Jews in Bucharest and other Rumanian cities shunned the streets today following reports that Iron Guard terrorist “shock troops,” defying Premier Antonescu’s decree to maintain order, have invaded synagogues and Jewish shops in several provincial towns and terrorized the Jews there.
In Bucharest the Jewish population will avoid being seen on the streets for at least three days, in order to eliminate the possibility of anti-Jewish provocations during the three-day ceremony which started today over the remains of Cornelius Zelea Codreanu, notorious anti-Semitic leader of the Iron Guard for whose assassination the Iron Guardist “shock troops” are now taking revenge. The ceremony is taking place in an old Greek Orthodox church located in the centre of Bucharest surrounded by streets thickly-populated with Jews.
Thousands of Iron Guardists from all parts of the country today started their pilgrimage to this church where lie the coffins of Codreanu and 13 other Iron Guard leaders shot in a prison near Bucharest about two years ago. The climax of the ceremony will be reached on Saturday night when the official burial is scheduled to take place. It is expected that many Jewish enterprises in Bucharest will remain closed until after the burial is over.
Soldiers were today patrolling the streets of Bucharest to prevent street disturbances, but tension continued to prevail.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
