Talk:Soviet occupation of Romania

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12/11/05 - 04/05/2007

Split proposal

I have proposed splitting the article into two articles. The new article could be named liberation of Romania. The Royal Coup could also be included in this article.

The cut-off day could be the Romanian Armed Forces Day, October 25 (1944). The new article could then discuss the relative merits of the Romanian and Soviet forces in the liberation. Also, it would be much easier to discuss the Soviet-Romanian cooperation (or the lack of it) under a title different from "Soviet occupation of...".

A new intro for this article could start:

After the liberation of Romania in 1944 by Romanian and Soviet forces, the Red Army stayed on as an occupying force...

-- Petri Krohn 15:37, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

Sure. But I still don't understand why it should affect this article? Because it gives some brief information (which most of it probably would have been mentioned anyway) in the lead and the background section?

You should rather argue for splits (or better at this moment only supplementary details/sections) in articles like Battle of Romania (1944) or Romania during World War II#The Royal Coup. Daizus 15:49, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

I'm not convinced - this article still needs to get bigger before a split should be considered. By the way, may I point out that Petri Krohn has created a "Category:Holocaust in Romania"? I question the need for this, particularly as some of the entries are of a dubious nature - the Kolozsvár Ghetto was not "in Romania", but rather in Hungary; the Dorohoi Pogrom wasn't really part of the Holocaust, etc. Biruitorul 16:06, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

The motivation for splitting in not the length of this article, but the impossible POV. This article now squeezes Liberation of Romania and Soviet occupation of Romania into one article. At the same time it creates a WP:POVFORK of Liberation of Romania by covering the Soviet participation, while leaving out the Romanian involvement.

(On the other issue: you can take it to WP:CFD) -- Petri Krohn 16:24, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

"Liberation of Romania" is not squeezed in this article any more than it is squeezed in any other article I've linked, actually less. You keep flagging this article based on some brief information present in its lead and the section dedicated to the historical background, while the topic of this article is different. The article is not about how Romanians (or Soviets or any other Allies) fought against Germans, but about how Soviet army was installed in Romania, to what extent, for what purposes (the general drive of Soviet army against the German forces is covered in other articles, including in Battle of Romania (1944)), to what consequences, etc.. If you create a new article, perhaps no content (or perhaps very little) from this article will be moved there, that's why the split proposal tagging along with a POV-title shows to be unnecessarily emphasized with tags in this article. To claim a POV problem and a split based on few phrases (uncovered in other Wiki pages) from a several pages, 12 sections long article cannot be somehow else than disruptive! (that not to mention you reverted 4 times today the article to put your POV-title tag!!). Daizus 17:00, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

As I said, I am all for having a separate article about the August 23 coup, with events leading up to it, and events in the immediate aftermath. How would such an article be named, I do not want to prejudge -- I guess this would involve quite a debate, the "Liberation of Romania" being just one of a range of possibilities (note: I am not discounting it, I just say it needs debate and context and narrowing down of scope before one can say with certainty). Right now, I do not have the time or the energy to engage in such a debate, but let me just say one thing: The Liberation of Romania from Nazi Germany was not just done by Romanian and Soviet forces (though these of course were the most important ones, certainly on the ground). A non-negligible role was played by the other Allies, specifically, the United States of America, To wit, at the request of the Romanian government, the United States Air Force bombed the German air facilities at Băneasa and Otopeni on August 26 -- some 10,000 German troops were killed in those raids, and the German Air Force, which could have greatly disrupted the liberation of Bucharest, was knocked out of the air. (See references and quotes provided up on this page.) So, before getting carried away too much, let's keep in mind the role, small as it was, played by the US Air Force in the Liberation of Bucharest, at least. Thank you. Turgidson 16:34, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

Which reminds me -- today is the 63rd anniversary of the Bombing of Bucharest in World War II. In that article, there is a section at the end about the air raids on Bucharest carried out by the Luftwaffe on Aug 24-25, but only a half-sentence about the Anglo-American bombing the next day (with only a mention of Otopeni, not Băneasa; I'm not sure whether British forces were involved -- they may have). I think this warrants expansion. Turgidson 17:09, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

I agree it is a good idea Petri. - Francis Tyers · 17:47, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

There's a thing I don't understand, though. If a split is proposed, what is the content (from the current version of the article, the one which triggered the proposal in the first place) which will be moved (not copied, not copied and further developed, but moved). Daizus 19:13, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

All forms of battle and invasion/occupation/libration between the Romanian Government/Soviets & Americans/Germans should be moved to the new article. (The non-government resistance/terrorism after 1944 can be covered in this article.)

