Brasov Rebellion
Encyclopedia
The 1987 Rebellion of Braşov
was a revolt against Nicolae Ceauşescu
's economic policies in Communist Romania
.
were sown, as workers throughout this Soviet Bloc country mobilized in protest of communist leader Nicolae Ceauşescu's economic policies. Labor uprisings sprouted in the major industrial centers of Cluj-Napoca
(November 1986) and Nicolina, Iaşi
(February 1987), culminating in a massive strike in Braşov, Romania
's second city. Ceauşescu's "draconian [economic] measures" sought to curb food and energy consumption and reduce worker's wages, leading to what Romanian émigré
Vladimir Tismăneanu
calls an "all pervasive discontent," making Romania "the Eastern Bloc country most vulnerable to revolution."
Though Romania was the last of the Eastern European communist strongholds to succumb to revolution in 1989
, his sentiments capture the social and economic volatility of Romania in the late 1980s. The Braşov Revolt reflected this instability; moreover, it was one of the first large-scale public uprisings against the Ceauşescu regime.
Located in southeastern Transylvania
, Braşov
was Romania's most industrially developed city, with over 61% of labor participating in industry. A skilled working class emerged in the 1960s as the Communist government forced migrations of Moldavian peasants to operate Braşov factories. Therefore, the industrial decline in Eastern Europe during the mid-1980s hit Braşov and its workers especially hard.
Ceauşescu's debt reduction plan beginning in 1982 led to the collapse of the consumer market of the city. (Money intended for food production and distribution was in turn diverted to debt payment to the West
.) Therefore, the state rationed key foodstuff and consumer goods, leading to long lines for the most basic commodities. It is in this climate of economic depression and food shortages that the Braşov Rebellion erupted on 15 November 1987.
Early on the morning of the 15th, a local elections day, workers at the local Steagul Roşu
plant (truck manufacturer) protested reduced salaries and the proposed elimination of 15,000 jobs in the city. Roughly 20,000 workers walked off the job and marched toward the Communist headquarters at the city center. Firstly, the demonstrators expressed loudly wage claims, then they shouted slogans like “Down with Ceauşescu!”, “Down with Communism!”, chanting anthems of the 1848 Revolution
"Down with the Dictatorship" and "We want bread."
Over 20,000 workers from the Braşov Tractor Plant, Hidromecanica factory and a number of townspeople joined the march. The combined mob sacked the headquarters building and city hall "throwing into the square portraits of Ceauşescu, and food from the well-stocked canteen." In a time of drastic food shortages, protesters were particularly angered to find festively prepared official buildings and food abundance in order to celebrate the local election victory. A massive bonfire of party records and propaganda burned for hours in the city square.
By dusk, Securitate
forces and the military surrounded the city center and disbanded the revolt by force. Though no one was killed, some 300 protesters were arrested. However, since the regime decided to play down the uprising as “isolated cases of hooliganism
,” sentences did not exceed 2 years prison, which was a relatively moderate penalty in the communist penal code. After 1990, up to 100 prison convictions could be documented so far, while others have been forcibly relocated throughout the country.
Though the Braşov Rebellion did not directly lead to revolution, it dealt a serious blow to the Ceauşescu regime, and its confidence in the trade union
s. This revolt reflected what historian Denis Deletant refers to as "Ceauşescu's inability to heed the warning signs of increasing labor unrest, plunging blindly forward with the same [economic] measures, seemingly indifferent to their consequences." Therefore, the Braşov Rebellion underscored the growing discontent among workers against the Ceauşescu regime; moreover, it foreshadowed the popular uprisings that would bring down the regime and Communism in Romania. (Rebellion returned to Braşov in December 1989, while Romanians ousted the regime and executed Ceauşescu.)
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
was a revolt against Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
's economic policies in Communist Romania
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
.
Prelude
Beginning in late 1986, the seeds of the Romanian Revolution of 1989Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
were sown, as workers throughout this Soviet Bloc country mobilized in protest of communist leader Nicolae Ceauşescu's economic policies. Labor uprisings sprouted in the major industrial centers of Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
(November 1986) and Nicolina, Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
(February 1987), culminating in a massive strike in Braşov, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
's second city. Ceauşescu's "draconian [economic] measures" sought to curb food and energy consumption and reduce worker's wages, leading to what Romanian émigré
Émigré
Émigré is a French term that literally refers to a person who has "migrated out", but often carries a connotation of politico-social self-exile....
