Religion and Politics: Weapons of Choice for a Nations Youth

Abstract:Religion and politics are well intertwined today. Both positive and negative events had taken place, having as roots these two main reasons. Both religion and politics are subjects of discrimination among people and seem to be the two most powerful weapons and shields, at the same time, people have been using for ages and still use today.This article aims to understand and observe certain human behavior by combining both psychological and historical studies. The introduction and conclusion will refer to the psychological approach will focus to reveal theoretical behavioral patterns and tendencies of the young man, their general motivations and needs. The historical approach is this papers main content consisting of a model of religiously influenced political activity of young men, during the interwar period in Romania, the Legionary Movement. The studys purpose is to pass on information about impactful historical events over the society and to analyze the human drive that stood beyond the movement. Looking closely to the creation and development of the Legion of the Archangel Michael will bring to surface valuable information on how people can be instigated, why did they respond to it and what had driven them to act consequently. By analyzing a religiously inspired political activity from starter personal inner drive to actual historical consequences over the society this study is a complete development of such human behavior.The present article is valuable content for all historians, psychologists and political science or religion researchers. While the psychological part is inspired by the most recent studies, the historical part is coming from the leaders of the Legion themselves. Hence, these people are also subjects of study and one whole chapter will be dedicated to the biographical profile of the main leader of the Legion, Corneliu Zelea-Codreanu.To sum up, the study reveals the potential of a countrys youth and proves that this part of a nations society cannot be overlooked.

Summary

Introduction

Chapter I. The historical context Chapter II. The Legion of the Archangel MichaelChapter III. The man behind the legionChapter IV. ConsequencesConclusions

IntroductionStarting with the so-called third drive, our innate need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world (Pink, 2009), the content below is about organizing a social movement, creating beliefs and implementing them throughout the youth of a nation. Placed historically in the Interwar period in Romania, it is a story about success and failure in the journey of making the world a better place. Politically, the Legion of the Archangel Michael proved to embrace the right extreme wing of fascism. By calling themselves nationalists, their purpose was to revive the national and traditional values of Romanians, in an age of insecurity, when the country experienced its largest territorial area and the most numerous influences: Russian, German, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Italian, religious: Jewish, political: communism, socialism, extremists. Religiously, they supported Romanias main religion, Christian-Orthodox, and used it as a landmark for those who no longer could identify their values. Only by faith, they considered that a man could continue his lifes journey. While many Romanians were not involving into politics, it was later on when the Legion decided to form a political party, in 1935. Hence, the Legion of the Archangel Michael remained a form of youth organization whose main activity was personal development, education and human rights. However, the main dilemma remains the one regarding to what extend they were extremists themselves, though they were fighting against extremists of any kind. The impact of this paper in todays society is of great importance, as we still experience extremist behavior throughout young people, fighting to keep their values, either religious, political or of any sort. Before getting through the content of the paper, below theres a passage of a recent study conducted by OToole and Gale that reveals the power of religion over a young believer. Importantly, for these and other respondents in our sample, the emphasis placed on faith as something standing apart from more immediate familial and ethnic ties was closely entwined with their views of, and avenues into, political engagement. Thus, one member of the group stated explicitly that not only had his faith encouraged him to distinguish between cultural practices and religion but also that Islam animated and shaped his political activity:My religion has given me more freedom than anyone. I mean things like arranged marriages which is more culture than religion, I mean parents they bring up their kids more culturally, especially Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshis. Its quite, I dont know, when they read Islamically [] it gives them more freedom the way I see it, and its given me more freedom to do things, and more freedom to speak out. Its like when my parents say to me, Dont go to a protest, theyre gonna arrest you, but Islamically it tells me to, yeah, go to a protest, and I see the word of God greater than my dads any day. (OToole, Gale, 2013)

