SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume II, Issue 2 (4) / 2014

Mihai VIŞAN Mihaela MARTIN University „Eftimie Murgu” of Reşiţa

THE JEWS DURING Case studies THE WAR

Keywords war dictatorship Anti-Semitism Antievreism confessions

Abstract

In this study, we focused on the legal and social situation of the Banat Jews after the Union from 1918, when they were not recognized the citizenship acquired even since the time of the monarchy. Firstly we sketched the citizenship legislation adopted by governments in , and the discriminatory laws on the naturalization (obtaining the Romanian citizenship) of Jews. Further on, we briefly presented not only the way this legislation on citizenship was applied, but also the economic discriminatory legislation within inter-war Banat counties. Our investigation shows the special position of the Jews from Banat caused by their pursuit by police, being constantly accused of disloyalty towards the Romanian State. The study presents the material, human and financial effort of this ethnic group to support the Romanian front and their co-nationals deported to Transnistria. Finally, it is shown the contribution of local and national personalities to stop the deportation of the Banat Jews to concentration camps in : Rabbi Alexander Safran, Metropolitan of Bălan, Radu Lecca and Franz von Neuman from Arad.

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The international endeavours exercised by established the conditions of the obtaining the International Israelite Association and and loss of Romanian nationality and Joint in favour of naturalisation (granting introduced the obligation to present proof of Romanian citizenship) of the Jewish difficult to obtain for some Jews, whose population triggered, in the end, the name was not on the lists of citizenship in awarding of civil and political rights to this the local administration. The application of ethnic group. The effort remained this law deprived around 100,000 Jews of suspended in article 60 of the Peace Treaty the right to be Romanian citizens. (Scurtu, with Austria, (Official Gazette no. 140, I., Bulei, I., (1990) p. 69.) The situation part I, of September 26th 1940) article that was much more drastic in the Banat will consecrate, under the international County from this point of view. legal mask, the granting of civil rights to The influential political personalities of the native Jews. As a result, all Jews, two historic parties – liberals and national- inhabitants of the Old Kingdom before peasants’– after the year 1933, along with August 2nd 1914, as well as those coming the ascension of the , became from the territories united to Great supporters of anti-Semite slogans out of a , including those from Banat, dissimulated desire to “compete the far were awarded the Romanian citizenship. right wing on its own turf.” (Iancu, C., The 1923 Constitution, in articles 5 and 7, (2001) p. 20). Thus, in the party press and will confirm this right: “The , public debates one could hear more and without discrimination of ethnic origin, more frequently anti-Semite formulas such language or religion, enjoy the freedom of as: “Romanisation of Romanians”, the press, freedom of reunions, freedom of “promotion of national labour”; “numerus association and all liberties and rights set clausus”, “numerus Wallachicus”, by the law” (article 5); "The differences of “nationalisation of towns”, “revision of religious beliefs and confessions, of citizenship”, etc. (Ibidem, p. 21.) A ethnical origin and language, does not consequence of this attitude toward “the constitute in Romania an impediment in Romanisation law” was adopted mostly in the way of acquiring civil and political the period of Gheorghe Tătărăscu’s rights and exercising them” (article 7). government. We must point out that such (The 1923 Constitution in the debate of laws, discriminating from the economic contemporaries, 1990, p. 191). In general, point of view, originate in the these two articles referring to the Jewish “protectionist” legislation promoted in the minority of Romania were forever delayed periods of the National-Peasants’ Party and amended by the Liberal Party and government (November 1928 - April Peasants’ Party government, and blocked 1933). One of these laws, restrictive and by the authoritarian governments in the discriminating for the Jewish minority, inter-war period. adopted in 1930, was entitled “Law for the In this respect, the liberal government led protection of indigenous labour”, and it by Ion I. C. Brătianu adopted in 1924 the read in article 15 “The foreign subjects draft of the Law for the repression of established in the country, with the certain crimes against public freedom, permanent domicile before 1914, foreign remained in history with the name of its subjects exercising a commerce or an author, i.e. “The Mârzescu Law”. It was a industry, with firms inscribed at the Court law sanctioning both political excesses of and foreign professionals who, on the 1st extreme right ideology (Legionarism), and of January 1930, were living in the those of far left (Communism). For the country, married to Romanian women and Jewish minority, the respective law had an with children, receive by law and extremely restrictive impact from the definitively the extension of the validity of social and legal viewpoint. The legal norm the professional exercise permit, with the

156 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume II, Issue 2 (4) / 2014 obligation to get a visa on the permit each one examined the personal legal situation year.” (Official Gazette no. 76, part III, of of 617,396 Jews, of which only 63.35% September 3rd 1930, pp. 1426-1427) preserved their Romanian citizenship, Economic restrictions and whereas 36.75% of the total lost their discriminations on the Jewish people acquired right. (Iancu, C., (2000, p. 312) provoked two legal acts from the second The Carlist legislation, increasingly liberal government: the “Law regarding anti-Jewish, culminates by the Decree-Law the organisation of co-operation” (adopted no. 2650 of the 9th of August 1940, draft on July 3rd 1934) and the “Law for the use proposed by the Minster of Justice I. V. of Romanian staff in companies” (adopted Gruia. Although the law set the settlement in 1935). The former established the of the legal status of Jews, the act under obligation of employing Romanian staff discussion became “the Charter of the “in a percentage of at least 80% in each of Romanian rights” (Official Gazette no. the category of personnel (…) and at least 183, part I, of August 9th 1940, p. 4086), 50% of the members of the Board of categorically stating: “Romania is the Directors, Direction Committee and country of Romanians only” (Idem.) auditors; the chairman of the Board of Furthermore, the legal act set the Directors will be a Romanian citizen.” discriminating distinction between “the (Idem, no. 12, part III, meeting of July 2nd notion of Romanian or of citizen of 1934, p. 850) The latter encouraged the Romanian origin – legal political and legal government interference in the cooperatist notion– and the notion of Romanian system, especially in agriculture, reducing citizen, representing a legal formal thus the influence of the Jewish land creation.” (Ibidem, p. 4083) The capital in the rural area. conclusion of the legislator consecrates the The Goga-Cuza nationalist thesis according to which one recognised government, installed on the 30th of as Romanian citizens only the Jews who December 1937, after a suspension of had acquired the citizenship before the 30th Jewish newspapers – “Dimineaţa”, December 1918 and who got completely “Lupta” and “Adevărul” – and after the assimilated: “The nation in the sense of the withdrawal of free circulation permit on constitutional law became less a legal the CFR national railway for the Jewish community or a political community, and journalists, will move for the adoption of rather a spiritual and organic community, the “Decree-Law regarding the revision of grounded on the law of blood from which citizenship granted to the Jews” (the 22nd a hierarchy of political rights originated.” January 1938). This normative act required (Ibidem, p. 4082) To conclude, we admit that within 30 days a name list of the Jews we assist to a replacement of the principle inscribed in the nationality registered of of law from the legal status of the persons communes be set up. The Mayors had, with the barbarism of an ethnical-racial within 20 days from display, to mobilise conception. All such restrictive and anti- all those inscribed on such lists, so that Jewish laws had consequences upon the they file the evidence of the fulfilment of Jewish population of Banat, who were the legal conditions for the granting of the mostly exercising liberal professions, law Romanian citizenship. (Idem, no. 21, part that will acquire an increasingly anti- I, of January 22nd 1938) The decree could Jewish and xenophobe character in the not be applied by that nationalist period of the Legionary -Antonescu’s government, as the Prime Minister was government. dismissed, along with the installation of In parallel with the economic and the authoritarian government of King social legislation in the inter-war period, Charles the Second (Carol al II-lea), the Banat Jewish population was because until the 15th of September 1939 permanently harassed and pursued by the

