CORNELIU ZELEA CODREANU
The Captain
by Radbod
"In place of the weak and beaten man who bends with every breeze, a
man who is all too common in politics and other fields, we must create for this
nation a man who does not bend, who is inflexible."
Codreanu was born on September 13, 1899 in Iasi, Romania. He became a
Romanian political activist and founder of the country's principal National
Revolutionary movement, the Iron Guard. Codreanu participated widely in
anti-communist and pro-Christian activities during his university years at Iasi
(1919-22). Active in the Romanian student movement against liberals in 1922 he
helped found the Association of Christian Students, which, from 1923 to 1927,
he affiliated with the League of National Christian Defense (LANC), headed by
university Professor A.C. Cuza. Codreanu was arrested and imprisoned in 1923
for threatening to kill "traitors"; arrested again on a murder charge
in 1925, he was acquitted.
The Christian Defense League enlisted a considerable number of well-educated
men, probably the élite of Romania's intellectuals but it never had the
slightest chance of attaining such political power that it could sensibly
influence the destiny of Romania. So in 1927 Codreanu broke with the LANC to
form his movement.
On June 24, 1927, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, together with a few battle-tested
comrades, founded the Legion of the Archangel St. Michael. In all his writings,
Codreanu, known to all Romanians as "The Captain", referred to the
Legion of the Archangel Michael as the Legionary Movement.
In 1930 he also established a militant subdivision within this group called the
Iron Guard (1930), the name which outsiders would eventually apply to the
movement at large. Of great significance on the occasion of the founding of the
Legion of the Archangel Michael are Codreanu's words: "Those whose
faith in God and the Legion have no boundary should enter our ranks. Those who
waver and doubt should stay out."
The Legion of the Archangel Michael represented a nationalistic movement,
whose aim was to change the individual and create a new "state of
mind" of the nation. The Movement itself was not a political party. However,
the Movement participated in the political arena in Romania with a party known
as "Everything For The Fatherland" (TOTUL PENTRU TARA). In the
elections of 1937 this party had a resounding success. By 1937 it had become
the third largest party in the state.
The religious difference prevented cooperation between the Iron Guard and the
LANC, although both had the same primary objective, the liberation of Romania
from domination and exploitation by its voracious and insatiable parasites. In
the name of Cuza's organization, 'Christian' was probably used ambiguously to
mean 'non-Jewish.' The organization's leaders and publications were
rationalistic. Professor Cuza's creed was the elegant scepticism of Renan. Professor
Iorga's historical works treat Christianity with cold objectivity. And Octavian
Goga ... seems to have held at heart a view of Christianity similar to that set
forth in Nietzsche's famous Genealogy of Morals.
With the Legionary Movement Codreanu almost attained in Romania the
position held by Mussolini in Italy and by Hitler in Germany. It can be
reasonably argued that he would have succeeded, had he not had to face an
obstacle they did not have to surmount, a stupid and venal king. With the help
of the political leaders and the Judeo-Masonic conspiracy, King Carol II
abolished the constitution and assumed dictatorial power. The first act of
suppression of the new dictator was the dissolution of all political parties. Despite
official persecution by the pro-nazi state, the Iron Guard had become a
powerful movement within the country; but the electoral successes of
"Everything For The Fatherland" moved the dictatorial king Carol II
to dissolve it in January and imprison Codreanu in April 1938. This started the
most brutal persecution of the Legionary Movement. During this time all the
leaders of the Movement were arrested and incarcerated in concentration camps
and prisons. From 1938 to 1940 Romanian jails were filled with Legionnaires. After
having appeased Hitler and having obtained his assurance of "no
interference in internal affairs", Carol II ordered the assassination
of Codreanu. During the night of November 29-30, 1938, Codreanu and thirteen
Legionnaires were strangled to death on orders of the corrupt totalitarian King
Carol II in the hand of a Judeo-Masonic conspiracy. Most of the leaders of the
Legionary Movement were killed during the followin period of time, taken out of
prisons and concentration camps and machine-gunned to death.
From 1938 to 1940 the Legionary Movement was headed by different
Legionnaires. All of these leaders were killed.
On September 3, 1940 Horia Sima succeeded in over- throwing Carol II. After
this "over-throw" of the King, Horia Sima was accepted and anointed
as the leader of the Movement. In the new government of Romania, Horia Sima
took the position of Vice President.
