of arable land at $412,654,000, and the value of livestock at $496,000,000. Fisheries produce annually about $121,954,000; mineral products yearly output is about $73,898,000; of which crude oil is about $45,835,000.      Under the land reforms carried through since the armistice 13,099 properties, totaling 14,461,995 702      Foreign countries -- Roumania

acres, had undergone expropriation by Feb. 15, 1923. By Nov. 15, 1924, nearly half had been allotted. In Old Roumania, the peasants who had received land numbered 413,932; yet to receive land, 599,529; in Transylvania, 335,073 and 503,694; while in Bessarabia 357,016, all entitled to it, had received land. The work was, however, practically completed in 1929.      Lignite is found in vast areas; 2,675,080 metric tons were mined in 1929, and 370,947 tons of bituminous coal. Pig iron production in 1929 was 72,346 metric tons.      Petroleum production in 1930 was 41,680,000 barrels; in 1929, 34,689,000; in 1928, 31,690,391; in 1927, 27,263,300. There were 1,538 producing wells in 1930. Natural gas output in 1929 was 806 million cubic meters. The value of petroleum products exported in 1930 was 10,437.8 million lei (about $62,626,800).      In 1930, 1,565 vessels of 3,841,555 net tonnage entered Constantza (the chief Black Sea port, population 72,000); and 946 vessels of 2,212,406 tonnage cleared from the Danube ports. The European Commission of the Danube, established in 1856 with sovereign powers over the navigation of that river, had its seat at Galatz.      The Government in June, 1929, let a contract to a Swedish engineering firm to construct a navigable canal 52 miles long from Bucharest to the Danube with harbor works there, with, with electric works, will cost about $12,000,000.      State railway mileage in 1927 was 8,744, and in 1928 of the 67,160 miles of highways, 36,405 were macadam.      A new Constitution on March 27, 1923, replaced the Constitution of the several countries which before had Constitutions -- Old Roumania, Bessarabia, Transylvania and Bukovina. It provides for a Senate, partly composed of ex-officio members and partly of others indirectly elected, and for a Chamber of Deputies elected by "universal, equal, direct, compulsory and secret suffrage, on the basis of the representation of minorities." Mineral and other subsoil products are nationalized. Special franchises and monopolies are forbidden. The administration is centralized. It carries a sweeping bill of rights.      A new mining law was promulgated July 4, 1924, whereby foreign companies are given ten years to transfer up to 55 percent of their stock to Roumanian nationals. This especially concerns  the oil fields and has been protested. Very considerable          Foreign Countries -- Roumania       703

 

 

increases in the tariffs for protection has been made. The capital invested is estimated at $170,000,000, of which 77 per cent. is foreign.      The navy consists of a small cruiser, six destroyers, two scout boats, and four gun boats, with a special Danube River naval force of twelve gunboats, nine sloops, four river monitors, eight destroyers and seven torpedo boats.      Of the population in 1918 there were 9,695,000 of the Orthodox Greek Church, 1,456,000 of the Greek Catholic Church, 1,483,000 of the Roman Catholic Church, 1,334,000 Protestants, 17,000 Armenians, 834,000 Jews and 44,000 Mohammedans. Liberty of worship is assured. Orthodox clergy are paid by the state, other clergy being subventioned. The Jews in 1928 received for the first time a State subsidy of $60,000.      Instruction is free and compulsory "wherever there are schools." In 1927-28 there were 14,123 primary schools with 35,284 teachers and 1,600,098 pupils, and 924 secondary schools with 12,297 teachers and 185,780 students. There were 15 higher educational institutions, 1623 teachers and 30,892 students. There are four universities and over 13,000 students.      The leu is the unit of currency. The pre-war gold par was 19.3 cents; the exchange in 1926 was 0.46 cents; 0.60 cents in 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930. On Oct. 15, 1931 it was 0.593 cents. The rate of stabilization voted by Parliament Feb. 7, 1929, was, Leu ten milligrams of gold, nine-tenths fine; the dollar = 167.18 lei; the pound sterling = 813.58 lei; the French franc = 6.55 lei, and Swiss franc = 32.25 lei.      Recent budgets in thousands of lei, are: Year.                                   Revenue     Expenditure 1926 (actual)                    29,933,161    39,250,000 1927 (actual)                    36,700,000    34,640,000 1928 (estimated)              38,350,000    38,350,000 1929 (estimated)              37,700,000    27,700,000 1930 (estimated)              37,450,000    37,450,000 1931 (estimated)              35,305,954    35,305,954      The bank note circulation on Aug. 31, 1931 was 21,161 million lei, with a gold reserve at home of 704      Foreign countries -- Roumania