I. Historical context Compared to other armed conflicts of the last decades, World War I proved to have a major influence over the internal politics of Romania. One of the consequences was the guarantee of the public voting system and the political participation of the masses. Until 1914, the masses fought for their rights and expressed their wishes through uprisings. The situation changed once the war was over, as the soldiers coming back from the battlefields had fought for independence and they considered that they have earned it. They were no longer humble workforce or marionettes manipulated to vote, but independent peasants who have proved, during the war, that both the well-being and the suffering of the country depended on them (Narly, 1924). The political class then took charge and introduced programs of surveillance in order to control the people taking advantage of the post-war situation. However, the nation remained parted. Even though after the war there was a general national spirit unifying the people that succeeded to protect their homeland, soon everyone started to look after their own interest and corruption and vote manipulation were developing, regardless of any legal frame. The population was more heterogeneous than ever. As the latest studies over mental affections, especially over suicide, have shown, the sudden enrichment and the sudden impoverishment have similar consequences. If we extend this analogy, then Romania is in the posture of , having a population not only bigger but also strongly heterogeneous regarding traditions and lifestyle. Hence, the problem was regarding structure and unity. What were the unifying factors and the bases of consensus and solidarity of the new community? (Barbu-Woolf, 1968).Another important consequence of WWI over Romania was regarding its territory. In 1920, Romania became officially the Big Romania, as it didnt lose the war over Transylvania and also got Bassarabia (the present Republic of Moldova) and Bucovina (which presently is parted almost equally between Romania and Ukraine). After the Second Balkanic War of 1913, Romania had won over Bulgaria the region of Cadrilater. Hence, in 1920, Romania had the biggest surface recorded ever in its history, of 295.641 km, compared to 238.391 km, the present surface. It was the first time when all people of Romanian ethnicity were gathered together within the same borders.In Romania, the integration of the young soldiers after the war was conducted easily, as the Agricultural Reform privileged the veterans. Hence, young soldiers were coming back to their households and benefited of bigger farms. The ones with higher education could benefit of a position in State Administration. There were cities that were affected by the changes of the system, such as Iai, very closely situated to the Russian border. The people from Iasi were mainly left-socialists and were strongly affected by the revolutionary tendencies of the era, turning the city into the incubator of nationalism. During the 20s it seemed like safety and stability were on again. Isolated complaints were coming in subtlety from literature writings but also more loudly from anti-Semitic student movements. Romania was a kingdom back then and the political parties were striving for the Parliament. It took more than 10 years for new parties to establish and to score significant voting percentages. Meanwhile, the fight was somewhat tacit between the same two big political parties, the Liberal Party and the Peasants Party, the latter also known as the elitist rural organization of the Former Kingdom. There were also regional parties, National Party of Transylvania and also minorities parties but their voting percentages would have slightly overcome 2%. One significant party to be mentioned is LANC (the National-Christian Defense League). Founded by prof. Al. C. Cuza, from Iai, in 4th of March 1923, it was a rather anti-Semitic organization. Through the founders there was Corneliu Zelea-Codreanu himself as head of the LANC Youth Organization. In 1926, LANC recorded 4,76% of the votes and won 10 deputy places.These political parties were taking turns to being leaders; each mandate was destined to the opposition and so on. Political parties were actually losing the peoples trust and, at the same time, people were starting to become more and more interested in the political situation of the country, because they considered that none of the people in charge could really lead their nation. Garda Contiinei Naionale or the National Consciousness Guard was among the most significant group of national-socialists right extremists. Leaded by Constantin Pancu, a plummer, their unifying belief was any form of battle against hierarchy and atheism. They doubted any value: the king, religion, the army and the unity itself. Their style consisted of war. During 1918 and 1921, one of the most remarkable leaders was Corneliu Zelea-Codreanu, a freshman graduate of high-school, coming to Iai to go to University. He was very glad when accepted as soldier into the Guard. In their manifestations, the soldiers used to replace the countrys flag to religious marks. (Opinia, 1919). The new nationalism of the Guard aspired to a mass politics. More, it inspired a community feeling of safety, based on a value order that helped them distinguish friend form enemy. The war convinced their members that violence is legitimate when pursued in the name of the people. Pancus soldiers were not alone. In the Apuseni mountains, Transylvanian Carpathians, the so called Cross Brotherhoods, Frii de Cruce were activists who had the same beliefs. In March 1920, the Cross Brothers got along with the soldiers of the Guard. Their unification is the historical proof of Romanian nationalism after the Big Unification of 1918. They used to manifest into the form of primitive religion mythical acts. They got together in a square, cut their elbow skin until blood came out and finally each member was supposed to drink up the next fellows blood. (Opinia, 1920).Their belief was created to resemble the Christian Belief and it was focus on the homeland. The Belief of National-Christian Socialism: I believe in One inseparable Romanian State, from Nistru River to Tisza, the One that includes all Romanians and belong only to Romanians, the One that loves work, honesty and the fear of God, through pain of country and nation: the Giver of equal rights, civil and political, to both men and women. The