The new article should cover the events between the August 23 coup and the October 25 "liberation" of Carei, and any secret negotiations before August 23. -- Petri Krohn 19:29, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

More specifically, what should be moved is the intro, the Background and beginning of the occupation and the images. -- Petri Krohn 19:34, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

No, they should not. They were added in this article to provide a relevant context for the Soviet occupation. There are not details, just brief summaries. Besides, the coup of 23 August has already a section in another article. I already told you that earlier today but you chose to ignore it. The way I see it, if your interest is genuine you should work from that section (develop it and then request a split, when it's the case) and not disturb this article and its editors.

As for images, the first one shows the Red Army entering Bucharest. Please ... For the second image, I agree. But to move it in the section we already have, develop it, and when it's ready make an article out of it. Daizus 19:41, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

This article does not seem to be developing. We now have 300kB of discussion and maybe 30kB of article. Besides, you are wrong on the context: The Soviet occupation was a result of the totality of events of the liberation of Romania, not some unilateral tank-cruise to Bucharest. -- Petri Krohn 19:58, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

You are right. But a large part of this discussion is debating with you, debating upon alleged POVs of this article. I (and probably others) want this issue cleared and I unfortunately I see no end to it.

With a straw man I have no mood to fight right now. I simply told you that the first image is related to the content of this article and should not be moved. Daizus 20:08, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

(reindented) The current introduction covers salient points, but perhaps in a bit too much detail which is not focused on the primary topic--but which would be useful as a lead-in paragraph, perhaps simply titled "Context." I would propose we give the article a chance to develop and put a moratorium on POV combat. Let's spend some more collective time gathering facts to tell the story--and let the facts speak for themselves. I would disagree on a need to split--as proposed it would remove crucial context. If we develop enough material, the events leading to the armistice can certainly be expanded into their own article(s). —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 01:35, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

May I point out that the relatad article Allied Occupation Zones in Germany is completely void of salient points. It starts from where the occupation/liberation ends. -- Petri Krohn 01:16, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

I have no idea what the above comment means, and what does it have to do with anything. Turgidson 02:41, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

I've re-read the article, and the pre-occupation events mentioned are there mainly as essential context, I don't see that there are two separate topics here needing to be split into separate articles. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 06:22, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

I concur. Perhaps the time has come to revisit this article, and bring it to the next level (hopefully, without having sterile revert wars in the process)? By the way, how come the article has no rating? I'd say it's way beyond stub level, and of quite high importance among Romania-related articles. I'll put a WPRA template at the top, maybe someone wants to assess the quality and importance of the article so far. Turgidson 11:37, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

What liberation?

I'm sorry, but what liberation are you talking about?

• If it's about Soviet forces liberating parts of Romania from the Germans, it can only apply after the armistice convention (Sep. 12), and for direct fights between the Soviets and the Germans on Romanian soil after this date. Were there many? BTW, don't count here fights in Northern Transylvania, which was not Romanian at the time. So, I presume, no liberation.
• Soviet propaganda (in cluding the RPR constitution) also talks about liberating the "Romanian people" from the evil bourgeois plutocrats. If this is your "liberation of Romania", then it's funny, nothing more.

Dpotop 12:12, 10 April 2007 (UTC)

Of course, we can always make an article saying that the Liberation of Romania is a Soviet propaganda stunt meant to present Soviet forces as liberating their first capital of a German ally of... the Germans. :) Dpotop 12:14, 10 April 2007 (UTC)

• Indeed. As the evidence amply demonstrates, Romanians largely liberated themselves (with help from the USAF) and had no need of the Red Army.
• Funny but also tragic, given what followed.
• That's a good idea - it does have notability, given its use in propaganda for years, and its verifiability. Biruitorul 06:09, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

Move proposal

Would someone (Anonimu, Irpen, Petri Krohn, etc) like to actually propose a move? If not, why should the POV tag stay? I think I've called your bluff, and if there's no poll soon, I'll consider myself justified in removing the tag. Biruitorul 06:09, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

We don't need another pool so that you can call your lackeys here. Either the subject of this article will be limited to 1944-1947 or the title will be changed, not by voting, but with rational arguments (per meta:Polls are evil and Wikipedia is not a democracy)Anonimu 08:22, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