Vladimir Tismăneanu
Vladimir Tismaneanu
Vladimir Tismăneanu is a Romanian and American political scientist, political analyst, sociologist, and professor at the University of Maryland, College Park...
calls an "all pervasive discontent," making Romania "the Eastern Bloc country most vulnerable to revolution."
Though Romania was the last of the Eastern European communist strongholds to succumb to revolution in 1989
Revolutions of 1989
The Revolutions of 1989 were the revolutions which overthrew the communist regimes in various Central and Eastern European countries.The events began in Poland in 1989, and continued in Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and...
, his sentiments capture the social and economic volatility of Romania in the late 1980s. The Braşov Revolt reflected this instability; moreover, it was one of the first large-scale public uprisings against the Ceauşescu regime.
Located in southeastern Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Braşov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
was Romania's most industrially developed city, with over 61% of labor participating in industry. A skilled working class emerged in the 1960s as the Communist government forced migrations of Moldavian peasants to operate Braşov factories. Therefore, the industrial decline in Eastern Europe during the mid-1980s hit Braşov and its workers especially hard.
Ceauşescu's debt reduction plan beginning in 1982 led to the collapse of the consumer market of the city. (Money intended for food production and distribution was in turn diverted to debt payment to the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
.) Therefore, the state rationed key foodstuff and consumer goods, leading to long lines for the most basic commodities. It is in this climate of economic depression and food shortages that the Braşov Rebellion erupted on 15 November 1987.
Rebellion
Roman (vehicle manufacturer)
ROMAN is a truck and bus manufacturer from Brasov, Romania. The company was established after World War II on the foundation of the old ROMLOC automotive factory built in 1921. In the spirit of the communist days, the industrial plant was named Steagul Roşu...
plant (truck manufacturer) protested reduced salaries and the proposed elimination of 15,000 jobs in the city. Roughly 20,000 workers walked off the job and marched toward the Communist headquarters at the city center. Firstly, the demonstrators expressed loudly wage claims, then they shouted slogans like “Down with Ceauşescu!”, “Down with Communism!”, chanting anthems of the 1848 Revolution
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
"Down with the Dictatorship" and "We want bread."
Over 20,000 workers from the Braşov Tractor Plant, Hidromecanica factory and a number of townspeople joined the march. The combined mob sacked the headquarters building and city hall "throwing into the square portraits of Ceauşescu, and food from the well-stocked canteen." In a time of drastic food shortages, protesters were particularly angered to find festively prepared official buildings and food abundance in order to celebrate the local election victory. A massive bonfire of party records and propaganda burned for hours in the city square.
By dusk, Securitate
Securitate
The Securitate was the secret police agency of Communist Romania. Previously, the Romanian secret police was called Siguranţa Statului. Founded on August 30, 1948, with help from the Soviet NKVD, the Securitate was abolished in December 1989, shortly after President Nicolae Ceaușescu was...
forces and the military surrounded the city center and disbanded the revolt by force. Though no one was killed, some 300 protesters were arrested. However, since the regime decided to play down the uprising as “isolated cases of hooliganism
Hooliganism
Hooliganism refers to unruly, destructive, aggressive and bullying behaviour. Such behaviour is commonly associated with sports fans. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs....
,” sentences did not exceed 2 years prison, which was a relatively moderate penalty in the communist penal code. After 1990, up to 100 prison convictions could be documented so far, while others have been forcibly relocated throughout the country.
Though the Braşov Rebellion did not directly lead to revolution, it dealt a serious blow to the Ceauşescu regime, and its confidence in the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s. This revolt reflected what historian Denis Deletant refers to as "Ceauşescu's inability to heed the warning signs of increasing labor unrest, plunging blindly forward with the same [economic] measures, seemingly indifferent to their consequences." Therefore, the Braşov Rebellion underscored the growing discontent among workers against the Ceauşescu regime; moreover, it foreshadowed the popular uprisings that would bring down the regime and Communism in Romania. (Rebellion returned to Braşov in December 1989, while Romanians ousted the regime and executed Ceauşescu.)