Turkey's Role in Romanian's Diplomatic Struggle (original) (raw)

The present study aimed to to focus on the intense diplomatic activity developed by Romania in efforts to negotiate an armistice with the Allies especially between September 1943 and August 1944. Romania which was joined into the Axis Countries upon executing an agreement with Germany would have felt the Soviet threat on its borders upon defeat of Germany in Stalingrad front. On the other hand, although Turkey had saved its neutral position from the beginning of the war, it had tried to support Romania, its ally in the Balkan Pact, in a political dimension in case the risk of Soviet expansion across the Balkans. As Turkey did not desire Romania to be partitioned, it played an active role in regard to making a fare ceasefire agreement between Romanian Government and the Allies. Starting the spring of 1943, the Romanian diplomacy, including here Ion Antonescu Marshal, the King and the opposition parties, engaging in consistent separate peace negotiations with the United Kingdom using the mediation of Turkey. The paper is based on unpublished documents found in the Romanian diplomatic and national archives.