5,768 million lei, gold held abroad, 3,114 million lei, and other foreign assets of 1,485 million lei.      The foreign debt as of Jan. 1, 1931, aggregates 185,526,481,269 lei (approximately $1,100,950,000). A loan of 200 million French francs was obtained from two Paris banks in 1931.      American investments in Roumania, 1930, are officially estimated at $25,211.000.      Imports and exports in thousands of lei were: Year.                                 Imports.       Exports. 1925                              30,098,000    29,025,000 1926                              34,700,000    38,011,000 1927                              33,428,547    37,703,178 1928                              32,145,101    26,919,257 1929                              29,896,504    28,914,934 1930                              22,540,929    28,525,585      Trade with the United States was: Cal. Year.                         Imports.        Exports. 1925                              $2,199,064      $302,259 1926                                3,111,261     1,097,933 1927                                4,924,642        649,412 1928                                9,430,970        677,174 1929                                9,794,775        558,826 1930                                4,919,911        314,191                                                  Foreign Countries -- Roumania       705

 

     Wikipedia has a useful map showing the provinces in 1930. Here's another site with useful period maps, especially (for towns) this one, and this one.

 

Military

 

     The army is large but old-fashioned, similar to the French military at the start of the Great War. As of 1939, there were about 175,000 men in uniform (including naval forces). Very few motor vehicles, and a large mounted cavalry component. The elite infantry units (in terms of morale, performance, and equipment) are the six guard regiments, the six mountain regiments, and the Royal Palace Guard Battalion. Legally, all Romanians are members of some unit of the Army -- young, old, male, female, comatose, imprisoned, etc. Most fit men serve for two years in the active military, then eighteen years in the reserve, and finally nine years in the militia. Militia members are thus usually in their forties.

     Infantry weapons include just about every kind of Great War firearm:  Moisin-Nagant rifles, Mannlicher rifles, Mauser rifles, Lebel rifles, Carcano rifles ... ammunition distribution is thus quite a problem.

     The majority of machine guns are types existing at the start of the Great War -- primarily of the Maxim type. Again, they are in various different calibers.

     Purchases of more modern rifles, machine guns, and other weapons are made in small amounts (typically no more than a few hundred at a time). There are a moderate number of ZB26 and ZB30 light machine guns in the country, for example.

     The most common pistols are Nagant revolvers, and typical small European semi-automatic handguns. Beginning in 1934, the army ordered many Beretta M1934 pistols.

     The first anti-tank guns are purchased in 1935:  the Austrian 47mm M35 (also used as a mountain gun, as it could be easily disassembled for transport).

     There are about 30 Renault Model 1917 tanks (about evenly with 37mm cannon or machinegun), but as they were purchased in 1919 they've very worn out by now. They're all in a single tank regiment. A small number (less than two dozen) armored cars exist in the country; they are all slap-dash items, built on truck chassis, with no two alike, and are mostly used for training.   

     Beginning in 1934 the military budget will begin increasing; the military begins spending money on new weapons, including tanks. 70% of military spending before 1940 is on Czechoslovakian products.

     The Petite Entente is composed of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Romania; it's supported and influenced by France. French advisors and instructors are common in Romania before the swerve to fascism later on ...

 

Military Aviation

 

     Army aircraft are in Divizia-1-a Aeriana (1st Air Division), under the Directorate of Army Aviation. The combat units are three reconnaissance/light bomber squadrons, a fighter squadron, the naval aviation group, and two anti-aircraft artillery regiments. The army also provides pilots and staff for LARES, the national air service. The normal roundel is (from the outside to the center) red-yellow-blue.

