Mihail R. Sturdza
Encyclopedia
Prince Mihail R. Sturdza (1886–1980). Romanian nobleman and diplomat. Was a descendant of the wealthy and influential Sturdza family
of Romanian landowners, politicians and boyar
s. Played a brief role in Romanian interwar politics.
Mihail Sturdza, originally a conservative and nationalist, was a member of the Iron Guard
and developed strong fascist and antisemitic convictions. As a supporter of the leader of the Iron Guard Horia Sima
, he was a brief period (September 14, 1940 - January 26, 1941) Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania during the so called National Legionary State
after the abdication of King Carol II.
After several diplomatic posts (e.g. in Vienna, Budapest and in Washington as chargé d'affaires
) Sturdza was in 1929 appointed as minister plenipotentiary for Latvia, Estonia and Finland, in Riga. In that capacity he acted in 1932 as Romania's repressentative in the negotiations with Soviet Russia about a non-aggression agreement. The negotiations failed, due to the Russian demand to discuss the disputed territory of Bessarabia
, which was part of Romania by then.
Sturdza was from 1938 Romanian ambassador in Denmark. In that capacity he was involved in the assassination of Romania's Prime Minister Armand Călinescu
on 21 September 1939. It seems that the action was carried out with German approval and assistance. On September 1, representatives of Germany, Fascist Italy
and the Iron Guard met with Sturdza in Copenhagen to discuss Călinescu's killing.
As Foreign Minister Sturdza attended with the German minister of Foreign Affairs Joachim von Ribbentrop
the signature on November 23, 1940 of the Tripartite Pact
with nazi-Germany between Adolf Hitler
and the Romanian head of government General Ion Antonescu. In December 1940 Sturdza obtained the replacement of the German ambassador Wilhelm Fabricius with Manfred Freiherr von Killinger
, perceived as more sympathetic to the Iron Guard. After the clash between the Iron Guard and General Ion Antonescu
in January 1941 (see Legionary Rebellion), which was won by the latter, Sturdza had to resign. Antonescu took over leadership of the ministry, with the compliant diplomat Constantin Greceanu as his right hand.
After the defeat of the Iron Guard in January 1940 Sturdza followed party leader Horia Sima into exile; first in Sofia, Bulgaria and afterward in Germany and Denmark. Sturdza became again Minister of Foreign Affairs in a Romanian pro-Nazi puppet government in Vienna from 10 December 1944 until the end of World War II.
After WW II Sturdza fled first to Denmark, where he stayed till 1947. Afterward he found refuge in Fascist Spain and later in USA, were he kept strong ties with other members of the Iron Guard in exile. He wrote several publications about the history of his native country and international affairs. In later years he was involved in rightwing organisations. In 1968 he published his memoirs, which took approval in rightwing circles for the cold war- and anti-communist points of view.
Sturdza family
Sturdza, Sturza or Stourdza is the name of an old Romanian family, whose origins can be traced back to the 1540s.The Sturdza family has been long and intimately associated with the government first of Moldavia and afterwards of Romania...
of Romanian landowners, politicians and boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
s. Played a brief role in Romanian interwar politics.
Mihail Sturdza, originally a conservative and nationalist, was a member of the Iron Guard
Iron Guard
The Iron Guard is the name most commonly given to a far-right movement and political party in Romania in the period from 1927 into the early part of World War II. The Iron Guard was ultra-nationalist, fascist, anti-communist, and promoted the Orthodox Christian faith...
and developed strong fascist and antisemitic convictions. As a supporter of the leader of the Iron Guard Horia Sima
Horia Sima
Horia Sima was a Romanian fascist politician. After 1938, he was the second and last leader of the fascist and antisemitic para-military movement known as the Iron Guard.-In Romania:...
, he was a brief period (September 14, 1940 - January 26, 1941) Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania during the so called National Legionary State
National Legionary State
The National Legionary State was the Romanian government from September 6, 1940 to January 23, 1941. It was a single-party regime dictatorship dominated by the overtly fascist Iron Guard in uneasy conjunction with the head of government and Conducător Ion Antonescu, the leader of the Romanian...
after the abdication of King Carol II.
After several diplomatic posts (e.g. in Vienna, Budapest and in Washington as chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
) Sturdza was in 1929 appointed as minister plenipotentiary for Latvia, Estonia and Finland, in Riga. In that capacity he acted in 1932 as Romania's repressentative in the negotiations with Soviet Russia about a non-aggression agreement. The negotiations failed, due to the Russian demand to discuss the disputed territory of Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
, which was part of Romania by then.
Sturdza was from 1938 Romanian ambassador in Denmark. In that capacity he was involved in the assassination of Romania's Prime Minister Armand Călinescu
Armand Calinescu
Armand Călinescu was a Romanian economist and politician, who served as Prime Minister between March 1939 and the time of his death.-Early life:...
on 21 September 1939. It seems that the action was carried out with German approval and assistance. On September 1, representatives of Germany, Fascist Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
and the Iron Guard met with Sturdza in Copenhagen to discuss Călinescu's killing.
As Foreign Minister Sturdza attended with the German minister of Foreign Affairs Joachim von Ribbentrop
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945. He was later hanged for war crimes after the Nuremberg Trials.-Early life:...
the signature on November 23, 1940 of the Tripartite Pact
Tripartite Pact
The Tripartite Pact, also the Three-Power Pact, Axis Pact, Three-way Pact or Tripartite Treaty was a pact signed in Berlin, Germany on September 27, 1940, which established the Axis Powers of World War II...
with nazi-Germany between Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and the Romanian head of government General Ion Antonescu. In December 1940 Sturdza obtained the replacement of the German ambassador Wilhelm Fabricius with Manfred Freiherr von Killinger
Manfred Freiherr von Killinger
Manfred Freiherr von Killinger was a German naval officer, Freikorps leader, military writer and Nazi politician. A veteran of World War I and member of the Marinebrigade Ehrhardt during the German Revolution, he took part in the violent intervention against the Bavarian Soviet Republic...
, perceived as more sympathetic to the Iron Guard. After the clash between the Iron Guard and General Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
in January 1941 (see Legionary Rebellion), which was won by the latter, Sturdza had to resign. Antonescu took over leadership of the ministry, with the compliant diplomat Constantin Greceanu as his right hand.
After the defeat of the Iron Guard in January 1940 Sturdza followed party leader Horia Sima into exile; first in Sofia, Bulgaria and afterward in Germany and Denmark. Sturdza became again Minister of Foreign Affairs in a Romanian pro-Nazi puppet government in Vienna from 10 December 1944 until the end of World War II.
After WW II Sturdza fled first to Denmark, where he stayed till 1947. Afterward he found refuge in Fascist Spain and later in USA, were he kept strong ties with other members of the Iron Guard in exile. He wrote several publications about the history of his native country and international affairs. In later years he was involved in rightwing organisations. In 1968 he published his memoirs, which took approval in rightwing circles for the cold war- and anti-communist points of view.