Gheorghe Flondor
Encyclopedia
Gheorghe Flondor was Romania
n politician who served as Royal Resident (Rezident Regal) of Ţinutul Suceava
from February 7, 1939 to September 23, 1940.
to Tudor and Maria Flondor; his uncle was Iancu Flondor
. In 1910 he graduated from State High School nr. 3 in Chernivtsi
, part of Austria-Hungary
at the time. That year he began courses at the University of Vienna
's Law Faculty, where he studied for three years and took part of his licentiate
. He underwent his last year of studies at Charles University in Prague
.
After graduating university, he was mobilised into the Austro-Hungarian Army
. He took part in battles on the Serbian Front
in World War I
, where his unit (14th Dragoon
s Regiment) suffered heavy losses. From 1915 to 1917 he fought on the Russian Front
and advanced to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant
. For his distinguished merits he was decorated with high military distinctions: "Silver Medal" Class I and II with Signum Laudis and "Cross of Merit" Class II. In the spring of 1917 he fought on the Romanian Front, where he was wounded, being cared for in the Baden
military hospital. Once he recovered, he was sent to the Italian Front
and promoted to the rank of Captain
. Upon his request, he was relieved of his duties shortly before the end of hostilities, under the pretext of administrative family duties in Rogojeşti, which had been left to the exclusive handling of his mother.
In 1923, he entered politics, joining the National Liberal Party
at the suggestion of Ion Nistor
, a bitter political and open personal enemy of Flondor's uncle, Iancu. He was elected deputy
for Rădăuţi
in the Parliament of Romania
(1927–1935) and then senator for Rădăuţi (1935–1937).
In 1927, he married Lucia Stephanovici (later known under the pen name of Lotte Berg as a translator and author of children's books). They had a son, Tudorel (b. 1929), a scientist and national chess champion for 1951.
Flondor was also president of Siret Bank and of the General Trade Union for Animal Export. In the latter capacity, he travelled, with a view toward cracking new markets, to Austria
, Germany
, Egypt
and Palestine. For two successive terms, he was also president of the Rădăuţi Agricultural Chamber and director of the Chernivtsi Northern Bank.
counsellor in 1939, that February he was named Royal Resident of Ţinutul Suceava, with a residence at Chernivtsi. His programme, presented upon his installation, foresaw:
After the Soviet ultimatum of June 1940, Bessarabia
and Northern Bukovina were incorporated into the USSR. On June 28, 1940, twenty-two years after the Union championed by Iancu Flondor, another Flondor implemented the act of cession, completing his term in Vatra Dornei
. During World War II
, Gheorghe Flondor helped save the lives of 12 Jewish
families.
After leaving Northern Bukovina
, Flondor quit politics entirely and settled in Sibiu
, where in 1945 he divorced his wife. Four years after the Republic
was proclaimed, in 1952, he was arrested, being tried publicly in 1956 and sentenced by the Military Tribunal of Region II to 10 years' hard imprisonment. According to C. Al. Racovitza and Mihai Pânzaru the regime went after him because he had been a Royal Resident.
During the trial, twelve Romanian citizens of Jewish origin from Siret
went to the State Notary of the former Siret Raion, Suceava Region, and signed a declaration affirming that "during the racial persecutions, [Flondor] had a fair, democratic and well-intentioned attitude toward the Jewish population, helping it at critical moments in relation to the racial persecution against the Jews by the fascist authorities". However, the tribunal did not take this declaration into account.
He was freed in the general amnesty of 1964, already a sick old man. Having been deprived of all his property, he was also forbidden from taking up residence with his last living relatives, in Bucharest
. He died in that city twelve years later.
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...
n politician who served as Royal Resident (Rezident Regal) of Ţinutul Suceava
Tinutul Suceava
Ţinutul Suceava was one of the ten Romanian ţinuturi , founded in 1938 after King Carol II initiated an institutional reform by modifying the 1923 Constitution and the law of territorial administration...
from February 7, 1939 to September 23, 1940.
Political career
Flondor was born in RomanRoman, Romania
Roman is a mid-sized city, having the title of municipality, located in the central part of Moldavia, a traditional region of Romania. It is located 46 km east of Piatra Neamţ, in the Neamţ County at the confluence of Siret and Moldova rivers....
to Tudor and Maria Flondor; his uncle was Iancu Flondor
Iancu Flondor
Iancu Flondor was an Austro-Hungarian-born Romanian activist who advocated Bukovina's unifion with the Kingdom of Romania....
. In 1910 he graduated from State High School nr. 3 in Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast in southwestern Ukraine. The city is situated on the upper course of the River Prut, a tributary of the Danube, in the northern part of the historic region of Bukovina, which is currently divided between Romania and Ukraine...
, part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
at the time. That year he began courses at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
's Law Faculty, where he studied for three years and took part of his licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
. He underwent his last year of studies at Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
.