     Types in service in 1932 include:

 

• ASTRA-Arad biplane trainers, less than 30 made by a Romanian company (originally a locomotive works ... )
  

• Bleriot-SPAD S.61 2C1 biplane fighters, license-built. Poor reputation, being withdrawn
  

• various versions of the Breguet 19 light bomber, purchased from France
  

• de Havilland DH.9 bombers; most were been converted to passenger or cargo aircraft in 1924
  

• de Havilland DH.60G two-seat biplane primary training aircraft
  

• Dewoitine  D.27 parasol monoplane fighters, built in Romania under license
  

• a trio of Farman F.66BN3 Goliath bombers, considered useles and "without any value"

• a single Ford Tri-Motor

• some Gourdou-Leseume LGL-32B3 parasol-wing fighters, getting old now
  

• several dozen brand-new Junkers Ju-52/3m transports

• Morane-Saulnier AR/MS.35 parasol-wing trainers
  

• nearly 300 Potez 25 and Potez 27A2 biplanes, used for reconnaissance and light bombers, and many other duties. The commonest non-training aircraft in the RoAF.
  

• PZL P.11 all-metal gull-wing fighters, from Poland

• Savoia-Marchetta S.59bis biplane flying boats, for coastal patrol
  

• Savoia-Marchetti S.62bis reconnaissance and light bomber flying boats
  

• SET 7 training, liaison, and army cooperation stagger-wing biplane aircraft, designed and built in Romania

 

     In 1933, a large number of Fleet 10G trainers are purchased from Canada, along with seven Savoia-Marchetti S.55 twin-hull flying boats for coastal patrol.

     Aircraft companies are conducting experiments and slowly expanding, at Bucharest (S.E.T.), at Brasov (I.A.R.) and a seaplane-making company at Constantza (S.T.C.).

 

The Navy

 

     The ships of the navy are four destroyers, four torpedo boats, four gunboats, a submarine (NMS Delfinul), a submarine depot ship, five sub-chasers, three tugboats, and a three-masted sail training ship, NMS Mircea. In addition, the "Danube Division" includes seven river monitors, seven patrol craft, and a few supply boats. The World Almanac information seems to include some vessels in construction, planned or never completed.

 

     The Delfinul was built in an Italian naval yard, and completed in 1930 -- but it hasn't yet been delivered to the Romanian Navy, due to disagreements about the terms of the construction contract. It has a surface displacement of 650 tons.

     A drydock is being built at Galați (aka Galatz) on the Danube, so that naval ships can be constructed within Romania. Most of the current vessels are built in Italy, or were inherited from the Austro-Hungarian navy after the Great War. The older vessels (two of the destroyers, for example) are quite likely to break down, or to be unavailable due to required repairs.

     The main naval base, and fleet headquarters, is at Constanțza.

 

Diplomacy

 

     The following diplomatic missions are present in Bucharest.

 

• Albanian envoy

• American envoy

• Charles S. Wilson, presented credentials October 13, 1928; eventually ends term August 2, 1933

• Austrian envoy

• British envoy

 

HBM Diplomatic and Consular Representation in Roumania Legation:  24 Strada Jules Michelet
residence	rank	name
Bucharest	Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary	C. Michael Palairet, C.M.G.
"	1st Secretary	Sir Alec W. G. Randall, O.B.E.
"	2nd Secretary until October, 1932	Duncan L. Harecourt (suspended)
"	2nd Secretary after October 1932	F. T. Willoughby
"	Commercial Secretary, Grade II	R. J. E. Humpheys
"	Naval Attache to Rome, Istanbul, Athens, Belgrade, Sofia, Bucharest and Durazzo	Captain Robert B. Ramsay, M.V.O., RN
"	Military Attache	Lt. Col. Geoffrey A. C. MacNab
"	Vice-Consul	E. G. Sebastian, D.S.O.
"	Pro-Consul	D. G. Inglessis
Galatz	Consul (local rank of Consul-General)	T. B. Wildman
"	Vice-Consul	J. R. M. Leake
Braila	Vice-Consul	Jack Corbu
Constantza	Vice-Consul	J. A. Waite
Sulina	Vice-Consul	G. B. Marshall
Cluj	Consul	C. D. Elphick
Timisoara	Consul	Dr. E. Szenes

from The Foreign Office List and Diplomatic and Consular Year Book for 1932, with a few changes due to game circumstances;

interestingly enough, Lt. Col. MacNab, of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, will still be the military attache at Bucharest in 1939

 

• Bulgarian envoy

• Czechoslovakian ambassador; Czechoslovakia is part of the Little Entente
  

• Danish envoy
  

• French ambassador

• German envoy

• Friedrich Werner Graf von der Schulenburg (12 Oct 1931 - ? 1934) 
  Georg von Dehn-Schmidt (8 Sep 1934 - ? 1935) 
  Eberhard von Stohrer (? 1935 - ? 1936) 
  Wilhelm Fabricius (9 Apr 1936 - ? 1941)

• they're the Ausserordentlicher Gesandter und bevollmächtigter Minister, in case it comes up. 

