Socialist Republic of Romania facts for kids

From 1947 to 1989, Romania was a socialist republv. From 1947 to 1965, it was called Romanian People's Republic (Republica Populară Romînă, RPR). In 1965, Nicolae Ceaușescu came to power. He succeeded Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, who died of cancer that year. To reflect the change, the state was renamed to Socialist Republic of Romania. After the fall of the Berlin wall, in 1989, there was a revolution. Protesters wanted Ceaușescu to step down. During demostrations, Romanian Secret police, Securitate used weapons. Part of the regular armed forces joined the protests. Over 1000 preople were killed in the fights that resulted. Ceaușescu was captured, and tried before a military tribunal. The tribunal sentenzed him and his wife to death. TOgether with his wife, he was shot, on December 25, 1989. Ion Iliescu became the new president.

Images for kids

• 

  The Socialist Republic of Romania in 1966

• 

  Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej speaking at a workers' rally in Nation Square, Bucharest after the 1946 general election

• 

  Armed resistance against the government

• 

  Nicolae Ceaușescu

• 

  23 August demonstration

• 

  1979 postage stamp

• 

  A queue for cooking oil in Bucharest, 1986

• 

  A propaganda poster on the streets of Bucharest, 1986. The caption reads "65 years since the creation of the Romanian Communist Party", while the background states "Ceaușescu Era" and "The Party. Ceaușescu. Romania."

• 

  Civic Center, Bucharest

• 

  The Communist government fostered the personality cult of Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena.

• 

  1949 stamp celebrating Romanian-Soviet friendship.