The Romanian-German Parliamentarians and Nazi Officials from 1932 to 1940

Abstract

The German MPs of Romania constituted the ruling political elite during the interwar period. Starting with the end of the 20s they were challenged by the representatives of the NS-Movement in Romania, founded by Fritz Fabritius. These took over the management of the national organizations of various groups of Germans of Romania (Saxons, Transylvanian Saxons, Banat Swabians, Germans in Bessarabia and Bukovina) starting with 1933. In 1935, Fritz Fabritius was elected president of the Community of Germans in Romania. The national-socialist officials, the leaders of the organizations led a fierce fight with the democratically elected MPs in order to hold all the power. In the context of the installation of the authoritarian regime of King Carol II (10 February 1938) and of Romania´s closeness to Germany, the national‑socialist officials won their confrontation with the MPs. In Romania, in September 1940, the national-legionary regime was led by General Antonescu, who dissolved the parliament, and Andreas Schmidt was named from Berlin leader of the German Ethnical Group in Romania.