Hitler's Forgotten Ally

DENNIS DELETANT is Professor of Romanian Studies at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College, London, UK, and at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands (on secondment). He is the author of several volumes of studies on the recent history of Romania. In 1995 he was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contribution to the development of British-Romanian relations.

'Dennis Deletant is one of the leading authorities on the history of Romania since the 1930s. His well-deserved scholarly reputation for thoroughness, fairness, and honesty is amply demonstrated in this exhaustively-researched and well-written study which aims to describe in detail, and to render historical judgment on, the wartime Romanian government of Ion Antonescu. His book fills a significant historiographical gap while providing a balance sheet for this hotly-controverted era in the Romanian past...In short, this is a fine piece of work, meticulously researched, and reasonably argued.' - Paul E. Michelson, Reviews in History 'Hitler's Forgotten Ally provides a brilliant demonstration of how a very gifted historian can take advantage of the opening of the East European archives in advancing the knowledge of his field.' - Radu Ioanid, Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions 'The richness of this work cannot remotely be caught in a short review...Hitler's Forgotten Ally...should be read by anyone who studies, teaches or simply thinks about the History of the Second World War. Professor Deletant has written an impressive and powerful piece of scholarship.' - Jonathan Steinberg, The European Legacy '...this book is a notable achievement, and makes a strong case for putting Antonescu's Romania back at the heart of Axis Europe.' - Paul Betts, SEER, The Slavonic and East European Review 'The prime merit of the book lies in its systematic investigation into the tumultuous evolution of the Antonescu regime and into his personal life. In addition, the combination of historical details with societal factors brings new facets to this analysis. Thus, examination of the Iron Guard leadership and of religious confessions in Romania helps to decipher the atmosphere of those times. In addition, Deletant's writing style makes the book a gripping read, revealing the intimate connections between the personal life of the dictator and the political evolution of his regime. These points, coupled with the fact that most probably Antonescu remained the only leader who could publicly contradict the Fuhrer, offer an incisive image of 'Hitler's forgotten ally'.' - Lucian N. Leustean, European History Quarterly

• Acknowledgements Abbreviations of Primary Sources Introduction The Prelude to Antonescu's War Antonescu's Path to Power Antonescu and the National Legionary State Military Dictatorship and War Antonescu and the Jews Antonescu and the Holocaust Deportation Transnistria: The Fate of the Jews and Romas Suspension of Deportation, Repatriation and Emigration of Jews The Coup of 23 August 1944 The Trial of Ion Antonescu Conclusion Annex Notes Bibliography Index