Mişcarea legionară în Bucovina după moartea lui Corneliu Zelea Codreanu (1939-1940)
The Legionary Movement in Bucovina after Corneliu Zelea Codreanu's Death (1939-1940)

Summary/Abstract: The Legion tried to legitimate its own political actions by taking advantage of the decline of democracy and of Romanian political parties. But the Legionary Movement compromised itself in the face of their own adherents. After the assassination of Corneliu Zelea Codreanu the movement changed from a populist stream into groups of opportunists. The 1938-1940 period signaled a change in the power structures of the Legion. During the conflict with the king Carol the II, the movement lost one of the most important leaders. The old, first group of Corneliu Codreanu was violently destroyed and replaced with a small terrorist circle lead by Horia Sima. Under the pressure of king Carol's regime the Legion transformed from a popular, mass movement into a party lead by "professional" activists. Now there was nothing related with Corneliu Codreanu ideals. The good fact in the Legion's decisions on that period was that they kept on their belief in their chances during they were repressed. The fascination that Codreanu empowered and their idealistically belief from the beginning of the movement was continued by some of the leaders that were included in the power structures. The 1938-1940 years were crucial in the Iron Guard history. The leaders of a generation were replaced with others from the inferior, low levels of the organization, which were Horia Sima's people. These facts have changed the area and the ways of actions of Legion as movement raising the violent side of it, totally compromising the right extremists in Romania.

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