German-Romanian Treaty for the Development of Economic Relations between the Two Countries (1939)
Encyclopedia
The German-Romanian Treaty for the Development of Economic Relations between the Two Countries was a bilateral economic agreement signed between the German and the Romanian governments in Bucharest on March 23, 1939. The agreement established German control over most aspects of Romanian economy, and thus forcing the Romanian government to join the Axis Powers
at a later date. According to a contemporary report of the Time Magazine, "in no instance of modern times has one State made such humiliating, far-reaching economic concessions to another" as Romania to Germany, the same publication considering that it transformed Romania into a "German dependency".
Ratifications were exchanged in Berlin on December 20, 1939, and the agreement became effective on January 20, 1940. It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on January 17, 1940.
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Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
at a later date. According to a contemporary report of the Time Magazine, "in no instance of modern times has one State made such humiliating, far-reaching economic concessions to another" as Romania to Germany, the same publication considering that it transformed Romania into a "German dependency".
Ratifications were exchanged in Berlin on December 20, 1939, and the agreement became effective on January 20, 1940. It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on January 17, 1940.
Background
In late 1938 and early 1939, the German government under Hitler was carrying out some of its plans for territorial changes in Europe, which gave the German Reich more land for economic expansion. As part of that process, Czechoslovakia was overrun on March 15, 1939. In addition, the German government coveted the oil-fields of Romania, and desired to secure Romanian military cooperation in case of war.Terms of the agreement
The agreement provided for delivery of various Romanian goods to Germany in the fields of agriculture, timber and oil. In exchange, the German government undertook to supply the Romanian government with technical know-how and military equipment which might be required. The agreement also gave trade benefits to German companies in Romania, in the form of free trade zones. The agreement was designated for a period of ten years, with the possibility of extension.Aftermath
The agreement strengthened the Third Reich economically and placed at its disposal the resources of the Romania at a time Hitler was planning to invade Poland. The British government was alarmed by that development, and on April 13, 1939 committed itself to the defense of Romania from German aggressive designs on its sovereignty. However, the Romanian government assessed that British support will not be effective, and this evaluation seemed even more realistic following the German occupation of Poland in September 1939 and France in May-June 1940 and British withdrawal from the continent at the same time. As a result, the Romanian government decided to cooperate with the German government and later that year joined the Axis PowersAxis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
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