After graduating university, he was mobilised into the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
. He took part in battles on the Serbian Front
Serbian Campaign (World War I)
The Serbian Campaign was fought from late July 1914, when Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia at the outset of the First World War, until late 1915, when the Macedonian Front was formed...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, where his unit (14th Dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s Regiment) suffered heavy losses. From 1915 to 1917 he fought on the Russian Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
and advanced to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
. For his distinguished merits he was decorated with high military distinctions: "Silver Medal" Class I and II with Signum Laudis and "Cross of Merit" Class II. In the spring of 1917 he fought on the Romanian Front, where he was wounded, being cared for in the Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
military hospital. Once he recovered, he was sent to the Italian Front
Italian Campaign (World War I)
The Italian campaign refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Italy, along with their allies, in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918. Italy hoped that by joining the countries of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers it would gain Cisalpine Tyrol , the...
and promoted to the rank of Captain
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
. Upon his request, he was relieved of his duties shortly before the end of hostilities, under the pretext of administrative family duties in Rogojeşti, which had been left to the exclusive handling of his mother.
In 1923, he entered politics, joining the National Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
at the suggestion of Ion Nistor
Ion Nistor
Ion Nistor was a prominent Romanian historian and politician. He was a member of the Romanian Academy after 1911, and served as administrator of its Library.-Biography:...
, a bitter political and open personal enemy of Flondor's uncle, Iancu. He was elected deputy
Chamber of Deputies of Romania
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house in Romania's bicameral parliament. It has 315 seats, to which deputies are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms...
for Rădăuţi
Radauti
Rădăuţi is a municipality in Suceava County, Romania with a population of 27,759 inhabitants.-Geography and demographics:Rădăuţi is situated in Bucovina, northern Moldavia, on a plain between the Suceava and Suceviţa rivers, north from Suceava, at 375 m altitude...
in the Parliament of Romania
Parliament of Romania
The Parliament of Romania is made up of two chambers:*The Chamber of Deputies*The SenatePrior to the modifications of the Constitution in 2003, the two houses had identical attributes. A text of a law had to be approved by both houses...
(1927–1935) and then senator for Rădăuţi (1935–1937).
In 1927, he married Lucia Stephanovici (later known under the pen name of Lotte Berg as a translator and author of children's books). They had a son, Tudorel (b. 1929), a scientist and national chess champion for 1951.
Flondor was also president of Siret Bank and of the General Trade Union for Animal Export. In the latter capacity, he travelled, with a view toward cracking new markets, to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Palestine. For two successive terms, he was also president of the Rădăuţi Agricultural Chamber and director of the Chernivtsi Northern Bank.
Royal Resident and prosecution
After his election as a National Renaissance FrontNational Renaissance Front
The National Renaissance Front was a fascist Romanian political party created by King Carol II in 1938 as the single monopoly party of government following his decision to ban all other political parties and suspend the 1923 Constitution, and the passing of the 1938 Constitution of Romania...
counsellor in 1939, that February he was named Royal Resident of Ţinutul Suceava, with a residence at Chernivtsi. His programme, presented upon his installation, foresaw:
- The raising of living standards for the peasantry, then suffering severe economic times.
- The maintenance of public order, in the context of two growing threats: the Iron GuardIron GuardThe Iron Guard is the name most commonly given to a far-right movement and political party in Romania in the period from 1927 into the early part of World War II. The Iron Guard was ultra-nationalist, fascist, anti-communist, and promoted the Orthodox Christian faith...
, and Bolshevist agitation coming from across the SovietSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
border.
After the Soviet ultimatum of June 1940, Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
and Northern Bukovina were incorporated into the USSR. On June 28, 1940, twenty-two years after the Union championed by Iancu Flondor, another Flondor implemented the act of cession, completing his term in Vatra Dornei
Vatra Dornei
Vatra Dornei is a city and a spa and ski resort in the north of Romania, in Suceava County. The city administers three villages: Argestru, Roşu and Todireni.Until the 1950s it had a mixed population of Romanians, Ukrainians, Jews and Germans...
. During World War II
Romania during World War II
Following the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, the Kingdom of Romania officially adopted a position of neutrality. However, the rapidly changing situation in Europe during 1940, as well as domestic political upheaval, undermined this stance. Fascist political forces such as the Iron...
, Gheorghe Flondor helped save the lives of 12 Jewish
History of the Jews in Romania
The history of Jews in Romania concerns the Jews of Romania and of Romanian origins, from their first mention on what is nowadays Romanian territory....
families.
After leaving Northern Bukovina
Bukovina
Bukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...
, Flondor quit politics entirely and settled in Sibiu
Sibiu
Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
, where in 1945 he divorced his wife. Four years after the Republic
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...
was proclaimed, in 1952, he was arrested, being tried publicly in 1956 and sentenced by the Military Tribunal of Region II to 10 years' hard imprisonment. According to C. Al. Racovitza and Mihai Pânzaru the regime went after him because he had been a Royal Resident.
During the trial, twelve Romanian citizens of Jewish origin from Siret
Siret
Siret is a town in Romania, Suceava County, one of the oldest towns in, and a former capital of, the former principality of Moldavia. It is located 2 km from the border with Ukraine, being one of the main border passing points in the North of the country, having both a road border post and a...
went to the State Notary of the former Siret Raion, Suceava Region, and signed a declaration affirming that "during the racial persecutions, [Flondor] had a fair, democratic and well-intentioned attitude toward the Jewish population, helping it at critical moments in relation to the racial persecution against the Jews by the fascist authorities". However, the tribunal did not take this declaration into account.
He was freed in the general amnesty of 1964, already a sick old man. Having been deprived of all his property, he was also forbidden from taking up residence with his last living relatives, in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. He died in that city twelve years later.