Protector of family, the Giver of wages to workers and clerks by the number of children and invested work, by understanding quantity and quality, and in One supportive State of social harmony by reducing grades in the hierarchy; and over the wages from the factories stand every workers proprietorship and every farmers land. The distribution of benefits between the employer (state or private) and employees, the Employer (private), besides his work payment he will receive a decreasing proportion percentage of the capital size. And in one insurer State of workers through . Founder of food and clothing supplies for workers and clerks which organized by national unions will have representatives in administration committees of different industrial, agricultural and commercial institutions.And in one great and powerful and King of the peasants, . [] In a tricolor surrounded by the rays of light of the National-Christian Socialism, symbol of harmony between the brothers and sisters of the Great Romania. In one and Holy Christian Church with Fathers living by the Evangel and only for the Evangel and who will sacrifice apostolically for the enlightenment of the many. I confess the choosing of the ministers by the Chamber, the Senate suppression, the organizing of rural police, progressive income tax. [] I wait for the revival of the national consciousness. [] Amen! (C.Z-Codreanu, 1936).Once accepted to University in Iasi, Codreanu was leading the Nationalist students. According to an honor code made up by himself, him and his henchmen used to slap everyone who said negative things about him or his father; he was part of a rebel group who often vandalized the printing houses of Left Jewish magazines and newspapers; his group often hunted down classmates who, by clothing, expressed their affinity to the left socialism. On the 22nd of November 1920, Codreanu and other seven students blocked the University entrance for the reason that the board of directors didnt want to open up the school semester with a solemn religious service. Even though the entrance was unblocked by the indoor students, the Universitys board of directors decided to keep the institution closed until the religious service is organized. So, they achieved their goal and Codreanu thought of his success as a divine sign. By the decision of the Universitys directors he felt encouraged to go on. (Heinen, 1982)Once discrimination among people was no longer an advantage for minorities, Hungarians, Russians, Germans or Jews, more and more Romanians were heading to higher education, with an increase of 10% per year (Mitchell, 1975). While in 1913-1914 the University of Bucharest had 3,500 students, in 1929 they were over 20,000 (Alapuro, 1973). Hence, the universities could no longer provide facilities for this large number of students and the parents were forced to pay for their sons and daughters studies (Sima, 1927-1967). There were many young people unable to cover the studies expenses so they were forced to get jobs. Inflation had a significant effect over peoples wages and pensions; teachers and priests were hardly managing to help all these young people wanting to learn. Throughout the numerous students applying, only very few of them managed to graduate (Weber, 1964). Unlike them, the Jewish students seemed to have a more increased rate of success, as they were mostly living in the urban areas. Anti-Semitic centers of agitation were forming into the Law Schools and Medical Schools, which had the most Jewish students. More, before the World War I, the legislation kept Jews away from higher education (Heinen, 1982).In 1923, LANC was founded by A.C. Cuza, from the pressure of Codreanu and in the context of a large public manifestation. Liga Aprrii Naionale Cretine reunited students and teachers of all 42 Romanian counties. LANC program consisted in the limitation of places in universities and jobs in all over Romania and the pursuit of all students requirements. The students movement was heterogeneous regarding opinions and consisted of many small groups fighting for one or more beliefs. However, there was one small group that stood out through its lack of compromising and will of organization; right extremists who had influenced lots of university debates. Their belief was that war must be continued on the inside as a war for freedom and they identified with the historical outlaws of Avram Iancu (Codreanu, 1925). They planned a conspiracy that targeted rabbis, Jew bankers, journalists and a few ministers who were opposing to the anti-Semitic movement. To Codreanu, these ministers were bastard Romanians, who, for Judas silver money, had betrayed their nation (Codreanu, 1936) this way managing to lose their right to live. Before everything was ready to be put into action, the police found out about this conspiracy from a couple of worried parents of a conspirator (Universul, Adevrul, 1924). However, the rebels achieved their goal. The trial of the student conspirators was very closely watched by the public. In the end, Codreanu and his crew were discharged. Only Ion I. Moa was retained because during the trial he pointed a revolver against the supposed traitor Vernichescu, wounding him seriously (Universul, 1924).The whole country and the Government were very worried about this situation. All four university centers, Bucureti, Iai, Cluj and Cernui were placed under curfew, and every student gathering needed military authorization (Neagoe, 1970). Although Moa and his partner, who had purchased the revolver, pleaded guilty, and many political pressures had been made, they were acquitted. This is how the Captain describes Moas state of mind before Vernichescu was shot:I saw Moa was pensive. He always said that if we get out of here, we wont be able to make not even one step further without punishing the traitor.The treason crushed our nations powers. We, Romanians, have never pointed our guns against it; thats why treason has roots, thats why traitors have multiplied all over the place, thats why our life as a state is only a permanent treason of nation. If we dont deal with the problem of treason, our act will be compromised.Moas act was also very categorical, because he fired seven bullets to Vernichescu and it only took a miracle that he got out alive. But this action needs to be historically interpreted. No action of nation salvage is possible and any sacrifice is useless if treason continues to bite behind the front. (Sima, 1967)

