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Iron Guard
Sign in to saveAlso known as Legion of the Archangel Michael, Totul pentru Ţară
Romanian ultranationalist movement (1930–1941)
The Iron Guard was a Romanian ultranationalist and fascist movement that was active from the 1930s until 1941, known for its extreme ideology and violent activism during that period. It matters historically as an important example of fascism in Eastern Europe and for its significant influence on Romanian politics before and during World War II.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Leader
- Corneliu Zelea Codreanu Horia Sima
- Foundation
- 24 June 1927 ; 98 years ago ( 1927-06-24 )
- Split from
- National-Christian Defense League
- Headquarters
- Green House, Bucureștii Noi
- Ideology
- Legionarism Ultranationalism Populism Antisemitism
- Political position
- Far-right
- Notable attacks
- Killing of I. Gh. Duca Killing of Armand Călinescu Jilava Prison massacre 1941 rebellion and pogrom
- Size
- 272,000 (late 1937 estimation</span>"}]]}'>est. )
- Part of
- ABN (from 1943) WLFD (post-war)
- Allies
- OUN ( Melnykites )
- Battles and wars
- Anti-communist resistance
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Flag of the Iron Guard (Legion of the Archangel Michael or Legionary Movement).svg
Show 4 more facts
- dissolved, abolished or demolished date
- 1945-01-01
- inception
- 1927-07-24
- Commons category
- Iron Guard
- sRGB color hex triplet
- 2E8B57
Sources (3)
via Wikidata · CC0
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Article
The Iron Guard (Romanian: Garda de Fier) was a far-right, revolutionary, fascist paramilitary organization and political party active in the Kingdom of Romania during the interwar period and the Second World War. Founded in 1927 by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu as the Legion of the Archangel Michael (Legiunea Arhanghelul Mihail) or the Legionary Movement (Mișcarea Legionară), the movement was strongly anti-democratic, anti-communist, and antisemitic, and its ideology inspired both political violence and forms of Christian terrorism. It differed from other European far-right movements of the period due to its spiritual basis, as the Iron Guard was deeply imbued with Romanian Orthodox Christian mysticism.
In March 1930, Codreanu formed the Iron Guard as a paramilitary branch of the Legion, which in 1935 changed its official name to the "Totul pentru Țară" party—literally, "Everything for the Country". It existed into the early part of the Second World War, during which time it came to power. Members were called Legionnaires or, outside of the movement, "Greenshirts" because of the predominantly green uniforms they wore.