Anonimu: Who exactly are you calling "lackeys"? Other editors who have actually created content for this article (and others in the vicinity), instead of slapping tags, and engaging in random reverts? I found the term both offensive and reeking of Soviet propaganda terminology. No surprise there, it's what I've come to expect. But I am waiting for an explanation of your use of words: Who exactly among the wikipedia editors who contributed to this article are you asserting are "lackeys" of another editor? Words have meaning in English, remember. Turgidson 12:14, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

How about a factual argument? "Rational" unfortunately means interpretation of events according to your POV. At a minimum, the Allied (Soviet) presence was a formal occupation under the armistice and while the Soviets ostensibly extended their stay to execute Allied duties (open-ended occupation continues) until their evacuation of Austria (however, the post-armistice occupation is no longer "Allied," the peace treaty only mentions continued Soviet presence).

     Your reliable academic sources which describe only the occupation under the armistice as an occupation and subsequent presence of Soviet troops as a non-occupation are?

     And please don't say you don't need to produce sources to counter our (let me get this out of the way) "cherry-picked" facts, that you only need your "rational" argument. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 01:30, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Given the lack of a move proposal, the copious citations adduced to support the notion that Romania was occupied through 1958, and the lack of opposing citations, the tags have been removed. Biruitorul 19:10, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

The "Lack of opposing citation" thing is the weakest argument i've heard. Typical for nationlists. There isn't still a move proposal because some of us still hope the article will be split in a "Soviet occupation of Romania"(1944-1947) and a "Soviet military presence in Romania"(1947-1958) to reflect the realityAnonimu 19:21, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Please confine your comments to content, not editors - "Typical for nationlists" has nothing to do with the topic at hand. And no, I make a very persuasive case: my argument has plenty of citations; you have adduced none to the contrary, despite the fact that this debate has been going on since March 26. The split proposal is absurd, but why don't you launch a formal debate on that? I'm determined not to have us be stalemated in trench warfare for months. One way or another, I intend to force the issue.

I will leave the split tag to give you time to try and initiate a split process. I will remove the disputed tag, as the other side has manifestly failed to show reliable academic sources which describe only the occupation under the armistice as an occupation and subsequent presence of Soviet troops as a non-occupation. Biruitorul 20:03, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Third Opinion Summary: keep the current name.

• User:Anonimu, Cease the personal attacks immediately.

No personal attacks, sorry...Anonimu 11:15, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

• I acknowledge that the current name could have negative connotations for some parties involved.
• However, per WP:NCON, the most usual name of the subject of the article takes precedence. A quick google shows that the title of this article is used frequently as a name for the period described in this article.

A quick google search for soviet occupation Romania "1944-1958" -site:wikipedia.org shows very few entries, and if you remove the title of the book -"Military Occupation and Diplomacy: Soviet Troops", you'll get no related result. Anonimu 11:15, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

You have a voluminous footnote with scholarly references about the Soviet Occupation of Romania 1944-1958 right in the main article (some of them you may find with Google Books: e.g. [1]). You have provided no scholarship for any other view, as such your tagging lacks justification. Maintaining it in such circumstances is disrupting behavior. Daizus 11:26, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

It's ludicrous to ask sources that deny something. And anyway just 6 of those references support occupation during "1944-1958" (5 of them written by Romanians)Anonimu 11:53, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

Most scholarship related to History of Romania is written by Romanians. So what's the problem here?

You should know by now....Anonimu 12:05, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

WP:OR, WP:POINT Daizus 12:07, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

I agree, your generalizaton is OR.Anonimu 12:33, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

WP:OR applies only if it affects the content of the articles. WP:POINT again. Daizus 13:54, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

If you can't provide scholarly support for any other view, then it means this view has unanimous support. Consequently the tags should be removed. Daizus 12:00, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

Somethig wrong with your logic?Anonimu 12:05, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

WP:NPA, WP:CIVIL, WP:AGF Daizus 12:07, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

?!?Anonimu 12:33, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

• "If the common name conflicts with the official name, use the common name [..]"
• It is awkward to call a time period (44-58) a "liberation". The specific moment that the Germans left Romania could be called a liberation.