In January 1941 General Antonescu, with the help of Hitler, assumed military
dictatorship and unleashed a new persecution against the Legionary Movement. Horia
Sima and over 400 Legionnaires took refuge in Germany. As political refugees,
Horia Sima and the other Legionnaires were incarcerated in the concentration
camps of Buchenwald, Dachau and Oranienburg.
In August 23, 1944 King Michael, with the help of the leaders of the political
parties, arrested General Antonescu and committed the shameful act of treason
against its ally, Germany. The Romanian army entered the war against Germany.
On August 26, 1944 Horia Sima formed the National Romanian Government and
became the President of the Romanian Government, with headquarters in Vienna. The
Legionary Movement in Exile, under the leadership of Horia Sima, continued the
fight against communism.
As the American scholar Dr. Revilo Oliver stated, the Iron Guard and the
career of Corneliu Zelea Codreanu deserve the closest study by all who are
interested in the dynamics of politics. The force of Codreanu's charisma is
shown by the devotion he inspired. Time has not withered it. Forty-five years
and more after he was murdered, forty years after the country was seized by the
Soviet arm of the Judaeo-Communists who triumphed in 1945, the loyal survivors
of the Iron Guard are working to ensure the preservation of the historical
record by having the essential documents translated into the major languages of
Europe.
"There is, among all those in various parts of the world who serve
their people, a kinship of sympathy, as there is such a kinship among those who
labour for the destruction of peoples."
"This country is dying of lack of men, not of lack of programmes: at least
this is our opinion. That, in other words, it is not programmes that we must
have, but men, new men."
"But the most important of all is the spiritual patrimony, because it
alone bears the seal of eternity, it alone transcends all times. The ancient
Greeks are with us today not because of their physiques, no matter how
athletic--those are only ashes now--nor because of their material wealth, if
they had such, but because of their culture.A nation lives forever through its
concepts, honor, and culture. It is for these reasons that the rulers of
nations must judge and act not only on the basis of physical and material
interests of the nation but on the basis of the nation's historical honor, of
the nation's eternal interests. Thus: not bread at all costs, but honor at all
costs."
"All the enemy's attempts against us will be crushed; all plans to tempt
us, all endeavors to buy our souls, all endeavors to divide us, as well as any
betrayals among ourselves, all will fall to the ground. Look them right in the
eye - all your tyrants! Endure with resignation all blows, support any torture,
for the sacrifice of all of us will be the foundation of iron, of broken bodies,
and of tortured souls for victory.
Those from among us who will fall, will have heroes' names and graves! While
those who will kill us, will carry the stigma of traitor and will be accused
from generation to generation. From the dephts the legionary emerges victorius!
With his soul of rock. Those believing they can defeat him as well as those who
think they can buy him, will be convinced soon - but too late - that they were
mistaken."
In a materialistic world Codreanu based his Movement on the following principles:
I .... FAITH IN GOD
Corneliu Codreanu was of the firm conviction that politics could not be
separated from religion. Only men who have respect for the Divine Order can
become true patriots.
2.... NATIONAL IDENTITY
Corneliu Codreanu believed that nations are divine creations and not mere
products of history and geography. He also believed that every nation has a
mission to fulfill in the world. Only nations that betray their God-given
mission disappear from the face of the earth.
3 .... MAN --- A DIVINE CREATION
Man is a bearer of superior values which transcend his particular existence. As
such, being a divine creation, his spiritual values precede all material needs.
For the realization of these values, the individual must fight and sacrifice
throughout his life.
Among his principles there exists a hierarchical order. The individual is
subordinate to his nation, and, in turn, the nation is subordinate to God and
His divine laws.
A Word For My Legionaries (by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu)
After fifteen years of struggle, persecution and lives
sacrificed, the youth of Romania must know that the time of legionary victory
is at hand.
All the enemy's attempts against us will be crushed; all plans to tempt
us, all endeavors to buy our souls, all endeavors to divide us, as well as any
betrayals among ourselves, all will fall to the ground.
Look them right in the eye - all your tyrants! Endure with resignation
all blows, support any torture, for the sacrifice of all of us will be the
foundation of iron, of broken bodies, and of tortured souls for victory.
Those from among us who will fall, will have heroes' names and graves! While
those who will kill us, will carry the stigma of traitor and will be accused
from generation to generation.
From the depths the legionary emerges victorious! With his soul of rock.
Those believing they can defeat him as well as those who think they can buy
him, will be convinced soon - but too late - that they were mistaken.