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Legion’s members of the region, before attacks only if he relied on the especially in the period of the Captain’s support of the far right wing.” (Heinen, A., last detention (It was the formula of 1998, p. 411) addressing and recognition for the leader The Legionary Movement was well of the Legionary Movement, Corneliu represented numerically and organisation- Zelea Codreanu, who led this Romanian wise in the county of Banat and Southern extreme right movement until November Transylvania, being joined by numerous 1938. On the night of 29/30 November intellectuals from the rural and urban areas 1938, in an operation of transfer of the (Orthodox priests, military men, teachers, heads of the Legionary Movement from medical staff), as well as many peasants, the Râmnicu-Sărat to the prison, small and middle owners in the rural area. they were all executed, the authorities By embracing the “politics of the force”, presenting the public opinion the variant of the new Legion’s leader will provoke and an attempted escape of the convicts. Thus, start systematic vandalism acts with a the most famous leaders of the Iron Guard strong anti-Semitic character. This is how were killed, and among them their he intended to draw the attention of the supreme leader, Corneliu Zelea-Codreanu. King and public opinion upon the claim The Legionary Movement got radicalised that the Legion had not given in yet. Thus, from the organisational and strategic after a harsh campaign of anti-Carlist viewpoint, provoking numerous anarchist manifests, Sima will strike the Jewish acts in a series of urban and rural localities properties and interest in Ardeal and of Banat and , where Banat. In this zone, the Legionaries the Jewish ethnic groups were significant, organised numerous actions of sabotage once the leadership of this extremist right and terrorism, all directed against the organisation was taken over by its new Jewish properties and institutions. On the leader, – for factual elements, 2nd of November 1938, the Beiuş wood see Mihai Vişan, 2003, pp. 147-148). Now warehouse was set on fire, on the 4th of that the “Core” of the Legion was November two bombs were detonated at annihilated, another leader started to get the Electric Plant on the Traian Way of affirmed in Banat, namely Horia Sima. A Timişoara (Central National Historic Făgăraş native, with a meteoric passage Archive, fund Ministry of Justice. through the Caransebeş and high Judiciary Division., file 20/1939, vol. I, f. schools as a philosophy and literature 63), on the 12th November a sabotage was teacher, Sima will adapt the total put in practice at the Textile Factory of “revolutionary” spirit. A lucid Lugoj, and four days later an attempted characterisation of this character, as seen bombing was organised at the at the end of 1938, was sketched by Armin of the same locality. In November 1938 Heinen: “The Captain was an idol, a also serious material damage is brought to personality who fascinated not only his a timber factory of the Pojorâta commune close adepts. Sima possessed other and a wood workshop in the Ciacova qualities. He was dominated by the commune. In Reşiţa, on the 9th of philosophy of the bomb and represented November, a bomb was detonated in front the radical terrorist wing that decided the of the Wiliam Deutsch grocery shop, and politics of the Guard after 1938. Codreanu in the same location, on the night of 16 / oscillated between different factions of the 17th of November, a bomb was detonated Legion, assuring thus his independence. near the Synagogue wall, causing the Sima could not afford such a behaviour. destruction of the building foundation. There were several Guard members who (Idem, fund Documentary (Ministry of could raise the claim to represent, like him, Internal Affairs), file 78/1939, f. 350) In the true teaching. He could defend himself Timişoara, on the 26th of November 1938,

158 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume II, Issue 2 (4) / 2014 during a theatre show, two grenades were From Reşiţa, on the 20th of March launched in the hall, their explosion 1939, a piece of information was conveyed provoking the death of four spectators and to the local security organisms, mentioning wounding more than seventy (Idem.). Still that on that date the higher command in the Banat capital city, the Legion’s centre of the Legionary Movement was members intended the arson of several made of six persons, of which four were in Jewish firms: Sapic, Moliftul, Eugen Romania, the fifth in German and the sixth Dornhelm, Adolf Kohl and Son, vandalism in Italy. (Idem, file 79/1939, f. 159) acts provoked and co-ordinated by the Legionrism, extremely accented in Banat, Legion’s members Florian Miclea, Nicolae is present, from the organisational and Stanciu, Constantin Manda and Ioan Popa. ideological viewpoint, in Oraviţa, the (Idem., fund Ministry of Justice. Judiciary capital of Caraş-Severin at that time. Form Division, file 20/1939, vol. I, f. 115) In the Oraviţa, on the 9th of May 1939, a message Putna commune of Caraş-Severin County was transmitted, according to which “The a big disaster was planned to take place on Legionary Labour Centre” continued to the 16th of November 1938, an intended act, being conspiratively called “Cimileu”, arson of all Jewish houses, and this the Legion’s cell meetings being held with terrorist act was executed by Legion’s the participation of four Legion’s members sworn members Nicolae and Gheorghe each. ( Idem, fund Ministry of Justice. Cenuşe, Dumitru Radu, Vasile Ursachi and Judiciary Division, file 20/1939, vol. II, f. Ioan Petrovici. (Idem, file 9/1939, vol. I, f. 680) After the Legionary rebellions of 21st 3.) Toward the end of the month of – 23rd January 1940, The Banat will still October of the year 1938, in numerous remained very well organised within the Banat and Ardeal localities – Reşiţa, Legion, which explains also the Oraviţa, Bocşa, Timişoara, Beiuş, Alba- clandestine border crossings of Horia Sima Iulia etc. – Legionary manifests are spread and other Legionary leaders to and from inciting the local population to rebel Yugoslavia, to and from . All against the Carlist regime and the Banat these actions provoked significant damage Jewish population. (Scurtu, I., 1988, p. to the capital of the Jewish population, but 461) The German in Romania especially states of uncertainty and worry of that time had become more and more about the safety of the cohabitation with pro-Legion. In this respect, we may refer the native inhabitants, especially during to the visit of Wilhelm Fabricius, effected the Marshal Antonescu’s regime of war between the 1st and 2nd of March, in fact a dictatorship. All these measures aimed at political tour in Banat, who visited the raising a popular wave of revolt against the localities Lugoj, Timişoara and Variaş, and regime of King Charles the Second. The on that occasion he claimed that the calculus was wrong however, because the principles of national-socialism must lie at King himself will command the execution the foundation of the action of all Germans of C. Z. Codreanu and of the entire “lot” of of Romania, and implicitly of Banat. leaders from the Râmnicu Sărat prison, (Central National Historic Archive, while they were in detention (Fătu, M., Documentary (Ministry of Internal Affairs) Spălăţelu, I., 1980, p. pp. 187-189) fund, file 75/1939, f. 338.) The German The Antonescu-Legionary politics newspaper Volkischer Beobachter, in the (September 1940 – August 1944) as same period, published in serial fragments regards the historic province Banat (The of the capital work of C. Z. Codreanu “For analysis of this historic region of inter-war the Legion’s members”, announcing that it Romania refers to a social-geographic will be translated into German in its space bordered by three natural frontiers: entirety (Idem, dossier 79/1939, f. 152.) to the north – the Mureş river, to the west – the Tisa river and to the south – the