Nobody wants that, anywayAnonimu 11:15, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

• Another quote from NCON:

“ Bear in mind that Wikipedia is descriptive, not prescriptive. We cannot declare what a name should be, only what it is. ”

--User:Krator (t c) 22:39, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Thank you, Krator, for your very sensible opinion. This is yet another reason for the tags to go. (And, for the record, I have never even heard of Krator before, so make of that what you will.) Biruitorul 23:31, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

I agree, User:Krator made some very good comments -- this "third opinion" is very much welcome. Pity that this opinion has been made hard to read by Anonimu, who took the liberty of interspersing non-sequiturs in the middle of the tightly reasoned argument made by Krator. Could we follow from now on at least some minimal rules on these talk pages, and leave opinions such as this one intact? Thank you. I also agree with Daizus' explanations. Trouble is, they rely on basic syllogisms and Cartesian logic — and those are hard to communicate to the other side, apparently. I simply do not know what to do in such a situation. Looks like a filibuster to me. Turgidson 12:50, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

Mediation proposal

(Before I make these remarks, let me note there is a new article, King Michael Coup; we should decide how that fits into our scheme and whether the split is still necessary (it never was for me.))

Now that we've had a lengthy discussion and a third opinion given, the next step appears to me to be Mediation. Anonimu, if you do not stop disrupting the process, one of us will have to file such a request. Are you prepared to go that far? Biruitorul 16:15, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

Why not? Note i'm not the only user wanting the title changed, so you should probably ask the others too. BTW, you should teach your servants to respect men. Imagine, they had the insolence to address me.Anonimu 17:01, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

Anonimu: This is not the first time you use such derogatory words with respect to other editors: before, it was "lackeys", now it's "servants". (And I also noted the use of "groupie" in a similar context.) You must understand these terms are not part of civil discourse, and are offensive to other editors -- who, let me say that to you for at least the third or fourth time, actually add content to the Wikipedia, instead of just putting POV tags and engaging in repeated reverts. And I will ask you one more time: Who exactly among the editors here are you calling "servant" or "lackey"? I am waiting for an answer. Turgidson 18:29, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

Why not? I'll tell you why not. Because such moves sap energy that is better spent doing more productive things than disputing communist aggression with avowed communists. But I'll gladly do it. And in response to your "it takes two to tango" comment: if you have something on me, bring it on! Biruitorul 19:18, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

You did it, so you're responsible for losing the time an energy of other editors. Cum vrei sa luptam? o.b.-uri, chiloti, sau ciorapi sa'ncercam?Anonimu 19:34, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

I'm not the one who's responsible for an utterly pointless 19-day debate. Biruitorul 22:40, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

I've filed the request; you can go sign here. Biruitorul 19:26, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

I find puzzling those flagging the page didn't even bother to sign the mediation request. That is the ultimate proof they do not search a solution, just to push a POV and disrupt others' work. Prove me wrong by signing there. Daizus 08:34, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

Occupation denialism

I have started an article on Soviet occupation denialism, and currently list the three Baltic states as main victims of the denial. However, Romania was also once occupied by the Soviet Union. Alas, I am not sure if there are notable denialist ideas regarding that. If there is, it should probably also be covered. Digwuren 13:15, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the heads-up. I put a "see also" link in the article you mentioned to this article on the Soviet occupation of Romania. Turgidson 14:34, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

Time to remove the tags

If no-one objects, I will remove the tags concerning the inane suggestion about "Liberation" and the POV tag. Icar

Disagree. I think the idea has merit. - Francis Tyers · 14:39, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

Disagree. -- Petri Krohn 00:19, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

What about King Michael Coup? What about being constructive? And producing those elusive reliable sources showing Romania was not occupied for a full 14 years? Biruitorul 03:22, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Those tags are silly, devoid of logic, and serve no purpose whatsoever. They've been there far too long. Time to get back to improving the article, and adding content. Turgidson 14:16, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

I think it is is a good proposal. To split out part of this article (the part that covers the liberation) into a separate article. Leaving the main article to cover the part that covers the "occupation". - Francis Tyers · 14:23, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