In Iai, Chief Police Officer Constantin Manciu had imposed a very rigorous system. The right extremists, who werent used to this kind of treatment at all, were protesting loudly to this supposed injusti-e. The Police was informed about the possible assassination of Manciu (Neagoe, 1970) and it took unusual measures. After Moa had been acquitted, Codreanu was no longer in the spotlight so he decided to resume the war. Codreanu then, had secretly assassinated the Chief of Police and after just six months he managed to be acquitted of the accusation of murder.

II. The Legion of The Archangel MichaelBased on these events and on the popularity gained throughout young right extremists, in 1923, Codreanu founded his own youth organization. It was named The Archangel Michael, as he was the angel leading Gods armies in the fights against Satan. The name was of great symbolism as it inspired both war and religion. The official foundation of the Legion took place on the 24th of June 1927, marked by the celebration of St. John the Baptist in the Christian Orthodox calendar. "Our intimate state of soul from which the Legion has been born, was the following: we were not interested at all if we will win, lose or die. Our purpose was different: to go forward together. By going together, united, with God above us and the justice of the Romanian Nation, any faith we shall receive, defeat or death, it would be blessed and would contribute to our Nations well-being. (C.Z-Codreanu, 1936)This organization was supposed to include three different categories of young people: high-school pupils, university students and young peasants. The Legionaries were young and even very young, obviously aged under 30 (Sima, 1972). Most members were former LANC members. Members younger than 19 years old were recruited into the Cross Brotherhoods, Friile de Cruce, while the others were organized in Nests, all over the country. The most important Nest Centers were located in: Iai, Galai, Gura Humorului, Focani, and Bucharest. The gathered Nest is a church. By joining a Nest you release of all small problems and you dedicate one hour to your clean thoughts for the Homeland. The meeting hour of the Nest is the hour of the Homeland. Full harmony must result not only from the friendship of those who gather up, but mostly from the communion of their ideal. There, in the Nest, prayers will be raised to God for the Legions triumph, songs sent by the Legion will be sung and the dead will be talked about. [] Inside the Nest there wont be any space for contradictions or violent avid discussions. Less talk, more meditation, nothing should disturb the majesty of silence and good understanding. [] At the established time, after the members of the Nest have gathered, the Nests boss stands up and shouts out loud and soldierly, Comrades!. When hearing this signal everyone should jump up on their feet. They turn to the East and salute with their arm stretched: the salute of the sky, which is of heights and the Sun, which is the symbol of light and goods triumph. The Nest boss says rarely, and everyone repeats after him:1. We shall pray to God.2. We shall think about our Captain.3. We shall raise our thoughts to our deads souls. 4. We shall believe in the resurrection of Legionary Romania and in the fall of the hate and cowardice wall it is surrounded by.5. I swear I will never betray the Legion. (Sima, 1980)

Their salute obviously resembled the fascist salute. Their uniform was initially the traditional Romanian costume. Later on they changed it with green shirts inspired by the Italian model.By 1929, there were up to 50 Nests all over Romania, older people declaring themselves as members as well. Codreanu made up a Legionary Senate, but he decided upon naming the Senators, they were not elected. However, being a Legionary Senator was not much but only a distinction. This way, Codreanu could gather more famous names into the Legion.

OrganizationA. The NestsThe Legionary organizational system is based on the notion of NEST. That is a group of 3 to 13 people under the command of a boss. We dont have any members, separate individuals. Theres only the nest. The individual belongs to the nest. The Legionary organization consists of nests not of members. [] The boss of a movement needs to take into consideration the reality, or my only reality, consisting of the lonely man. A miserable poor peasant crying in his village, an unfortunate sick worker, a rootless intellectual. And then I gave each and one of these people the possibility to gather around him a group, bigger or smaller depending on his powers, whose leader he shall become. Each Nest with its own boss.I wouldnt name him a nests boss. His powers would name him and lift him; he couldnt become boss if I wanted to, but if he could gather up, persuade and lead a group. In time I ended up, unlike other organizations (which often had their leaders named by the number of gifts given), having numerous born leaders not made leaders. Thats why a Legionary Nest Leader is a concrete reality, a man who you can count on. The Nest boss is the pylon of the organization. Once they multiply these nests group up under command in parishes, webs, counties and provinces. I told them Conquer, organize. And how much you are able to organize, thats what you will end up leading. (Codreanu, 1936)

The Nest are then grouped into unities, either by the criteria of age and gender (Cross Brotherhoods- young men below 19 years old, and Little Cross Brothers- young men below 14 years old, Cetui (tr. fortress) - girls and ladies, future legionaries, legionaries or by the administrative criteria (village, town, county), with their particular bosses who leads the activities and insuring the unity.

B. The Cross Brotherhoods, name which was inspired by the religious tradition of calling cross brothers the children who had been baptized in the same water, were the groups of all pupils and teenagers younger than 19 years old. The role of these nests is to educate the Romanian youth by the following values:

a) Christian Education: they need to recognize God, to love Him and to act by following the Christian teachings.There is a lot of immoral literature that kills the childs soul. He needs to be prevented from drinking this poison.b) National Education: the young Romanian must love his Homeland, his Land. Without homeland he is like a bird without a nest. He must be prevented from the communist literature that rises against God, against the Family, against Proprietorship, against the Army. c) Social Education: in our youths soul there must be nurtured and maintained the Christian feelings of justice and social equity and the thirst of creative work.d) Physical Education: the child needs to be sturdy and healthy because he will be the future soldier who will defend this land. (The Sporting Legion)e) Sanitary Education: he must be protected from the numerous diseases, especially the venereal ones that drain out all the sap of our youth. To sum up, we must take care of the future Romania, which will carry on its shoulders the great responsibility of the Nations existence. (Codreanu, 1936)