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Danube river the fourth frontier delimiting Jewish Communities of Timişoara, file this region is conventional one, crossing, 77/1943, f. 77-182), elaborated by the to the east, the Cerna and Poiana Ruscăi Jewish community of Timişoara addressed Mountains, continuing by a lien to the east to the Minister of Justice in 1942, clearly of Orşova – east of Băile Herculane – east expressed the tragedy of the Jewish of Coşeviţa – to the Mureş river. On the population in this area. As it is known, other hand, our analysis is focused on the The Gruia Law (the 9th of August 1940), situations in the counties Caraş, Timiş- as well as the ulterior laws which, by their Torontal of the proper Banat, but it also nature, intended to set the legal frame for refers to in relation with the native Jews, referred only to the legal official-legal status of the native Jews) was status of the Jews of the Old Kingdom, discriminating from the legal and even if there, according to article 7 of economic perspective, due to objective Romania’s Constitution of 1866, the regional factors such as: hegemony of naturalisation was not granted, not even Banat inhabitants’ interregional individually. The legislator forgot to commercial relations in the fluency of the mention the Jews from Banat and Ardeal, exchange of farming produce and despite the fact they have been living in industrial merchandise, which was in these regions for three centuries. The opposition with the trend of centralism of memorandum attempted to justify by the war economy (The Timiş County historic arguments the right to Romanian Service or National Archives, Prefecture citizenship of the Jews inhabiting these of the Timiş-Torontal County fund, file regions. Thus Law no. XVII of 1867, no./1940, f.20) the tendency of part of grounded on the Austrian-Hungarian Swabs (the German ethnic group of Banat) Imperial Constitution, stipulated the full to join the so-called National Labour equality in the exercise of political and Front (National Arbeit–Front – N.A.T), civil rights, and the naturalisation of the which traded brass and copper with Jews settled in the Empire was revised Germany, serving thus the German war only for those who had constant trades and industry; the affinities and attraction of the professions and contributed to the youth for the Nazi movement (Idem ,f.15, satisfaction of public tasks (Idem, f.179). 24) the restlessness created to authorities Consequently, all the inhabitants of the old by the penetration of Jewish groups and Austrian-Hungarian monarchy obtained families from the neighbouring states, their citizenship based on the decision of refugees in Banat, situation written down the administrative authority, in in the reports of Timişoara police; the discordance with the system adopted in the pluri-linguism practised by the Jewish Old Kingdom. ethnic groups inspired distrust and The full union of 1918 meant, suspicion among the local and central among others, the reconfirmation of the political centres. Despite these aspects, the full rights of the Banat and Ardeal Jews. counter-intelligence reports often insisted Then, it was about the recognition of a to assure the official bodies that the Banat long-acquired capacity and not a favour population’s state of mind was relatively (Idem, f. 180; the Jews of the Old calm. Kingdom were granted The legal ambiguity of the Charles citizenshipcollectively, “as a group”, only and Antonescu's legislation in relation after 1918). The legal framing, formulated with the naturalisation of Banat Jews by the Charles and Antonescu's regimes, results from the documents kept in by which the Jews of Transylvania and archives. The memorandum for the Banat were to be treated differently clarification of the legal situation of the compared to those living in the Kingdom, Ardeal and Banat Jews (Archive of the indicated a discriminating policy. The

160 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume II, Issue 2 (4) / 2014 answer to the Timişoara’s Jews generalised. Consequently, the Romanian Memorandum was negative – come from population will protect them by means at the part of the National Centre of their disposal. A group of Banat Romanisaion – even if it was very intellectuals, alarmed by the fact that the thoroughly elaborated: “Following your German press insisted on the imminent request recorded at the Ministry of Justice deportation of the Ardeal and Banat Jews, under no.174730/1942, we have the forwarded a protest note to the honour to communicate you, according to Government of Romania: “(...) no matter the report of Head Reporting Officer what conception we have about the Jews, C.Crivăţ, that we cannot approve the we are Christians and humane … and are equivalence of the native Jews of Ardeal appalled by the idea that the citizens of a and Banat with the Jews of the Old state could be deprived of all their assets Kingdom, naturalised by individual laws, and banished from the country where the nor for the application of the same bones of their parents, grandparents and treatment as regards the extension of the grand-grand parents have lain for renting contracts in course of the former centuries. Marshal Antonescu explained Jewish owner in the United Principalities, that the deportation of the Jews from as they do not fall within the category of Basarabia and Bucovina could be made for those excepted” (Idem, f.201). The Banat the criminal acts they allegedly affected Jewish community will enterprise another against the Romanian army and endeavours, directly to the leaders of the population, because the reconquered state, which also remained without provinces became a war zone, the interest beneficial effects. of the army dictated the removal of unsure The Jews of Banat and Southern elements, in a rather important number. Transylvania were subjected to a much However, no such imputation could be more restrictive legislative regime brought against the Jews of Ardeal and compared to those in the Old Kingdom. Banat, but on the contrary we must admit Charles and Antonescu's political regime that both on the occasion of the devolution did not recognise the civil rights inscribed of part of the Ardeal and afterwards, both in the 1923 Constitution, the differences the Jews in the ceded territories and those between the manner of acquiring in the remaining territories had an Romanian citizenship and of exercising irreproachable behaviour. Moreover, they democratic liberties being made in live on the other side of the front and are accordance with the historic provinces in such a low number (40000 in Banat and where they had their domicile. In Southern Transylvania, our note.) that they principle, we admit that the political and cannot constitute, in any case, a danger, legal discriminations between Jews were even in times of war” (Idem, file explained by the authorities as follows: the no.75/1941, where we find a copy of a Jews from Banat and Transylvania did not notification forwarded to the Romanian fight in the Romania’s independence war authorities) panic of the Jewish population in 1877-1878; the Jews of these regions was maintained by the fact that the did not engage in the Balkan Wars of dispositions from the capital city proved 1912-1913; they were not involved in the an increasingly understanding between the unionist propaganda of 1918; they did not Germans and the Romanians related to the get integrated into the Romanian cultural deportation to Poland (The Timiş County space, especially considering that most of Service of the National Archives, Timiş- them used the Hungarian language as Torontal County Prefecture fund, files 76- interregional communication language. 78/1941; they talk about the common The psychosis of the Jews’ budgets of the Jews in the entire Timiş- deportation became more and more Torontal county, who are gathered in