I love those scare quotes -- you took them from Reuters' style manual? In truth, the Soviet occupation of Romania was a real occupation (no need for scare quotes, you know). As for the ""liberation of Romania by the glorious Soviet Union", care to give quotations from non-Soviet (or puppet regime) propaganda sources that call it that way? This question has been raised many times on this talk page, with no satisfcatory answer given. That's why the silly tag must go. Turgidson 15:07, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Agree. --R O ^{A M A T A A} | msg  15:48, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Since when wikipedia accepts only capitalist propaganda?Anonimu 15:53, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Oh, c'mon. We're talking scholarly works, by notable authors, in reputable publishing outlets. Let's cut the Comintern jargon, shall we? This is the 21st century, after all -- and Communism is on the asheap of history, where it belongs. Turgidson 16:32, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Just capitalist propaganda: a book by an american spy, a propaganda book against the Warsaw pact, a book by a renegade, who had to pay his american citizenship with bashing of communism, and other books published by those forts of capitalism called US universities.Anonimu 16:45, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

I'm now re-reading God Emperor of Dune, and this soviet propaganda you push reminds me of the Museum Fremens. Anonimu, if you're a real Communist, how about founding propaganda into actual reality, by taking into account historical findings? For instance, Romania did not really benefit from the Soviet occupation, but formerly Communist countries did benefit from the spread of literacy. Dpotop 17:22, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

I've actually used the literacy thing in one of my french papers on communism ;) (BTW, no Soviet occupation (1945-1947) => no communist regime (the reaction would have surely forged the elections again to prevent a communist victory)=> no widespread literacy)Anonimu 18:15, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

I won't try to argue with Anonimu -- it's useless -- but let me take (gentle!) issue with Dpotop's statement. Not that it's factually wrong -- yes, there was an increase in literacy in countries such as Romania in the aftermath of WWII. Maybe I missed something, but let's be careful with the logic here: is the implication that such an increase would not have occcured unless the Soviet Union had imposed a Communist regime on Romania in 1944-1947? Suppose, for the sake of argument, that the elections of 1946 had not been rigged, and Romania somehow had managed to stay out of the Soviet orbit, had accepted the generous offer of the Marshall Plan, and somehow had been integrated in the structures of the European Union much before January 1, 2007. Without engaging in extravagant flights of fancy and alternate history theories, I think a reasonable case can be made that the same kind of increase in literacy rates, decrease in mortality rates, etc, would have occured naturally as a result of moving to a modern economy and a democratic system of government, without the horrors of the Canal, the Piteşti experiment, Sighet prison, Jilava, Gherla, Aiud, etc, etc. I'm almost sure that's not what was meant by that statement, but let's try to be 100% clear about it. Turgidson 19:53, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Can you give me one example of a country that was not developed before WWII and managed to attain a 90% literacy rate after WWII while having a capitalist regime (note I only ask for 90%, not 95 or 98)? The single third world **democratic** country I remember right now that managed to remain so and somehow develop is India. And I don't envy India, even though they made a lot of laudable progress. There's much to discuss on the democracy side, too. Dpotop 00:35, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

Note that I don't defend the regime by negating its crimes (as Anonimu does). However, a blind anti-communist stance is as bad as Anonimu's blind anti-capitalist one. Both of them try very hard to ignore/minimize chosen historic facts. Dpotop 00:35, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

I don't need to give examples of other countries. What I'm saying is that it is a logical fallacy to say that a country like Romania would have had a stagnant literacy rate after WWII were is not for the miracle of "scientific socialism", or "the liberating Soviet people", or whatever to show the light to the people. Democracy, a sound economic system, and better integration in European structures could have done pretty much the same thing, at a fraction of the human cost inherent in a totalitarian communist system, with all its camps and mass incarcerations of political prisoners and forced labor. After all, it's not rocket science to establish a 12-year mandatory school system in a reasonably well-run country, without having to run a police state. This has nothing to do with "blind anti-communism" or whatever -- it's just a matter of common sense and basic logic. Finally, I fail to see what's "much to discuss on the democracy side", especially in the context we are debating, namely, the Soviet occupation of Romania following WWII. Turgidson 06:39, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

keep dreaming... the brucan's 20 years are expiring and... hope tariceanu's 2040 will workAnonimu 08:41, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

Maybe this may have worked for czechs... but in romania... 1.5 decades after the coup, 20,000 pupils abandon school every year in bucharest only. as for the marshall plan... hey, just think of what happened this year with the money from EU. the communists won the 1946 elections anyway. the result were only slightly modified (no more than 10% percent) to force the king to name a communist prime-ministerAnonimu 20:29, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

The Czechs don't count here. They are the only country in Central/Eastern Europe where the Communists came to power in a legal democratic way. They can't complain about Communism being illegitimate. Dpotop 00:38, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