The Legionary Movement, before being a political, theoretical, financial, economical movement, is a SPIRITUAL SCHOOL, to which if A MAN shall join, at the other end, A HERO he shall leave. (The Captain, Istrate, 1935). Initially, the leader of the Cross Brotherhoods was Ion I. Moa who created the Cross Brotherhoods Guide. A later revised edition was created by Gheorghe Istrate and published in 1935. In the Guides introduction there were presented the arguments why a child should follow the legionary school, regarded deeply religiously. It was mostly addressed to a childs parents as proven below.In order to truly receive the legionary baptism, a former preparation is necessary, just like the fast before the Holy Communion. The souls cleanliness is a must. So, easier shall be this baptism received by young elements, before they fall into the black sin. Young souls, just like young bodies are easier to be bent. This is why in all the countries of the world, the eyes of those who worry about their nations future look to the young generations. The beliefs with which todays youth is fed will enlighten the leaders of tomorrow as well. Moving from a Nest to another is not allowed. The Nest cannot break down unless for the creation of a new nest. Then theres a family of nests created, and all nests should belong to their family. Separation between rich and poor is not allowed. Separation is only between those who put in different amount of effort and sacrifice for the Legion. The one sacrificing most is the first. A Nest Boss must not lead the nest based on his wish and free will; this would be dictatorship. He must follow the rules. (Codreanu, 1936)The 6 Laws of the Nest 1. The Law of Discipline: Be disciplined, legionary, because this is how you will succeed. Follow your leader for better and for worse.2. The Law of Work: Work, work every day. Work with love. The reward of your work shall not be your personal gain but the thankfulness of having put a brick into the rising of the Legion and into the flourishing of Romania. 3. The Law of Silence: Talk less. Talk about what you must. Talk only when you must. Your oratory is the oratory of the fact. You act. Let others talk. 4. The Law of Education: You must become a different person. A Hero. Educate yourself into the nest. Get to know the Legion well. 5. The Law of Mutual Help: Help your brother fallen into the unfortunate. Dont let him fall deeper.6. The Law of Honor: Walk only on the path of honor. Fight and never be a coward. Let to others the ways of infamy. Than to win by an infamy, you would better fall by fighting in the name of honor.

I emphasize one more time the importance of an essential fact: a nests meeting is incomplete if you will act coldly: What have you done lately?, What else is there to be done?, Lets do this thing and this thing, Good-bye. Let the soul be free. Let space for the soul during the meeting. Act warmly. Give everyone the chance to let go of their worries, difficulties, misfortunes and troubles. To share their joy. Let your nest be a place of tenderness and sharing of happiness. A meeting was then good, when everyone goes back home relieved of their souls burdens and loaded with faith in his own Nation. Joyfulness stimulates to the maximum the creative forces of the nation. Joyfulness cannot be matched in efficiency neither by the sense of duty, nor by discipline or authority. (Codreanu, 1936) Members RecruitmentPlease count on:1) The righteous man, of word, of honor, of trust.2) The bright man, the one with judgment.It is welcomed he who believes in the future of his Romanian Nation and fights to lift it up in the world, to his old glory.Refuse recruiting:1) The loafer man who has no judgment.2) The reprobate man, with no inner health.3) The self-praising man.4) The talkative man.5) The man proving financial interests.6) The man who could not live in full harmony.Unwanted are those who are: poor and unwilling to fight, beggars or those who sell themselves, those who are humble and waiting for a better fate to fall over from the sky. It is better we are fewer but living in a deep fraternity, perfect unity, than more and fighting each other. (Idem, 1936)Part X. Point 64. The legionary and the politicianThe legionary and the politician the man of parties face each other. The man of parties abolishes Romania. Before him, has opened up his chest the legionary. When the man of parties, the politician, peasant or townsman, had joined the party, the first question he asked himself was: What will I gain from here? What will I benefit from? Thats why the country is collapsing and the politicians win. When the legionary joined the Legion he said: For me I want nothing. And asked himself: What can I give away, what can I sacrifice for my country? [] The politicians goal is to build up a fortune; the legionarys goal is to build up a flourishing and strong Homeland. For it we will work and build. For it we will make a hero out of every Romanian, ready to fight, ready to sacrifice, ready to die. To the dark hearts that come to the pure house of God, mercilessly I raise my sword. The Archangel Michael.He who knows how to die shall never be enslaved. - SenecaPoint 65. The legionary and the communistThe legionary is against communists and will fight with all his strength to unmask and bring down the communist wherever he may be. The triumph of the communist movement in Romania would mean the abolishment of Monarchy, Church, Family, Proprietorship and Freedom. It means, in one word, our dispossession of everything that forms the moral patrimony of humankind and of any material goods, in favor of the shady beneficiaries of the communism, which are the Jews. This communist movement gathers all the Legions enemies, who didnt and still dont see well the Great Romania. Point 66. The legionary and the JewThe Jewish problem, visible only into the northern half of the country, invisible but real into the other half, represents for the Romanian nation the biggest threat it has ever met since the beginning of history until today. The legionary is the only person capable of resolving this problem, which he approaches bravely and seriously, and which he will do while also solving the other state issues of same importance and necessity to be solved today. (Codreanu-Sima, 1940)