• Greek envoy

• Hungarian ambassador

• Italian envoy

• Swiss envoy

• Apostolic Nuncio, ranking as an envoy

• Archbishop Angelo Maria Dolci, from 1923 to March of 1933

• he probably has seniority over all other envoys. Technically, he's the Archbishop of Hierapolis in Syria, in partibus infidelium (i.e., it's not an actual, working see).
  

• Polish ambassador

• Serbian ambassador

• Turkish envoy

• Yugoslavian ambassador; Yugoslavia is part of the Little Entente

 

     There are a lot of individual persons around the world representing Romania to countries not on the above list. In many cases, the nearest Romanian embassy will also deal with nearby countries without reciprocal missions -- for instance, the Romanian embassy in Paris also represents Romania in Spain and Portugal, the Romanian embassy in Warsaw deals with the Baltic states, and the Romanian mission to Berlin handles Romanian interests in Scandinavia.

     Diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union have been severed since 1918, and won't improve until 1934.

     Keep in mind that consulates aren't reciprocal; there are a lot of consulates in Romania, especially at Constantza, from nations that Romania does not have missions to.

 

Prince and Princess Bibescu

 

     Princess Marthe Bibesco, and her husband Prince George III Bibescu (of the Wallachian nobility, not the Romanian royal family) are quite the nexus of European high society and Romanian diplomatic life; the prince is also a noted automotive and aviation enthusiast (he holds pilot's license #20 in France), and he's head of the FAI from 1930 to 1941). The princess is a famous author and traveler. Both the prince and his wife are quite ardent lovers -- of each other, and of numerous paramours. They're both in their forties in the early Thirties. Their palace, Mogoșoaia, is located 6 miles from Bucharest, and is the scene for many important balls, etc. each year. 

 

The Economy and the Great Depression

 

     Prices paid for grain, timber, and petroleum began to fall in 1929. Bank withdrawals hit a high in June of 1931. and many banks failed in the fall of 1931. "The credit crunch that followed the crash of the largest Romanian banks had further consequences on public accounts as the budget deficit amounted to 10 billions Lei in 1932."

 

1521 Lei = $7.76 US in 1936

 

     Since May of 1932, all foreign exchange has to go through the national banking system, and foreign currency has to be presented for conversion to lei. It's very difficult for individuals to take gold coins or bullion out of the country; a variety of licenses etc. are required. There are heavy tariffs on imports.

 

The Royal Family

 

     His Majesty King Carol II, King of Romania, ascended the throne on 8 June 1930. He was born 15 October 1893. In 1921 he married Princess Helen of Greece; they divorced in 1928. They have a single son, Mihai, titled as Grand Voevode of Alta-Iulia. One of the King's sisters is married to the King of Greece; another is married to the King of Serbia; another to Archduke Anton of Austria. He has a younger brother, Prince Nicolae, born 1903, who was regent during Mihai's temporary succession.

     King Carol's mistress is Magda Lupescu.

     The former regency council consisted of of Prince Nicolae, Patriarch Miron Cristea and a lawyer, Gheorghe Buzdugan.

 

Orders and Decorations

 

     The monarchy can award the following orders, in descending order of precedence and prestige:

 

• Order of the Crown of Romania (Ordinul Coroana României); founded 1881, amended May 1932, with five grades (Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight).

• Order of the Star of Romania (Ordinul Steana României); founded 1864/77, with five grades (Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight) and three divisions (Civil, With Swords, War Merit) 

• Order of Elizabeth (Crucea Comemorativã Elisabeta);  founded 1878, for women only.

• Order of Carol I; founded 1906, two grades (Grand Cross, Grand Officer and Commander).

• Military Order of Michael the Brave; founded 1916, three classes (First, Second, Third), military officers only, for exceptional deeds on the battlefield

• Order of Ferdinand I; founded 1928/29, six grades (Collar, Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight). For merit and deeds in service to Romania.