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Timişoara ,”probably in view of ulterior with the intention of “returning to the deportations”). The first operations were to national and Christian tradition in the start in the border towns of Romania of conception of property”. It was a form of that time, i.e. Turda, Arad, Timişoara – materialisation of the nationalist spirit in towns and cities where, along Romanians, the domain of property, of definitive an important segment of Hungarian- connection of Romania to the nationalist speaking Jewish population was living. spirit haunting the Europe of that time. The local office of the Jewish Central was The leaders of the Romanian State were aware of the deportation imminent persuaded that by this legal act the operation, especially because they were Romanian people were not only the warned about the elaboration of name lists supporter of an artificial and superficial of the Jewish population by gender, ages, , but had identified the mirage occupation (Idem). Following the repeated of the “recovery of the most authentic discussions between Ion and Mihai Romanian past” (Benjamin, L., 1993, Antonescu, on the one hand, and pp.132-133). The Romanisation of all the representatives of the Reich’s Ministry of fields of economic and social life was the Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, a way for accomplishing the doctrine and consensus was reached about the theoretic nationalism supported since not deportation plan. However, this plan was long ago by the elite of the inter-war delayed, even if the Romanian-German Romanian intellectuals. We refer here to agreements of November 1941 were the elites of the Romanian intellectuals favourable to immediate transports of Jews who had become the ideologues of the to Poland. Radu Lecca succeeded in Legionary Movement: , delaying and postponing this inhumane , Emil Cioran, Mircea nightmare. During a visit to Berlin, the Eliade, Mircea Vulcănescu, Constantin representative of the Jewish interests in the Noica and Petre Ţuţea. Government of Romania was treated with In the entire war period, Marshal Ion arrogance by the German Minister of Antonescu cultivated an anti-liberal Foreign Affairs. Lecca counter-worked the legislation, which affected the Jews’ initial plans of the agreement. The freedoms of existence and action, temporisation and implementation of the especially for oriented towards liberal plan was inapplicable for other reasons professions. This war legislation also: the Nazi camps were not prepared to economically restrained the Banat Jews, comprise such a numerous Jewish both from the material viewpoint, and the population in the first phase of the war, psychological perspective. Numerous although Hitler had already designed the expropriations produced in the rural area “”. by the local authorities looted the Jewish On the 28th of March 1941 capital, the wealth of the Jewish minority Romania adopted the “Law of the members being transferred to the property expropriation of the Jews’ urban assets”, of the Romanian State, initially through decree law offering a minimum annual custodians. Consequently, the Decree-Law annuity guaranteed by the state, and no. 233, published in the Official Gazette brought serious damage to a wide category on the 5th of October 1940, stipulated the of Jews. Before the adoption of this obligation of transferring the Jewish discriminating act, ’s properties to the patrimony of the state. government, that had engaged Romania to Following the application of this legal act, the German Reich economically and huge mobile and real estate assets of the militarily, considered that such a measure Jews from the following localities: was taken for the purpose of establishing Jimbolia, Recaş, Deta, Giulvăz, Lipova, the historic rights of the Romanian nation, Vinga, Buziaş, Ciclova, Sânicolaul Mare

162 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume II, Issue 2 (4) / 2014 and Timişoara, were nationalised. This the reconstruction of the national economy decree-law was imposed by the Ministry following the Legionary looting, and then of National Economy, being implemented the support for the front. In this respect, by the prefects of the counties in Banat, we may speak of a discriminating and and the mayors and gendarmes racial legislation as regards the Jewish subordinated to them. This state of things minority. During the entire war period, can be certified by the categorical warning Antonescu attempted to delay the “final of doctor Murgu, the prefect of Timiş solution”, of the mass physical County, which clarified that in Timişoara extermination of the Jews, solution one had to observe to the last detail the proposed and fully experimented by Hitler. instructions comprised in the Law of the This “solution” came after the failure of expropriation of agricultural assets. The the project of the “Jewish reservation”, Jews’ farming machinery, livestock, according to the “Madagascar plan”, and houses and lands are to be transferred to after the Reich decided that, in all regions the state possession. The same local under Germany’s control or influence, the authority warned on the fact that the Jews must be evacuated to the East. liquidation of the commerce fund had to be Antonescu embraced, with some regulated by a separate disposition. (Timiş reluctance and delay, the idea of deporting County Service of the National Archives, the Jewish population to the so-called Timiş County Prefecture fund, file no. “Bug zone”. 10/1940, f. 5-6) The order of the Timid The Banat Jews also suffered as a prefect, transmitted to the Timisoara result of trans-Nistrean deportations. There authorities on the 11th October 1940, was in the historic Banat a thin segment of regarded the expropriation of the rural Jewish population – intellectuals, a small assets of the Jews, order addressed to the category of traders or craftsmen – who Mayor of Timisoara, the Mayor of Lipova, showed support for the Marxist ideology, as well as the Legion of Gendarmes. for the social-democracy or communist Another discriminating legal act was the movements. This “minority” of the Banat Decree-Law no. 3.810/17 November 1940, minority group sporadically participated in stipulating the expropriation of the Jews’ the reunions of the left circles, in industrial assets of the rural communities. conference and lectures given by Marxist On the ground of this legal act, they were ideologues. They sometime discussed and robbed of their forest sawmills, baize exercised a sort of “salon ” in the feeding installations, spirit factories, mills rather well-off circles of the Jews living in or oil factories. (Idem, file no. 11/1940, f. Timişoara, Arad and Lugoj. We may say 1-30) The operation of inventorying the that this “affinity” for the communist spirit industrial assets of the rural area started on in the province was due to the the 16th of January 1941. In the same stage implementation of the anti-Jewish the authorities proceeded to the legislation and the coercive dispositions: expropriation of forests and factories expropriation of assets, elimination from owned by local Jews. Such properties were service, forced labour detachments, forced spoiled in the localities Făget, Recaş, requisitions of material and money means Lugoj, Buziaş, Caransebeş, Ciacova, for the support of the front, the permanent Margina, Periam, Pecica, Gătaia, Arad, menace with deportation and Pesac, Sânicolaul Mare, Timişoara and extermination. Jimbolia. (Idem, file no. 10/1940, f. 20) The documents illustrate that the Whereas the Carlist legislation police of the Timiş-Torontal County has eliminated the stipulation of the been compiling lists with the names of democratic Constitution of 1923, the communist adherents since the years 1934- Antonescian legislation will totally serve 1940. They were joined during the war by

