Kingdom of Romania

*Regatul României*

Romania after the early 40s land grab.

The **Kingdom of Romania** was a country in Southeastern Europe. It existed between 1881 and 1947.

After unification of Wallachia with Moldova in 1862, the newelly proclaimed Romania gained independence in 1878 after the Russo-Turkish conflict. With Ferdinand I on the throne since 1914 it allied with the Entente powers in 1916 and joined World War I in order to gain several Austrian lands. When 'The Great War' was over, it united with Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania, thus forming Greater Romania (*România Mare*). Romania's interwar isolation made her lose one third of pre-war borders in 1940. After the facist takeover it joined Germany and Italy during WW2. The Kingdom changed sides shortly before WWII ended. Despite that fact, the allies made the country's last king appoint communist government in 1945. New authorities forced the King to abdicate in 1947, leaving Romania in USSR's spheres of influence until late 60s.

## Coverage

### Appearances

* WW1 (Part 2)
* WW2

### WW1

Romania's intervention in the Second Balkan War made her the strongest out of many on the Balkans. When July Crisis started World War I, the country remained neuteal. However, since it's early days of sovereignty, Romania was bound to Germany by an secret aid treaty, which was signed between pro-German King Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Only him and several of his minister knew about it. After his death in October 1914, the newelly elected King Ferdinand - whose wife was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria - decided to start secret talks with the Allies in order to enter the war. In the video *World War I (Part 2)* it is only mentioned that due to being interInspired by Russian successes, Romania joined World War I on 27th August 1916. Despite early successes of the Romanian army against the Hungarians, they got heavily invaded by the Central Powers (described by the narrator as "pounded") with Bucharest being taken on 6th December 1916. In 1917 Romania defeated Central Powers in Moldavia, securing its independence. The outbreak of Bolshevik revolt in Russia meant that Romania was left alone on the front. The government signed armstice of Focșani and the Buftea treaty only to be forced to sign the humiliating Treaty of Bucharest on 7th May 1918. The treaty was never ratified by Ferdinand. In the meantime, Romania united with Russian Bessarabia. Later on with Bukovina and - after rejoining the war on 10th November - Transylvania. In order to secure its gains, Romania had to face Hungarian aggression in 1919, only to crush the Bolsheviks and occupy 60% of Hungarian territory.

### Interwar Period

During this period, Romania is sometimes called Greater Romania. They became very prosperous.

**TBA**

### WW2

The Soviet Union annexed some of Romania's land, so it joined the Axis Powers. Soon, Romania switched to the Allies. Despite this, Romania lost all of its new territory except Transylvania. After the war, Joseph Stalin occupied Romania, and turned it into a puppet state.

**TBA**

## Gallery

### WW1

Romania as seen on the map of Europe in 1914.Romania's borders as seen in the closeup of Balkan Pensnsula in 1914.Romania's position in Eastern Europe after joining the Allies in 1916.The Romanian Front after Transylvanian offensive.The Romanian Front after the German-led counteroffensive.
### WW2

Romania as seen on the map of interwar Europe.Romania as seen on the map of Europe after the fall of France.Romania loosing Northern Bukovina and Bessarabia.Romania's borders as seen in the closeup of Balkan Pensnsula after Treaty of Craiova.Romania during the early stage of Operation Barbarossa.Romania with its war gains - Transnistria Governorate (note that the region was never annexed).Romania during Operation Barbarossa in 1943.Romania as seen on the map of Europe after the Kursk battle.Romania as seen on the map of Europe as a co-belligerent allied power.Romania as seen on the map of the world at the beginning of the Cold War.

 Belgium •  France •  Greece •  Italy •  Japan •  Montenegro •  Portugal •  **Romania** •  Russia •  Serbia •  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland •  United States

**Central Powers**
 Austria-Hungary •  Bulgaria •  Germany •  Ottoman Empire

Australia •  Belgium • Republic of China •  Czechoslovakia •  Denmark • Ethiopia •  France • Greece • Luxembourg • Mexico • The Netherlands •  Norway • The Philippines • Poland •  Soviet Union •  United Kingdom •  United States • Yugoslavia

**Axis Powers**
 Nazi Germany •  Kingdom of Italy •  Empire of Japan •  Kingdom of Hungary •  **Kingdom of Romania** •  Kingdom of Bulgaria • Croatia • Finland • Thailand