The Legionary DecalogueThe legionary must hold on to these 10 rules in order to not wander off his glorified road, during these days of orgy and satanic temptation. Because everyone must know we are legionaries and will stay legionaries until the age of ages. 1. DONT BELIEVE in any form of information, news and opinions about the Legionary Movement, read from any paper, even if it may seem nationalist, or whispered to the ear by agents or even goodwill people. The legionary does not believe in anything but in the order and word of his own leader. If this word doesnt come, it means nothing has been changed and the legionary keeps walking onto his path.2. FIGURE OUT well the person who stays in front of you. And weigh him well, both when he is an enemy who wants to cheat on you and when he is a fool friend who was earlier cheated by an enemy.3. KEEP OUT of the great misfortune a stranger who persuades you to do something is. He has an interest and wants to achieve it through you, or to compromise you to the other legionaries. The legionary act only by an order or by his own initiative.4. IF someone wants to corrupt you or buy you: spit him in the eye. The legionaries are no fools and cannot be bought. 5. RUN away from those who want to give you gifts. Never receive anything.6. STRAY from those who praise you or flatter you.7. Where you are only 3 legionaries, live together like brothers do: UNITY, Unity and again Unity. Sacrifice, get over yourself and release of all lust and selfishness for this unification. She, the UNITY, will bring us the victory. Whoever is against unity is also against the legionary triumph.8. DONT TALK BADLY about your comrades. Dont denounce them. Dont whisper in the ear and dont let them whisper into yours. 9. DONT FREAK OUT if you dont receive any orders, news or answers to letters, or if it seems like the fight stagnates. Dont get alarmed, dont take things tragically, because God is above us and your leaders know the good way and they know what they want.10. IN YOUR SOLITUDE pray to God in the name of our dead, for Him to help us get over any suffering until they are over and until the great resurrection and legionary triumph. (Idem, 1940)

The New Man

The kind of man living today in Romanian politics had been met before in history. Under his rule, nations had died and states had been demolished.The biggest national danger lays into our racial disfigurement as Dacian-Romans, giving birth to this kind of man, creating this wreck, this morally born out politician that has nothing to do with the nobility of our race, who dishonors and kills us. If this type of man continues to lead this country, the Romanian Nation will close its eyes forever and Romania will collapse, besides all those shiny programs with which the degenerates trick will succeed to lie to the unfortunate masses. But, before dealing with the Nations flaws, we started to deal with our own sins. We used to hang out for hours in meetings where everyone told the others about the flaws he had observed. And we were focusing on correcting them. It was a delicate problem because thats how the man is made: he doesnt take the criticism easily. Everyone believes he is or wishes to show himself as perfect. But we tell him: lets firstly get to know ourselves and correct our own flaws and only then we will see if we have the right to handle others. The mission of this fight is entrusted to the Romanian youth who, if it wants to answer to this historical mission, if it wishes to live, if it still wishes to possess a country, it must prepare to gather up all its powers to fight and win.That is why the cornerstone of the Legion is the MAN, not the political program; the reform of the man, not the reform of the political programs. The Legion of the Archangel Michael will be, consequently, more of a school and an army than a political party. The Romanian People in these days of its, doesnt need a great political man, as it is wrongly perceived, but a great teacher and leader who shall win over the evil forces and crush the evil set. For this to happen, he firstly needs to crush the evil in himself and in his own kind. Out of this legionary school shall leave a NEW MAN, a man with the qualities of a hero. A giant in the middle of our history who shall fight and win against the enemies of the Homeland, his fight and triumph must be continued beyond, over the invisible enemies, over the forces of evil. Everything that our mind could imagine as the most beautiful soul, everything that our race can nurture as being the most proud, the tallest, the most righteous, strongest, wisest, purest, most diligent and brave of beings, this is what the legionary school must give us! A man who must have had developed to the maximum all the possibilities of human greatness that are already seeded by God in our Nations blood. This hero coming out of the legionary school will know how to make programs, how to organize the state and to persuade other Romanians; and, if not, he will know how to win because this is why he is a hero.This hero, this legionary of bravery, of work, of justice, with the powers of God rooted into his soul, will lead our Nation on the way of greatness.A new political party, may it be even of Cuza inspiration, cannot give more than another government; the legionary school, though, is able to give this country a great kind of Romanian. It can lead to great results that have never been seen before, that will break in two our whole history and will build up a whole new one, a history that this nation deserves, because of its suffering and millennial patience, as well as its purity and nobility of its soul, as it is maybe the only nation in the world that, throughout its entire history, has never known the sin of enslavement, violation or injustice by other nation. We will create a soulful environment, a moral one, in which the hero man shall be born, fed and grown. This environment must be isolated from the rest of the world by soul reinforcements. It must be protected against the dangerous winds of cowardice, corruption, lust and all sins that bury nations and kill individuals. After the legionary would have been raised into this type of environment, in the nest, in the work camp, in the organization and legionary family itself, he shall be send out into the world: to live, to learn to be fair; to fight, to get used to being brave and strong; to work; to suffer in order to strengthen; to sacrifice himself in order to get over himself, by serving his Nation. Wherever he may go, he will create a new environment of similar nature. He will stand out as an example. He will make other legionaries. And the people, looking for better days, will follow him. The newcomers will need to live into respect for the same norms of the legionary life.All together into the same army they will be a force that will fight and triumph. This will be the Legion of the Archangel Michael! (Codreanu, 1936)