163 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume II, Issue 2 (4) / 2014 those who could not pay the fiscal Archives, Timiş-Torontal County obligations, those incriminated by crimes Prefecture fund, file 107/1940, f. 11) of speculation, those indicted for so-called These details suggest the fear of Bucharest crimes of sabotage, under suspicion of in relation with the ownership and use of false health motives and those who were the propaganda means by the Jewish excepted from the public interest labour. minority in this area. The fear proved to be Among the Jews deported from Banat, as false for two reasons: first, if the Banat well as from other areas of Romania, we Jews were connected to a political ideal, it find also this segment of population with could be only Zionism (The Banat and communist views. Dislodged to Transylvania Jews were aware of the need Transnystria, they were subjected to a for a new form of political organisation, scary life regime. The memoirs of Rabbi different from the goals they had in the Alexandru Safran, confirmed by period of the Austrian - Hungarian documents, speak about the inhumane life dualism, forms based on different in the “Bug zone”: many of the deported principles and purposes meant to guarantee died of hunger, exhaustion, massacred by their survival and cohabitation with the bayonet strikes, as well as the absence of Banat Romanians, so that they could medical and social assistance (Safran, Al., reach a unity of their movement. The 1996, p. pp. 112-116.). We do not have constitution of their own state was exact figures regarding the number of conceived by the Romanian ethnic group these segments of Banat Jewish population in the inter-war period as a symbol of the who were deported to the trans-Nistrean idea of liberation. The process of Jews ghettos. emancipation started immediately after the Timişoara substantially grew in formation of the Romanian unitary state. population after 1940, as the Jews living in On the 23rd of May 1923, a reunion of the rural environment were forcibly Jews in Timişoara laid the foundation of a merged in this county capital. The same decided Zionist orientation, but such a thing happened in the other Banat towns. policy supported by the Banat Jews did not The real cause of this forced population mean a lack of loyalty to the interests of transfer was related to supervision, and the Romanian state. In the first post-war also to the possibility to rapidly solve the stage, under the jurisdiction of the foreseen deportation to the Poland-based Romanian state, the Banat Jews felt the camps. The orders of the Minster of need to have their own representation National Economy sent to the Timişoara organism, not necessarily due to Chamber of Commerce exactly render the multiculturalism and plurilinguism specific institution of the state control on the legal to this area, bur fot reasons of preserving situation of each Banat Jew. By their own identity. Politically, they initially simplifying the message of these political joined the (later endeavours, the order of the Minster of become the National Peasants’ Party) and National Economy can be structured along the Hungarian Party, but they soon realised the following directions: the removal of their interest would not be supported in the some categories of Jews from the Boards Romanian Parliament, even if in the 1927 of Directors of the firms with public and and 1928 elections they get two seats in private capital, the reduction of the number the supreme legislative forum. We must of those who sold alcohol, especially in the point out that the historian Hildrum Glass rural area, the reduction of the Jews’ role speaks about a fertile German-Jewish in the editorial professions (Romanian cohabitation in Banat during the entire books, newspapers and magazines, copiers period 1918-1938, cohabitation affected of Romanian printing materials). (The and damaged during the political regime of Timiş County Service of National Charles the Second and of Marshal Ion

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Antonescu); second, for the Banat Jews the toward this minority:”Some of them (Jews, liberal doctrine was totally appropriate, our note) have deep attachments to the situation that justifies their material state, Hungarian people, being even members in much more well off than the situation of the Hungarian party, showing their the in the Old Kingdom. We believe that sentiments and attachment towards the by their liberal activities, ranging from the Hungarians. The others have an attitude of banking domain to the industrial field, expectation, waiting for further both in the urban and rural area, during the development of events. Despite the trend entire inter-war period, the Banat Jews started in Hungary (The reference makes contributed to the economic development, appeal to the anti-Jews laws adopted in much more accelerated in the Banat area Hungary in 1939. Thus, the Daranyi compared to other historic regions of Kalman ruling eliminated the right of Jews Romania. to liberal professions (first law); the Because of the suspicion and second law limited the civil and economic distrust in relation with the loyalty of the rights of Jews on purely racial criteria, Banat Jews toward the Romanian State, reducing to only 6% the right of their they were to be gradually eliminated from participation in the public life; about the their positions of clerks in public office in putting into application of these laws in the mayor offices, prefectures and other local concrete case of Arad Jews, see Maria or county administrative-public Dinescu, Bloody decalogue, Ara institutions. (Idem, file no. 107/1940, f. 15) Publishing House, Bucharest, 1995) as Consequently, the Jews are reorganised, regards their removal, both from office and instituting an intermediary representation from the other institutions and enterprises, between them and the county authorities. their loyalty towards the Romanian State Thus, in the case of Timişoara city, several cannot be established with certainty.” (The outstanding personalities of community Timiş County Service of National public life formed a commission of social Archives, Prefecture of Timiş-Torontal and political dialogue made of dr. Al. County fund, file no. 107/1940, f. 46, 231) Nobel, dr. Samuel Ligeti, dr. Izidor The documents call them “propagandists” Tenner, Victor Auscher, Al. Rosenfeld and or “espionage agents” in order to underline Carol Reiter. (Idem, file no. 71/1940, f. 24- the danger for the internal order of the 25) As a rule, the documents of the time Romanian state. In reality, such formulas exhibit references related to the philo- were inventions of the Romanian Hungarian or pro-Communist attitude of authorities in order to justify the tough the Jewish population, aspects written measures against the Jews, refugees in down in numerous counterintelligence Banat because of persecutions suffered in bulletins of the Timişoara Prefecture, of Slovakia, the Ukraine, Poland and different localities in the Timiş-Torontal Hungary. and Caraş-Severin county, even if most of The solution of Jewish traders’ these documents contain the adaptation of removal, especially those from the rural the local Jews to the Romanian state life. area, but also of the Jews in public office, During the war dictatorship, is clearly expressed in a confidential suspicion had become the labelling form document transmitted from Recaş, in of Banat Jews’ condition, with a January 1940: “They seem more faithful to permanent mistrust toward the political- the Romanian state (the traders, our note), legal status of the south-western country but when it comes to sacrifice they are Jews, who were evaluated as potential mean and cheap and even defy, by their traitors. From Lipova, on the 27th January conduct, any type of actions: requisitions, 1940, a counterintelligence bulletin aid for concentrated troops etc. The trend justified the attitude of local authorities to remark among this ethnic group is

