In examining the decision-making process in the Turkish government during the Second World War years two factors must be kept in mind; the government during this period was authoritarian, and power was very centralized. The Grand National Assembly, the Parliamentary Group of the CHP, the Cabinet and Inönü. This power structure included practically all the politically active elements in Turkish society. Yet despite Italy’s entry into the war in 1940-06 and the subsequent Axis campaign in the Balkans, which culminated in Germany’s invasion and defeat of Yugoslavia and Greece in spring 1941, Turkey did not become a military partner of the Allies as Britain and France had expected in 1939. Germany’s defeat of the latter in 1940 and its near-unstoppable military expansion had put a damper upon the commitment of the Turkish government to the Allies. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941-06, the balance within the Turkish government took a more pronounced tilt towards the Nazi regime. By mid-1941, Turkey found itself in the curious situation of being bound to Germany in the Treaty of Friendship and Non-aggression of 1941-06-18 while, at the same time, still acknowledging its mutual assistance treaty with Britain.

Founded in 1927

The Garda de Fier was a fascist and anti-Semitic movement in Romania, whose members were known as ‘Legionnaires’. Originally established in 1927 under the name ‘legion of the Archangel Michael’ and organized into paramilitary units, the Garda de Fier soon became a mass political movement. It was officially dissolved in 1933, but continued to function, even receiving the third largest number of votes in Romania’s 1937 election. During the mid-1930s the Garda de Fier also established ties with the Nazi regime in Germany. In 1938, Romania’s King Carol II again outlawed the Garda de Fier. Nonetheless, in 1940-09 he made a deal with the movement and invited its leaders into the government. The Garda de Fier immediately launched a wave of terror against Romania’s Jews in hopes of removing them from Romanian life. The passed racist laws and revitalized their ties with the Nazis and the fascist government in Italy. In 1941-01 the Garda de Fier unsuccessfully attempted to take over the government completely. The failed coup was accompanied by pogroms, in which 123 Jews were killed. Most of the Garda de Fier leaders then fled to Germany. After the war, many of the Garda de Fier members escaped to Spain and Portugal, where they avoided trial as war criminals.