• Order of Loyal Service; founded April 1932, three grades (Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander) in two versions (Civil and Military).

• Order of Cultural Merit; founded circa 1931, four grades (Commander, Officer, Knight 1st Class, Knight 2nd Class) and eight categories (Literature, Science, Arts-Music-Theatre, General Culture, Religion, Education, Sports and Scouting, the Civil Guard.

• Order of Aeronautical Virtue; founded 1930, four grades (Commander, Officer, Knight, Golden Cross), with the addition of "With Swords", for acts of bravery or valor in the air.

• Order of Agricultural Merit; for excellence in agriculture.

• Order of Queen Marie Cross (Ordinul Crucea Regina Maria); founded 1917, three grades (Commander, Officer, Knight), for medical personnel for merit

 

     All of the preceding awards are pinned, hung or otherwise presented by a member of the royal family. The following are awarded by the government. Not listed:  a lot of minor 19th Century one-time, "you had to be there" items. Also, some of these may be a couple of years "out of period", or may have conditions not obvious from the name.

 

• Military Bravery Cross

• Military Bravery Medal

• Medal for Maritime Bravery

• Decoration for Merit of the Civil Guard

• Decoration for Bravery of the Civil Guard

• Medal of the Civil Guard

• Faithful Service Cross

• Faithful Service Medal

• Medal for Steadfastness and Loyalty; established 1913, three grades (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and a "With Swords" division.

• Medical Merit Cross

• Medal of Agricultural Merit

• Medal of Commercial and Industrial Merit

• Medal for Recognition of Work for Romania

• Medal for Military Valour

• Medal for Devotion and Courage

• Commemorative Cross of War 1916-19; established 1918, awarded for service in the Great War

• Interallied Victory Medal; established 1931, the same rainbow ribbon issued by all the Allied powers.

• Medal for 40 Years of Service

• Medal for 25 Years of Service

• Medal for 18 Years of Service

• Military Service Medal

• Medal for Military Valour in Peacetime

• Cross for 25 Years of Public Service

• Medal for Merit in Public Education

• Medal for Merit in School Building

• Medal for Merit in Work on Behalf of the Church

• Cross of the Romanian Red Cross

 

Government

 

     Nicolae Iorga (aka Neculai Iorga, Nicolas Jorga, Nicolai Jorga or Nicola Jorga, born Nicu N. Iorg) is the Prime Minister since 1931 (he's also the Cults and Education minister). He's an internationally-known Moldovian historian, specializing in eastern Europe during the medieval and Byzantine periods, and fluent in 12 languages; also, an anti-semitic, sexist conservative monarchist. The other ministers are:

 

• Internal Affairs Minister, and Finance Minister:  Constantin Argetoianu

• the Frontier Guards number 1228 men, reporting to the Finance Minister

• the Gendarmerie number 30,150 men, reporting to the Internal Affairs Minister

• Foreign Affairs Minister:  Prince Demetre Ghika   

• Justice Minister:  C. Hamangiu
  

• Industry and Commerce Minister:  Mihail Manoilescu

• War Minister:  General C. Stefanescu-Amza

• Agriculture and Domains Minister:  G. Ionescu-Siseshti

• Communications Minister:  V. Valcovici

• Labour, Health and Social Welfare Minister:  Dr. Ion Cantacuzino

   

     In addition, the Crown Council is a traditional, informal (or at least extra-constitutional) group of twenty or so prominent subjects -- former Prime Ministers, retired generals, notable academics, etc. They provide the King with non-binding advice.

 

Transport

 

Railways

 

     Many of the minor railways serve forestry or mining areas, and are narrow gauge. Passenger service on these lines is slow and infrequent; it's usually of the "get the workers to the mill for the morning shift, bring them back home for dinner" variety. Here's a Romanian narrow-gauge passenger car on an "industrial" line:

 

"I say, White, I don't think the windows can be closed."

 

     The Arlberg Orient-Express arrives three days a week in Bucharest (Monday, Thursday, and Saturday), at 9:45 p.m.; it departs the next day (Tuesday, Friday, or Sunday), at 10:03 a.m.. Overnight, the crew gets some rest, and the train is cleaned and prepared for the three-day trip to Paris. The British diplomatic pouch normally travels in the baggage vans of the Orient-Express.