III. Corneliu Zelea-Codreanu the man

Corneliu Zelea-Codreanus family was originally from Bucovina. The grandfather from his father part was a forester. He was named Zilinschi and his grandmother was named Antec. Their son Iohan Zilinschi married Eliza Brauner, of Bavarian roots, in 1889. Later on, Codreanu received many accusations of him not being a pure Romanian, despite his nationalism. However, the legionaries referred to the Russian influence in Bucovina that forced many people to change their names into ones that sounded more Russian-like, hence, the transition from Zelea to Zilinschi (Micarea legionar, 1938). Cornelius parents moved to Iai and then to Hui in only 2 years after they got married. In 1901, Iohan and Eliza established in Hui (Banea, 1936) where Iohan started to teach German and Romanian at the local high-school. Later on, Iohan decided to change his name into Ioan Zelea-Codreanu (Neagoe, 1977).Codreanul (tr. the forester) was a nickname of his father referring to his profession (Charl, 1940).The reasons why Ioan Zelea-Codreanu emigrated from Bucovina to Moldova remain unknown, but possibly political. He was a strong nationalist and anti-Semitist. He was known to have been slightly off the reality and possessed by an exaggerated orthodox mysticism (Marghiloman, 1927). He always seemed insecure and developed an authoritarian political mindset. He would respond aggressively and violently to criticism (Iorga, 1939)Before 1916, Ion Zelea-Codreanu was among the leaders of the National-Democrat Party. He wasnt into LANC, though he shortly joined the Legion. Corneliu was the biggest son of seven brothers and sisters of the Zelea-Codreanu family. Born on the 13th of September 1899 in Iai, his godfather was A.C. Cuza himself (Tharaud, Tharaud, 1939). The name Corneliu is the saint celebrated on the 13th of September by the Christian-Orthodox. It is the name of a roman centurion, the only soldier the Orthodox Church ever venerated, brave and fearful of God, as a Romanian should be (Georgescu, 1966).During gymnasium he studied at the Military School of the Dealu Monastery. He was not a bright student but this school helped him improve his natural organizational skills which he later used in the Legion: nests, brotherhoods, marches. (Emilian, 1958) He had just finished the 9th grade when Romania got into World War I, joining the Entante. He considered that the country needed his help so he joined his father to the front. He was barely 17 when he was sent back home from the war. The 10th grade he studied at the infantry school in Botoani. After that, he moved back to Hui where he also graduated high-school. (Banea, 1936)

IV. ConsequencesEven though the relation of Codreanu and the Legion with the external Fascist politics of Germany and Italy was obvious, in reality, there was never any concrete proof of neither a Romanian impairment or of any collaboration between them at the beginning of the 30s. In 1935, the Legion officially subscribed its related political party, Totul pentru ar (tr. all for the country), onto the election lists. Three years later, while the Germans were invading Austria, Romania began to feel more and more insecure. While the Minister of War, General Antonescu, always had a neutral position towards the Legion, by which he gained the Legions admiration, The King Carol II and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Armand Clinescu (who belonged to the Party of National Peasants), were deeply concerned about the fact that the fascists were about to conquer the country through the Legion. Clinescu was the one that proposed the king to arrest all the legionary leaders including Codreanu and to issue a decree by which the party Totul pentru ar shall be dissolved. Hence, in February 1938, Codreanu issued a manifesto in which he declared:[] We announce all members that, starting with today, 21st February 1938, the party Totul pentru ar no longer exists. (Note: the party has been disbanded, which is the political expression of the Movement, not the Legionary Movement itself.)The entire leadership agreed that the reason of its existence ceased. []The reasons that determined us are:Royal Decree No. 870 of 17th February 1938, consists of the following:a) State clerks cannot do politics, can no longer belong to political parties. b) The ones who are not clerks, which is the rest of the citizens, if they act politically, they will be sanctioned. c) The leadership will be sanctioned if it still sends manifestos, orders, provisions.

So, we are being thrown from the Right to the Force. However, we will not answer to it. We understood to act in the frame of Law, by expressing our beliefs. If we cannot do this anymore and if any expression of belief is forbidden, the reason of our partys existence has ceased. We do not wish to use force. We do not wish to use violence. We had enough past experience when, without our own will, we were attracted to use violence. We will no longer answer to any act of violence: we BEAR, even when the entire Romanian nation is considered to be a herd of unconscious animals. []In the spare time we will have, I urge all young men to study as deep as they can in the field of their craft or occupation. I, myself, will leave next month to Rome, to get involved into the French and Italian translation of my book. Also, I will write the second volume.And now, at the hour of our dissolving, we as Romanias youth raised in the legionary belief want to thank to the generation of elderly politicians for the way they treated us, for the examples of personality, honor, dignity and lawfulness they gave us. Closing this sad page we remain bounded to Moa and Marins spirits and to all the others who pray to God for us. Comrades from villages and towns, mountains and fields, believe in the legionary future of Romania, which cannot be stopped by neither hate, nor cunning conspiracy or death! (Codreanu, 1938)

Two months later, on 16th of April 1938, Codreanu was arrested (Le moment, 1938). Initially he was accused of defamatory attacks over Iorga, with a punishment of 6 months of imprisonment. Only a few hours later he was accused of attacking the public safety. His trial was not developing according to the rule of law, and the sentence was already known to be 10 years of hard labor, 6 years of loss of civil rights and a fee of 5000 lei. During the next month, 33 people were arrested only in Bucharest for illegal activities in the Legion of the Archangel Michael and for possession of weapons, with punishments ranging from one month to 6 years.