I assume you're referring to pre-Prague Spring? It was pretty damn illegitimate after that. K. Lásztocska 01:03, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

Romanian elections aren't a legal democratic way too? (ok, judging only by the pre-ww2 ones, they're not, but...)Anonimu 08:41, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

Comment: that people can still, in 2007, deny that the Soviet Union did indeed OCCUPY countries in the Eastern Bloc and not be immediately and roundly denounced as anyone denying the Holocaust would be, never ceases to amaze and sadden me. K. Lásztocska 21:03, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

There have been no arguments regarding "POV in title" or "the article should be split" above besides WP:ILIKEIT and its negative brother. Thus, the corresponding tags do not belong to the article. Repeated inclusion of meritless tag constitutes tag abuse. Digwuren 06:11, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

The people pushing those tags have no valid argument that I can discern, and, by and large (with perhaps one exception), they have not contributed anything to the substance of the article. It's a sad spectacle to see those silly tags being slapped, just like that, for the sport of it. What is the purpose -- besides disrupting the article? Any of these people cares to explain what is the reason for their actions, and what (if anything) are they trying to achieve? Turgidson 06:19, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

I just cannot believe that after all the pages writen, someone could just suggest that the Red Army eliberated the countries in the Eastern Bloc. It was a very clear occupation, in Romania and the Eastern Bloc. This denial stance don't bring to anything. --R O ^{A M A T A A} | msg  06:24, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

Recently, a lot of guano has been deposited on this page (mostly by Anonimu), and like Hercules with the Augean stables, I feel it my duty to wash it away with the cleansing water of truth. Here goes:
Since when wikipedia accepts only capitalist propaganda?
Passing over the poor grammar: what's this supposed to mean? Of course material written by Romanian Communists, especially on this key event that helped install their regime, is biased - and is itself propaganda? Of course it's not a reliable source. Of course we shouldn't, except in the most sardonic of tones, refer to it as a "glorious liberation". Communism is dead. There are still Communists - one right here - but the ideology itself is dead, and we are under no obligation to feature its propaganda here. And no, the cited sources are not "capitalist propaganda", just the type of reliable sources found in similar articles.
Just capitalist propaganda: a book by an american spy, a propaganda book against the Warsaw pact, a book by a renegade, who had to pay his american citizenship with bashing of communism, and other books published by those forts of capitalism called US universities*".
Again, spouting Leninist jargon does not lend your argument any credibility. The Library of Congress does not employ spies, it employs professional researchers. The Foreign Minister of Romania is not in the business of writing propaganda, but good on him for writing an anti-Warsaw Pact book - how on earth can the WP be defended?? Could you substantiate your libel against Tismăneanu? He's quite bold for having gone against everything his misguided parents stood for, and denounced it very publicly.
I've actually used the literacy thing in one of my french papers on communism ;) (BTW, no Soviet occupation (1945-1947) => no communist regime (the reaction would have surely forged the elections again to prevent a communist victory)=> no widespread literacy)
This is rich. First: the PNŢ, PNL and PSDR were no angels, but they were decent democrats, broadly committed to the democratic, capitalist values that had served Romania quite well in the interwar. They were far and away better people than the gang of illiterate thugs who took power from them. Slandering them as "the reaction" is a sign of desperation: like a hyena picking at an elephant carcass, the Reds could only try to denigrate their enemies by throwing mud at them, but even if some mud stuck, their own lips and hands were covered in something far more damning - blood. Second: no, Communist terror is not needed to raise literacy levels, and in any case an illiterate peasantry is vastly preferable to an uprooted, starved and slaughtered one. Third: no matter how much you lie about it, the PNŢ won the 1946 elections, and the Reds won well under a majority.
Can you give me one example of a country that was not developed before WWII and managed to attain a 90% literacy rate after WWII while having a capitalist regime
You said "capitalist", not "democratic" (though some were democratic all along), so here are some guesses: South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Guyana, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Greece, Ireland, the Philippines, Singapore, Cyprus, Indonesia, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brunei, Israel, Colombia, Venezuela.
keep dreaming... the brucan's 20 years are expiring and... hope tariceanu's 2040 will work
Whatever. I do know Romania has a 97.3% literacy rate - and most of the illiterate belong to an ethnic minority that does not place much value on education, and fails to send its children to school.
Maybe this may have worked for czechs... but in romania... 1.5 decades after the coup, 20,000 pupils abandon school every year in bucharest only. as for the marshall plan... hey, just think of what happened this year with the money from EU. the communists won the 1946 elections anyway. the result were only slightly modified (no more than 10% percent) to force the king to name a communist prime-minister
Sorry, I cannot allow you to denigrate the Revolution as a mere "coup" without commenting. Yes, a coup did happen, but so did a popular Revolution led by the Romanian people themselves, and I will do my part to ensure their sacrifice is not tarnished by your invective. Do you have any evidence of pupils abandoning schools? It's a logical fallacy to just create an impression that Marshall Aid and EU aid are linked. The fact is, had Romania said yes to Marshall, it would have been tremendously better off, like those who did accept help. No, no, and no, the Communists did not win the 1946 election; there was massive fraud and intimidation that boosted its score by at least 20% and more likely far, far more. Groza, a fellow-traveller of the Communists, had been prime minister since March 6, 1945 and would remain so until 1952, so I don't know what you're talking about, since the elections happened on November 19, 1946.
The Czechs don't count here. They are the only country in Central/Eastern Europe where the Communists came to power in a legal democratic way. They can't complain about Communism being illegitimate.
Ooh, yes they can! True, in the 1946 election, in the Czech lands, they took 40% of the vote (assuming a fair result, which can't necessarily be assumed, especially considering the Beneš Decrees and massive Red Army presence). However: a) non-Communist parties took a majority in the Czech lands, and a strong majority (69%) in the Czechoslovak parliament. b) As Communist support rapidly drained away, they took power by force. There was a coup. In no way was Czechoslovak Communist rule, 1948-1989, legitimate: it was as illegal as everywhere else.
Romanian elections aren't a legal democratic way too? (ok, judging only by the pre-ww2 ones, they're not, but...)
Not if they're blatantly falsified like in 1946. Compared to those, the pre-WWII elections were models of democratic competitiveness. 1928? 1932? Those were real elections, not '46.
*This deserves its own section as it shows how out of your depth you are in this discussion. Say what you will, but American universities are not "forts of capitalism". First, they contain many reliable historians whose work is liberally cited on Wikipedia. Do you suggest we ban US-university-generated sources here as "capitalist propaganda"? That's one idea headed nowhere fast. Second, if they are "forts of capitalism", they must be very insecure forts indeed. What, after all, is Michael Perelman doing in one? What about Fred Moseley? Harry Cleaver? Douglas Kellner? Michael Schwarz? Fredric Jameson? One could go on and on, but you get the idea. You'll meet plenty of fellow Marxists in those places. Biruitorul 03:09, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, as for the US-universities-as-forts-of-capitalism thing--ever heard of Noam Chomsky, for crying out loud? K. Lásztocska 03:44, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