     At the end of the Great War, the railway system in the areas where fighting had occurred was almost entirely destroyed, and the rolling stock was either evacuated out of the country, or left in derelict condition. Trackage in Bessarabia had to be converted from broad gauge to standard gauge, also.

     Thus, the current standard gauge system is almost entirely built since 1924; it's under the management of the Romanian State Railways Administration. Narrow gauge lines are a mix of state-owned and private systems. Almost all locomotives are steam-powered; there are a very few diesel locomotives, and on minor or narrow-gauge lines there are gasoline-powered railcars in service.

 

Classes of Trains in Romania

 

• Trains de luxe:  the Orient Express, first- and second-class, with sleeping cars and restaurants.
  

• Pullman trains, first- and second-class, with sleeping cars and dining cars. I haven't got a lot of information yet on frequency or timetables.
  

• the Carpathian Express. Before the Great War, this train ran from Vienna to Odessa. I'm not sure, but I think in the 1930s it runs from Vienna to ... Bucharest? If the system is at all logical, it might arrive and depart on the days when the Orient Express doesn't. Thus provisionally: 

• arrives three days a week in Bucharest (Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday); it departs the next morning (Wednesday, Saturday, or Monday). Thus Thursday is the only day you can't get a swanky train towards Vienna.
  

• the Danube Express. This runs from Berlin to Istanbul. I haven't got the specific route nailed down, but probably in the Romanian area it's Budapest-Cluj-Brasov-Bucharest-Rustchuk-Varna ...
  

• Express trains:  first, second, and third class.
  

• General trains:  normally only third-class carriages, normally without toilets, and never with dining cars of course.
  

• Automotor trains:  either second or third class, depending on how nice the seats are.
  

 

Air Transport

 

     There are several airlines serving Romania; all international flights begin or end at Bucharest (at Băneasa airport, in operation since 1912). Civil airports and their connecting flights are at:

 

• Balcic:  to Constantza by seaplane (55 miles)

• Brashov/Kronstadt:  to Bucharest (85 miles), and Cluj/Kolozsvar/Klansenberg (195 miles)
  

• Bucharest:  to Constantza (122 miles), Galatz/Galați (113 miles), and Bhashov/Kronstadt (85 miles); and internationally via CIDNA to Burgas (Bulgaria, 146 miles) and Belgrade (Yugoslavia, 270 miles)

• Cernautzi/Czernowitz:  to Jassy/Iași (106 miles). LOT wants to establish a service to Lvov/Lwów/Lemberg in Poland
  

• Cluj/Kolozsvar/Klansenberg:  to Brashov/Kronstadt (195 miles)
  

• Chisheneu/Kishineff/Kishiney/Chisinan:  to Galatz/Galați (109 miles)
  

• Constantza:  to Bucharest (122 miles), and by seaplane to Balcic (55 miles); in the summer there's a brief seaplane tourist flight along the coast, usually to Mangalia/Timosovara and back

• Galatz/Galați:  to Bucharest (113 miles), Chishineu/Kishineff/Kishiney/Chisinan (109 miles), and Jassy/Iași (118 miles)

• Jassy/Iași:  to Galatz (118 miles), and Cernautzi/Czernowitz (106 miles)

   

     As of 1932, the airlines are:

 

• LOT:  the Polish national airline. They're negotiating to fly in and out of Cernautzi/Czernowitz
  

• LARES:  the Romanian state-run airline. Aircraft are four Junkers F.13 (an all-metal, low-wing monoplane, with two pilots and four passengers, cruise speed 99 mph), four Avia BH-25J (a Czechoslovakian single-engine biplane, with two pilots and five passengers, cruise speed 112 mph), and a single Ju52/3mce (all metal, monoplane trimotor, with two pilots and seventeen passengers, cruise speed 100 mph); plus a handful of small training aircraft, and one or two small seaplanes based at Constantza. Since there are seven internal route segments (not counting the seaplane flights), there is at least one flight each way on each segment, each day. The pilots, mechanics, and ground staff of LARES are all members of the Army aviation division.
  

• CIDNA:  Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aerienne. There are daily flights in and out of the country. As you might guess, it's got French investors (50% of the stock) and uses mostly French equipment. In fact, after October of 1933 it becomes part of Air France. It serves (mostly capital) cities in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Yugoslavia, and Greece, all the way to Istanbul, plus of course France (via Prague, Nuremberg, and Strasbourg). You can see their 1933 schedule here. Aircraft types employed are:

• Blériot-Spad 56, a six-passenger, single-engine biplane dating from the mid-Twenties. Being phased out by 1932.
  

