On the night of January 5th, 1958, Conducător Nicolae Iolanda was shot dead in the snowy streets of Bucharest. A convoy of government cars was driving north on the Bulevardul Mărăști when gunmen concealed in adjacent buildings opened fire with a variety of firearms, including at least one heavy machine gun. The convoy scrambled, with security immediately returning fire. In the ensuing firefight, all of the assassins escaped or were killed, with at least two committing suicide before their capture by means of cyanide pills.
Also killed were a large number of Legionary staff and commanders, including General Ioan Arhip and Căpitan Emanoil Ionescu, heads of the Infantry and Air Force respectively. General Horia Sima was also travelling with the Conducător, but escaped with a gunshot wound to the knee. Security forces rushed him to Peleș Castle, where he is being treated for hypovolemic shock.
In the aftermath of this massacre, news of the Conducător's death spread rapidly, with Romanians cast into confusion and discord over who should now lead the country. Many thousands of Romanians have already taken to the streets, demanding that elections be held. Meanwhile, the Câini de Fier have emerged in great numbers, denouncing a communist plot to overthrow the Legionary government. Many looked immediately to King Michael I to guide the nation through this turbulence, but to complicate matters, Michael has disappeared, presumably abducted, as several of his bodyguards were found shot outside his residence in Cluj-Napoca.
Romania is on the brink of Civil War.
The Bucharest Incident
Re: The Bucharest Incident
Shortly after news of Iolanda's death was confirmed, Vasile Atanasiu, head of the Armored division and (recently) most senior officer of the Old Guard, announced that the fascist government would be dissolved, and that democratic open elections would at last be held to elect a new government, while he served in the interim to maintain peace. He ordered the detainment of Horia Sima, and the Old Guard moved on Peleș Castle to effect the arrest, while battalions quickly moved from city to city, securing the country under Atanasiu's control. Sima, however, recovered in time to quickly coordinate his own army, which, assisted by the Câini de Fier, wrested control of areas in the Carpathian Mountains and Moldova.
When the Old Guard arrived at Peleș, it was to find a battalion of Sima's army waiting in ambush. Sima's army fired artillery upon the advancing Guard, and battle commenced, with the Guard eventually driven back amid heavy losses.
Sima has disseminated widely that Atanasiu is responsible for a coup against Iolanda, and has now declared his own Romanian government. The battle of Peleș marks the end of the Kingdom of Romania, and the first engagement of the Romanian Civil war.
When the Old Guard arrived at Peleș, it was to find a battalion of Sima's army waiting in ambush. Sima's army fired artillery upon the advancing Guard, and battle commenced, with the Guard eventually driven back amid heavy losses.
Sima has disseminated widely that Atanasiu is responsible for a coup against Iolanda, and has now declared his own Romanian government. The battle of Peleș marks the end of the Kingdom of Romania, and the first engagement of the Romanian Civil war.
Re: The Bucharest Incident
Only a few weeks after the end of the civil war, a disheveled man is seen staggering along a road in country road some distance north of Ploiești. Although somewhat surprised and dehydrated, he is otherwise in good condition, and tells the farmer and his son who picked him up that he is King Michael I, and that he has been imprisoned for the past three years. He was kept in a cabin by unmarked guards until last night, when he had a sack thrown over his head, was thrown in the back of a lorry, and was dropped off in the middle of a barley field near where he was picked up. Although initially met with laughs by the farmer and his family, when the man displays his signet ring they are taken aback, and dispatch a rider to Bucharest.
It is soon confirmed that this is indeed King Michael, who is horrified to learn of the violent civil war that coincided with his imprisonment. Atanasiu has him lodged comfortably in Bucharest, explaining that the Romanians are delighted to see the King is not dead, and that there is a huge amount of interest and inquiry into exactly who was responsible for his imprisonment. However, as the country has not yet voted and formed an official government, the exact status of the monarchy is highly questionable.
Nevertheless, Michael's return has given rise to furious rumors and theories of conspiracy all over Romania.
It is soon confirmed that this is indeed King Michael, who is horrified to learn of the violent civil war that coincided with his imprisonment. Atanasiu has him lodged comfortably in Bucharest, explaining that the Romanians are delighted to see the King is not dead, and that there is a huge amount of interest and inquiry into exactly who was responsible for his imprisonment. However, as the country has not yet voted and formed an official government, the exact status of the monarchy is highly questionable.
Nevertheless, Michael's return has given rise to furious rumors and theories of conspiracy all over Romania.