165 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume II, Issue 2 (4) / 2014 identical with the slogan: Ubi bene, ibi the villages of the rest of the country, will Patria. We find among them more be evacuated with what is necessary for affinities for Hungarians and Germans their living, in the urban communes of the than for Romanians and the Romanian territory of the respective county, by the State. Hitlerism or another regime is not care of the prefects in the county. The dangerous for Jews, it would be more evacuation of these families (…) will be dangerous to let them get too rich and do made within 48 hours from the reception no sacrifice. The existence of many Jews of the order.” (The Archive of the Ministry in the countryside is a danger for the of National Defence, General Staff fund, peasants with whom they come in contact. Section I, file no. 2410, f. 270) This order That is why the ideal solution would be was transmitted to the prefect of the Banat their elimination, as far as possible, from counties and in Southern Transylvania, among the villagers. As regards the Jews and by its application brought a very in public office, they are not different from serious harm of the Jewish properties in the Jewish traders and here the same the area by their vandalisation by the solution should be applied.” (Idem, f. 40) locals. The Jews from Caraş were The discriminatory legislation “concentrated”, starting with October issued by Antonescu’s regime maintained 1940, in Oraviţa. Most of the “deported” even more intensely the Jewish came from Reşiţa, Caransebeş, Bocşa- persecution in Banat. There are numerous Vasiova, Anina, Caraşova etc. Their real testimonies confirming that in the period estate was requisitioned for the benefit of 1940-1944 the education legislation the army. The regime of forced labour was became a segregationist and inequitable extended to the Caraş Jews between instrument in this corner of the country. October 1940 and August 1944. The Consequently, the Polytechnic School of persons mobilised for forced labour Timişoara, but also the other Banat State provided public utility services in Oraviţa: institutions no longer schooled Jewish cleaning roads and spaces in public ethnic students during the last two institutions, food market, activities at the nationalist governments. On the 2nd of military garrison mess (especially women), May 1941, in a report addressed to the snow removal in the town. They head of the state, President of the Council performed operations of derating and of Ministries, , detailed sewage repairs, forestry labour in the saw the name and purpose of the institution mills at Lişava and Ciclova. In the years that was to materialise the decisions of the 1942 and 1943, a significant segment of nationalist decisions in the direction of the Jewish men in the Oraviţa Romanisation: the National Centre of concentration area were moved, under the Romanisation (Official Gazette no.102, regime of military jurisdiction, to labour of part I, of May 3rd 1941, pp.2328-2329). trenched digging in the area of the Prut The regime of forced labour will be and Păuliş–Arad front, as well as the repair subordinated here also to the process of of the railway network in the Predeal area general mobilisation and of front (The information was provided by Novac deployment. The order to evacuate the Marta Margareta, daughter of Perlgrund Jews from the rural area to the urban area Leo, residing in Bocşa–Caraş-Severin, with no. 4/47/21 June 1941, issued by the pensioner of the Forestry inspectorate Minster of Foreign Affairs, aimed at Caraş-Severin. We admit that Marta gathering those ethnic citizens in urban Novac was the stepdaughter of Mrs. centres in order to be more easily Sarolta Leonne Perlgrund, a survivor of monitored in accordance with the needs of the Auschwitz , who the front. The second point of this order died in Satu Mare in 2000. In an interview mentioned: “All Jewish families, living in of March 18th 2003, she said that in 1940

166 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume II, Issue 2 (4) / 2014 she was living in Caraşova and all Jewish the Trans-Nistrean region, application of a families of her native locality were “correction” of 25-70 hits, inhumane “deported”, within 24 hours, to Oraviţa, accommodation conditions etc. From the with the bare necessities. Here, the evidence it also results that here also, like deported Jews were forbidden to go into in other places, no law or regulation was in stores, to shop, to attend the school in the vigour related to the detachment of forced locality – interdiction in vigour in Timiş labour, all being arbitrary, at the latitude of also, according to Mrs. Novac’s testimony. commanders (Idem, file no.102 The only freedom was related to the (additional). Diverse documents, years exercise of the Mosaic cult; food was very 1943-1944, f.115-132). Starting with 1942, poor, but the local Romanian proved to be the Central of Romania’s Jews was very humane.) engaged in the requisitioning of food, By the Decree Law no.1003/5 clothes, drugs and money, means November 1941, published in the “Official necessary to the maintenance of the life of Gazette” no. 272/1941, the General the deported to Trans-Nistrean regions, as inspectorate of the Camps and Labour well as the labour centres of forced labour. Columns was established. Eliminated from There were also modalities of pecuniary offices and jobs and forcibly dislodged to payments for the exemption from forced the labour camps in the county capitals labour (Timiş County Service of National (Timişoara, Arad, Oraviţa), the Banat Jews Archives, Prefecture of Timiş–Torontal were then organised in detachments of County fund, file no.78/1944, f.147-158). forced labour (Timiş County Service of The Zionist Organisation of National Archives, Prefecture of the Romania supported the project of financial Timiş–Torontal County fund, file and material mutual aid of the deported. no.19/1942, f.17,19,28,30,33,97,190), Despite this attitude, the Ministry of where, despite all vicissitudes, they Internal Affairs disposed the destruction of exhibited exceptional group solidarity the propaganda material, required to (Archive of the Jewish Community of promote the money raisers for the support Timişoara, file no. 78/1944). of Jews emigration to Palestine or the The Banat and Ardeal Jews were mutual aid for those deported to suspected of disloyalty towards the Transnistria: “Consequently, as one of the Romanian state, by the fact they could notes wrote, no propaganda will be become spies, being Hungarian and allowed in the future for the purpose of German language speakers, prejudice that collecting money from the part of the fed the hostility and inhumane treatment in Jewish organisation, neither for the fund of the forced labour centres. The personal Palestine rebuilding, nor for the work charts of the persons concentrated in preparation of heir emigration to this labour camps, as well as the testimonies of country.” (Idem, f. 162) The strengthening the Jews mobilised in these centres, speak of the anti-Semite measures of the about the treatment of officers, soldiers Antonescu regime had to fight a certain and doctors towards them. Within “passive” resistance to the forced labour detachment no. 102 of Ghiroc, Arad regime – by low productiveness – but also county, according to the testimonies of a strong opposition in the case of the some Jews interned there, the regime of liberal bourgeoisie, and we should mention the labour had become unbearable: skin here the famous case of Baron Franz von naked beatings, mocking behaviour of the Neumann (Francisc Neumann). army, that ensured the guard and order of We shall insist on this endeavour, the centre, the unjustified incarceration, on this exceptional contribution of this the so-called inquisition chambers, the man’s personality, who put his life in the perpetual menace with the deportation to service of the protection of his ethnic