• Potez 32, a single-engine monoplane, seats five passengers. Being phased out by 1932.
  

• Fokker F.VII and F.VIIb, better known as the Fokker Trimotor. Most of the CIDNA craft are of these types (that's one in the picture below).
  

 

 

     There are several aviation clubs, including the Royal Aero Club of Romania. The civil aircraft registry has 39 planes listed at the end of 1932, not including military craft or those belonging to the airlines.

 

The Legion of the Archangel Michael

 

     Founded in 1927 by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu (born 1899), it began as a secretive, nationalistic, anti-communist, pious (Orthodox) organization. It was trivially small until about 1930; after that date, the group is more often referred to as the Iron Guard. By August of 1932 the Legion is a rapidly-growing, anti-semitic, anti-communist, fascistic faction; they have five members in the House of Deputies, and probably have tens of thousands of members across the country. The University of Bucharest is particularly rife with Legionnaires. Their tenets are God, Country, King, Family, Property, and Army; they call for the expulsion of "foreign exploiters". Commerce has been "stained by the Jewish spirit."

     The uniforms of the recently-formed Iron Guard (the paramilitary, active branch of the Legion) are green, leading English-speakers to sometimes call them Greenshirts.

 

Grand Hotels in Bucharest

 

• Palace Hotel; built 1912, the most sumptuous hotel in the city.

• address Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta 38; nearly a mile from the British embassy.

• The Lido; built 1930, in the Art Deco style, very modern, includes a casino, swimming pool and a wave pool.

• address Bulevardul Gheorghe Magheru 5; only 400 yards from the British embassy.

• The Athénée Palace; opened 1914, includes the famous English Bar.

• address Strada Episcopiei 3; about 500 yards from the British embassy (and two blocks from the Lido)

• a British writer mentioned its "heavily ornate furnishings, marble and gold pillars, great glittering chandeliers, and the deep settees placed well back in the recesses of the lounge as if inviting conspiracy." More comments here.

• The Grand Continental Hotel

• The Majestic

• The Capitol

• The Casa Capsa; built 1886, the bar is popular with writers

• The Hotel Boulevard; built in the 1860s, very modern then (the first in Bucharest with running water), but a bit creaky now

   

Lodgings

 

     Military officers from friendly nations, members of military clubs there, probably have reciprocal membership in the Cercul Militar National (National Military Club). It's got a restaurant, bedrooms for members, a library, etc. Anyone under the rank of major will feel a bit out of place -- a lot of generals dine here.

     The Carlton Block is the tallest building in Bucharest, at 14 stories. Built in 1932, it has very nice, expensive modern apartments. Address, Bulevardul Nicolae Bălcescu 11. Willoughby lives here.

 

The Press

 

    There are 700 daily or weekly newspapers -- 505 in Romanian, the rest in Hungarian, German, Yiddish, Russian and Bulgarian. 96 of the newspapers are published in Bucharest. Many of the smaller papers are political, filled with passionate editorials, extremist commentary, and argumentative letters. The rights and liberty of the press are quite strong in Romania.

 

• Dimineatsa:  "The Morning", the largest circulation of any periodical in Bucharest (or in Romania, in fact).

• Rampa:  "The Stage", a Bucharest paper devoted to sport and the theater

• Universul:  "The Universe", the second-largest circulation newspaper; influential, with a nationalist character

 

     The Radiotelephonic Broadcasting Company (60-64 General Berthelot Street, Bucharest) is the only civil radio service in the country; it is partly government-owned, and the directors are mostly interested in technical and scientific aspects of radio transmission. It's been operating since 1928; it has one studio and transmitter. Programs are a mix of music, sports, news, and educational (children's) shows. Most broadcasts are in the Romanian language, with some late-night or twice-weekly news programs in French, German and English.

     Archibald Gibson is the Times correspondent in Romania from 1928 to October 1940. In addition he was head of station for MI6 in Bucharest until March of 1931, when he left for Riga. Major Montagu Chidson (b. 1893, d. 1957) is station chief until August 1936, when Gibson returns and resumes the post. 

 

Identity Cards

 

     The "papers" issued to most Romanian adults.