With all these arrests, on 16th of June 1938, Horia Sima, a philosophy teacher in Lugoj, took the leadership over the Legion (Palaghia, 1951). Even though Codreanu told all the legionaries to keep a silent in any circumstance, Sima seemed to act very violently and revolutionary. No matter how many manifestos Codreanu sent from prison, Sima knew he had a better sense of reality by simply living in the outter world. Hence, Codreanus voice was ignored. By an order form the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Armand Clinescu, on the 30 of November, during the morning, Codreanu and other legionaries were being transferred from Rmnicu-Srat to Jilava. Their transfer was never completed due to the fact that all of them had been strangled by the accompanying guardians. Officialy it was said that they had tried to escape, the strangling being their punishment. The assassination of Codreanu brought much insecurity throughout the legionaries, both arrested and free. Horia Codreanu, brother of Corneliu, wanted to lead the Legion even though he had never been a legionary.

During the late 30s and the beginning of the 40s, General Antonescu was named by the king Carol II, the president of the country. Under his rule, Romania finally became National Legionary State, Horia Sima being the vice-president. However, Antonescu didnt want the Legion to have much political influence, as he thought they werent prepared for this, but wanted them to continue the education of the countrys youth. The limitation of political influence consisted in giving the only four Ministeries: Internal Affairs, External Affairs, Education and Health, Work and Social Protection. General Antonescu himself supported the Legion by calling people to join it. The Legionaries were supposed to create a nation and a country full of greatness, in the spirit of the Captain, the People, the King and the General. However, Sima and Antonescu didnt get along well because Simas legionaries were vandalizing the country. The Legionary Police, under the rule of Sima, used to act violently, invading the homes of those who they thought were enemies, and killing them. This behavior was opposed to the one nurtured by Codreanu, and soon Sima found himself cornered by both internal and external forces.In January 1941, Hitler invited both Antonescu and Sima to discuss internal politics problems in Romania. Sima refused to join Antonescu, invoking fear of flight. Antonescu went by himself, knowing about the advantage he had, as Romania was the key territory for Germany who was already invading Greece (and occupied the South-Western part of Romania since December 1940) and who was also planning to attack Russia. Hence, he knew that Romanias internal stability was important for Hitler. Finally, Antonescu was supposed to lead the Legion himself, conclusion taken by everyone, including Hitler and Mussolini.

Starting with less than 1000 members (1929), by 1937, the Legion had 34,000 nests, 272,000 members and obtained 15,58% in the elections, a total of 478,378 votes. The work camp under Codreanus direct ruling, named Carmen Sylva consisted of 710 men, 82 women and 50 kids. 70% of the members had higher education. 98 members refused to declare any specialization of work. Most of men were students (170), followed by graduates of superior schools and faculties (65) and clerks (59). Most of women were housewives (30) and students (26), 12 pupils and one hairdresser (Macrin, 1935).

Conclusions

Romania had the most influent fascist movement throughout the masses, in Europe, that failed. The educational system of the Legion was very well regarded by both the masses and later on by General Antonescu. The beliefs, both religious and moral, seemed to have helped many young people in the transitional society of Interwar Romania. In times of insecurity, religion and culture are the way out. Codreanu was always stimulating his pupils to learn and sharpen their skills. But, the reason why the Legion failed socially consisted of the exaggerated power they were entrusted with, the fanaticism which lead them to act illegally.

The psychological impact the Legion had over the young men and women of the Romanian society, consisted in giving them a sense of belonging, ever since they were children. The nests acted in this way. The boys, particularly between the ages of 16-19, revealed themes of loss, distrust, and desire. They spoke of losing their closest male friendships and of feeling less trusting and more wary of their male peers in particular. Their fears of betrayal intensified as they grew older, and that meant, for many, that emotionally intimate male friendships were no longer possible. Yet boys also spoke of wanting such a relationship despite the fact that it was so difficult to find. (Way, 2011) This is exactly what the Legion gave them above all. While most society was still rural and many kids were leaving home to join better schools, high-schools or universities, as shown above, the youth migration increased. The Legion sensed this loneliness throughout young Romanians and specifically addressed to it. Everything was about the lonely man and took into account the heterogeneous society of interwar Romania. This is way the Legion succeeded to address to the masses.

Whether the Movement had a positive or negative impact is beyond the scope of this paper and it also does not approach a detailed history. Its purpose is to pass on information about this large movement that The Legion of the Archangel Michael was and to let you decide over the content of its beliefs.

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