Iron Guard

Iron Guard Romanian nationalistic, anti-Semitic, and antiparliamentary group, founded in 1924 by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu . Originally named the Legion of the Archangel Michael, it was organized on military lines and operated through terrorism. Its most notable victims were Premier Ion Duca, assassinated in 1933, and ex-Premier Nicolae Iorga , assassinated in 1940. Banned in 1933, the Iron Guard carried on as the All-for-the-Fatherland party. When King Carol II proclaimed his personal dictatorship in 1938, he had Codreanu and other leading Guardists imprisoned and eventually shot. Following the king's abduction in 1940, Marshall Ion Antonescu seized power with the help of the Iron Guard, but soon found himself in disagreement with it. He suppressed (1941) an Iron Guard rebellion, and Horia Sima, then leader of the Guard and vice premier, fled to Germany. With the collapse of the Axis Powers in World War II the Iron Guard disappeared from Romanian politics.

Iron Guard, military wing of the Romanian fascist movement, the Legion of St Michael. It briefly shared power with Antonescu in 1940 before being suppressed. See also Romania, 3.

Iron Guard (Garda de Fier) A Romanian Fascist movement. Its name was used from 1930 for the Fascist League of the Archangel Michael, founded in 1927 by Cornelieu Zelca Codreanu. With its traits of mysticism, nationalism, anti-Semitism, and romanticism, its aim was to restore the country to a new age of purity and harmony. It was supported by many farmers disillusioned with Maniu's policies, as well as unemployed or otherwise disgruntled intellectuals. Despite some state suppression, it gained 17 per cent of the vote in the 1937 elections. It was too weak to assume power on its own, but in 1940, it became the only legal party under Antonescu. It got out of control as its members attacked Jews (whose economic strength was vital to the country's economy) and held endless marches, many of which ended in violence. It was therefore abolished and disbanded after three days of heavy fighting. Its demise was fully supported by Hitler, whose main concern at this time was to secure Romanian stability to ensure the oil supplies that were vital for his plans in World War II.