167 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume II, Issue 2 (4) / 2014 group in such a coercive historical period Undoubtedly, the image of this for this Arad minority. The great Arad businessman’s personality, artisan of the entrepreneur benefited from notoriety not Arad town, could not be ignored and had only in his native town, but also on the an important say in the defence of the regional and even national level. We must Jewish staff in his factory, of the Arad remember that this Jew with liberal views, Jews and of the Jews in the entire Banat. Franz von Neumann, was, between 1938- Neumann was among the Jews who 1940, the main shareholder and manger of opposed the discriminating politics of the the Arad Textile Factory, one of the largest Antonescian regime, and one of his first factories of its kind in Romania (Arad attitudes was that of systematically County Service of National Archives, rejecting the measures of companies’ Textile Factory fund, Inventory no.105. Romanisation. The documents from the Documentary acts with permanent Arad archive prove that the manger and preservation time for the years 1908- the administration of “Arădeana” were in a 1955). The company was founded in 1909 permanent harassment with the local with a social capital of 2,200,000 crowns, authorities in view of annulling the and Adolf Neumann Jr. was among its first dispositions of the Central Romanisation shareholders. In 1938, the shareholders Office (Timiş County Service of National Carol Neumann and Eduard Neumann Archives, Prefecture of Timiş-Torontal empowered Franz Neumann as main County fund, file no.12/1941,f.14, 15, 23, entrepreneur of the Arad company 24, 32, 41, 54, 66, 77). The administrative (I.T.A.). Thus, until the decree of service of the Arad firm will promptly nationalisation of 1948, this personality respond to the Romanisation attempts remained “the head” of this factory, a decided by the Government, for which skilful supporter of the concept of civil strong arguments were brought forward: society (Idem.). Franz von Neumann – the importance of the factory in the grace to his knowledge of the languages ensemble of the regional and national spoken in the area and of languages of economy, the significant volume of international circulation, to excellent international contracts, the contribution of management and marketing plans he Jewish technicians to the flexibility of the applied in his famous “Arădeana” firm management, the volume and value of warehouses (in Bucharest, , Cluj) – the industrial output obtained in time. In was recognised as a great local and order to exemplify the above, we shall national industrialist. The “Arădeana” quote a fragment of the correspondence employees were very attached to their addressed to the labour control inspector, employer for many reasons, such as: much on the 19th of January 1942: “We the more beneficial salary conditions than in undersigned Textile Industry Arădeana other similar enterprises, granting of job S.A., headquarters in Arad, str. Poetului dwellings (a premiere for the Romania of nr. 1-C, belong to the 4th police precinct that time), the professional promotion that according to the dispositions of article 10, was not impeded by ethnic origin criteria. par. 3 of the Law for the Romanisation of The Arad owner got very closely involved the personnel employed in companies, in the establishment of a cultural-sport published in the Official Gazette no. 270 association of city interest (the first soccer of the 16th November 1940, as well as the stadium built according to international instructions of the Central Romanisation standards, the football team “I.T.A.” who Office no. 5 of the 7th of January 1942 and would become famous in the years 1946- of your notification from the local 1947, the tennis court on the Mureş river newspapers, we have the honour to shore). forward you the present application, asking you to intervene at the Central

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Romanisation Office within the Ministry resolutions: “considering the economic of Labour to approve the keeping in office interests of the country we approve the of our Jewish staff, in number of 35 clerks demand until the issue of the and 35 workers” (Idem, file no.12/1941- Romanisation law, on condition to be 1942, f.77). We must specify that there are doubled (the Jews, our note)…A national numerous notifications, even accompanied plan of Romanisation will be presented on by lists with the names of the Jewish the date of the apparition of the Official employees, requiring the keeping of their Gazette (Idem, f.66). Eugen Şincai, the jobs during the war. These notifications local general inspector of Romanisation, expressed arguments related to the solid will attempt to put Neumann in difficulty, preparation of the corps of Jewish clerks, proposing his doubling with an employee engineers and workers in the factory, of the Arad factory. The baron will exceed aspect that could not be eluded without this impediment also, knowing the bringing serious loss to the firm. The corruption of the clerks in public office of government had decided, as a rule, in the the regime, and relying on his influential first stage of the Romanisation process, role, he succeeded in annihilating the that each Jewish employee should be intention of the Arad inspector. Thus, a doubled in his activity by a Romanian one, notification, dated on the 18th of May 1943 but neither this stipulation could bring of the Central Office of Romanisation, about the expected results. Despite the announced engineer Şincai that: “the Jew coercion, the Jewish employees continued Neumann Francisc” is “undoublable” to remain indispensable at Textila (Idem, file no.23/1943, f.48). The Arădeana (Idem, f.13). Baron von documentary information proves that the Neumann succeeded in his interventions relational system of Nuemann worked not only to delay the exclusion of Jews perfectly, that they could not ignore the from the factory, but even to be granted services of his factory. Moreover, his the right to keep them. Following activity is courageous also as regards the numerous requests at the Council of fact that Arad, with his outskirts (for Ministries, he will obtain the proof instance Podgoria) as well as several necessary for each employed Jew, neighbouring localities (Lipova, Ghiroc, meaning a card guaranteeing the holder the Rudna) were not lacking Legionary capacity of employee in the factory (Idem, activity. f. 85-116. We encountered on file the By the direct involvement of Radu provisional certificate of forced labour Lecca and of Rabbi Safran, the more exemption of the Jewish personnel. On discreet interventions of Baron Neumann each certificate issued by the General and of Archbishop Bălan of Ardeal, they Inspectorate of Labour Camps and succeeded in annulling the disposition of Columns a photo was applied, even deporting Banat and Ardeal Jews in the Neumann was forced to get such a Poland-based camps. The Jews from certificate, in Idem, f.168-169). The issue Southern Transylvania and Banat will of these certificates-cards explained the remain under pressure until August 1942, fact that the textile industry was moment when the annulment of their indispensable in war times, “Arădeana” deportation order was obtained (Safran, satisfying most of the demand of the Al.,op.cit., pp. 147-149). Rabbi Safran, in Romanian army equipment. Baron Franz his memoirs, does not mention at all the Neumann knew quite a few things about contribution of Baron Neumann in the the corruption and bribery in the blocking of this order. In exchange, the Legionary administration, and especially at same Rabbi mentioned how the idea the Ministry of Labour. This is what the occurred to him to contact Archbishop Minster of Labour wrote in one of the Bălan, the head of the Orthodox Church of

