The Romanian army and administration headed for Western Moldavia: Bianu's son Alexandru was drafted, but, according to his adversaries, spent the war in relative safety at Bârlad, shying away from active duty. Also controversially, Bianu Sr chose not to join the exodus, and remained with the Germanophiles and neutralists in occupied Bucharest, to 1918. He noted that he watched on, "eyes flooded in tears", as the German Army marched through the streets. One of ten academicians to remain behind, he ensured that the Academy Library continued to function in relatively normal terms, refusing to publish under the occupation regime, but also collaborating with the occupier to at least some degree.