Gathering even the tiniest admissions and hints. Listening to the revelations of those who had been victims. Only to become torturers themselves later on. I came to comprehend the tragedy that had been consummated within the prison walls of Romania. And to understand how a psychological experiment. As novel as it was criminal and degrading. Could.
Over a period of time transform humanity
Several scores of students with whom I discussed what happened. To them and whose confessions of their own experiences and personal ruin I heard. Provided me with the basic information. The present work is a composite picture of their tragedy. It has been written to call attention to the “Pitesti Phenomenon.” but is by no means an effort to exhaust the subject.
As incomplete as it is — for the magnitude of . The subject exceeds the powers of any single individual — I bring this book as a witness to my brothers in exile so they may more clearly visualize the hell unleashed over their fatherland and over all. The countries engulfed by the Soviet Empire. What happened in Romania could have happened — probably did happen — in every other captive country. the authors and perpetrators of the terrors being one and the same people in all lands.
The inauguration of the Communist
Regime in Romania was the result of historical circumstances in which the Romanian people undoubtedly played the least important role. Whether it was short-sightedness or self-interest that caused Communism’s advent in Romania. has now become a question for history to answer; to search today for the determinants of this tragedy is perhaps useless. or in any event merely academic. One fact. however. is certain.
The Romanians not only did not want such a regime. they did not even dream that something like it was possible. because — perhaps as in job function email list no other European country — no Communist Party had existed in pre-war Romania. not even a Communist problem. The clandestine Communist organization. according to both its boss and the files of the police. had a total of 820 members — and almost half of those were agents of the state police!
I met many of them in prisons
The surprise which benumbed the the results: immense success nation at first. later gave way to anxiety. The public in its entirety reacted from the start against Communist violence. which was initially supported by the short-sightedness of political parties and adventurers. but later on only by the Soviet battalions and secret police.
The downfall of the monarchy on Dec. 30. 1947 marked the starting point; it was the signal for a Communist offensive on all fronts to destroy the foundations of the nation and replace them with Soviet tyranny. This new state of affairs virgin islands mobile data compelled the Romanian citizen to choose between two alternatives; one being collaboration with the Communists. offering honors. a life free from want. and high position; the other carrying the risk of joblessness. incarceration in the cellars of the Securitate. or even loss of life itself.