Legionaries salute their leader, Horia Sima.
The Legion of the Archangel Michael, known in the foreign press as the Iron Guard, was the principal fascist movement in Romania during the interwar period. Led by the charismatic Corneliu Codreanu until his death in 1938, the Iron Guard reached the height of its power under Horia Sima and Ion Antonescu during World War II. The Iron Guard was violent, anti-Semitic and nationalistic, characteristics common to all European fascist movements. However, the Iron Guard had important ideological and operative differences that distinguished it from other fascist movements in Europe. The Iron Guard's deeply religious principles and ability to appeal to peasants and young people, who comprised most of the Iron Guard's members, make it surprisingly unique among fascist movements that tended to reject religion and appeal, for the most part, to veterans. In addition, the Iron Guard was the only fascist movement (other than Hitler and Mussolini) to come to power without the assistance of a foreign nation. The Iron Guard represents a fascinating and extraordinary anecdote in the history of European fascism.
This page explores the history, leadership, ideology, culture and anti-Semitism of the Iron Guard.
This web page was created as a class project for The Culture of Fascism in 20th Century Europe at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA. All graphics are reproduced here for educational purposes only and no copyright infringement is intended. No money will be made from their use.