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Ardeal, convincing him to intervene at line of Radu Lecca, aspect unknown or Marshal Antonescu in order to save the ignored by Al. Safran. Immediately after Jews of the two historic Romanian regions. the end of the Second World War, Baron R. Hilberg considered that Franz Franz von Neumann, the entrepreneur of Neumann was behind this salvation plan “Arădeana”, migrated to the USA. for the Jews. He was reported to offer to a Anyway, the events of 1942-1943 high official of the Antonescu Cabinet the related to the deportation of the Jews amount of 400 million lei, destined to the cannot be treated in a simple manner. Romanian army (Hilberg, R., 1967, p. pp. Antonescu’s regime elaborated, adopted 257 – 266 ). It is difficult to prove today if and applied an anti-Jewish legislation, this is the way things “happened”, even if sometimes with segregationist excess, but bribery and commissions are traditions it was him also who stopped deportations among Romanians even since the period of and decided the return of the Jews to the the Fanar regime. Neumann’s contribution country, allowed, despite the rigours of in stopping the deportation to the Polish the time, the migration of the Jews to camps seems to be a much more complex Palestine, although he assimilated in effort. Neumann's contribution to the principle the Nazi ideology in the “Jewish stopping of deportations to Polish camps issue”, organising the camps in seems to have been a much more complex Transnistria (the historian Raul Hilberg effort. We must take into consideration speaks about 101 colonies), accepting and that he had serious connections with the disposing the massacre of Odessa American Jews, where his father had (Stoenescu, M., A., (1998, pp. 340-445). emigrated for a long time; on the other Despite all the above we cannot ignore the hand, this Arad Jew can be associated also fact that 57% of the Romanian Jews with the activity of the Clandestine survived the war, which represented the Council of Jews in Bucharest, where the most important percentage of survives in chief Rabbi Safran played an equally Central and Eastern Europe. Only in this important role, at least. respect, attenuating somehow the This Jewish organism, acting in consequences of anti-Jew politics, the “illegality” in Bucharest had already found mentality, tolerance and humanity or the out from accurate sources about the Romanian population played a special part imminent deportation of the Jews of in the destiny of a people, then Southern Transylvania and Banat, as the discriminated, decimated and without following had been alerted: King Michael, country. the Mother Queen, the Ambassador of at Bucharest, the Chairman of SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY the High Court of Justice and the Papal [1] Arhiva Comunităţilor Evreieşti din Timişoara, Nuncio (Safran, Al., op.cit., pp152-157). It [The Archive of the Jewish Communities of Timişoara], file 77/1943, file 102/1943-1944, file is probable that Neumann came across this 78/1944 piece of information, either by his direct [2] Arhiva Ministerului Apărării Naţionale [The connections with the Government Archive of the Ministry of National Defence], representative, or through the clandestine General Staff fund, Section I, file no. 2410 Council. Our hypothesis – related to the [3] Arhiva Naţională Istorică Centrală [The Central Historic National Archive], Documents (Ministry of role of Archbishop Nicolae Bălan – it is Internal Affairs) fund, file 74, 75, 78, 79/1939 that he was in close relations both with [4] Idem, Ministry of Justice. Judicial Direction Rabbi Safran, and with Neumann, and in fund, file no. 9/1939, vol. I, no. 20/1939, vol. I and his intervention at Antonescu he must have II represented and defended the position of [5] Serviciul Judeţean Arad al Arhivelor Naţionale [Arad County Service of National Archives], the two. There is also the variant that Textile Factory fund. Inventory no. 105/1908-1955 Franz von Neumann had intervened on the

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[6] Serviciul Judeţean Timiş al Arhivelor Naţionale [The Timiş County Service of National Archives], Prefecture of the Timiş-Torontal county fund, file 10/1940, file 11/1940, file 71/1940, file 107/1940, file 19/1942, file 12/1941-1942, file 75/1941, file 76/1941, file 78/1941; file 72/1944 [7] Monitorul Oficial (The Official Gazette) no. 76, part III, of the 3rd of September 1930; no. 12, part III, of the 2nd July 1934 ; no. 21, part I, of 22nd of January 1938; no. 183, part I, of the 9th August 1940 ; no. 140, part I, of the 26th September 1940; no. 102, part I, of the 3rd of May 1941 [8] Benjamin, L., (1993), Legislaţia antievreiască, [Anti-Jew Legislation], Bucharest: Hasefer Publishing House. [9] The 1993 Constitution in the debate of the contemporaries, Humanitas, Bucharest, 1990 [10] Fătu, M., Spălăţelu, I., (1980) Garda de Fier. Organizaţie teroristă de tip [The Iron Guard. Fascist-type terrorist organisation], Bucharest: The Political Publishing House. [11] Heinen, A., (1998) Legiunea Arhanghelului Mihail [The Legion of Archangel Michael], Bucharest: Humanitas. [12] Hilberg, R., (1967) The Destruction of the European Jews, Chicago: Quandrangle Books. [13] Iancu, C., (2000) Evreii din România (1918-1938). De la emancipare la marginalizare (traducere de Ţicu Goldstein) [The Jews of Romania (1918-1938). From emancipation to marginalisation (Romanian translation by Ţicu Goldstein)], Bucharest: The Hasefer Publishing House. [14] Idem, (2001) Shoah în România. Evreii în timpul regimului Antonescu (1940-1944)Shoah in Romania. The Jews during Antonescu's regime (1940-1944), Iaşi: Polirom. [15] Safran, Al., (1996) Un tăciune smuls flăcărilor. Comunitatea evreiască din România. 1939-1947. Memorii, [An ember saved from the flames. The Jewish Community of Romania. 1939- 1947. Memoirs], Bucharest: Hasefer Publishing House. [16] Scurtu, I., (1988) Contribuţii privind viaţa politică din România [Contributions on the political life in Romania], Bucharest: The Scientific and Encyclopaedic Publishing House. [17] Scurtu, I., Bulei, I., (1990) Democraţia la români. 1866-1938 [Democracy at Romanians. 1866-1938], Bucharest: Humanitas. [18] Stoenescu, M., A., (1998) Armata, mareşalul şi evreii, [The Army, the Marshal and the Jews], Bucharest: RAO Publishing House.

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