Next thing we'll hear is that Hollywood is full of laughing-hyena-running-dogs-of-capitalism. Are we in a time warp, or what? Turgidson 04:10, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

Well, your average Hollywood heartthrob does make obscenely huge amounts of money...."laughing-hyena-running-dogs-of-capitalism" is conjuring up a very odd-looking canine monstrosity in my mind, btw...K. Lásztocska 04:15, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

Another favorite epithet of this user is "lackey" (as in "capitalist running-dog lackey", I guess). Oh, well. Turgidson 04:41, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

• The Reaction is doing its job. Too bad it's composed mostly of fascist-admirers and has no credibility.Anonimu 05:59, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

You know what, comrade, none of us are fascists. I myself once even had a brief flirtation with communism (when I was fourteen years old and every bit as stupid), but quickly renounced it for obvious reasons. Incidentally, I hope you don't think you can get away with calling us all fascist-admirers, lackeys and Holocaust deniers for ever. You have been nothing but rude and disruptive for as long as I've known you and someday you'll have to either shape up or answer for it. K. Lásztocska 13:34, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

Indeed. I think Anonimu's comment speaks for itself, so no further reply is needed. Biruitorul 22:11, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

Reverts

User:Petri_Krohn is engaging in a sequence of reverts, 1, 2, 3, 4, all in less than 24 hours. Isn't this a clear violation of WP:3RR? Note also that in revert #2 he accuses User:Digwuren of being a stalker; I don't know what's the reason for such an accusation, but on the face of it, it appears to be a breach of civility towards a fellow editor. Is there something that can be done about this? Turgidson 03:39, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

It should be reported on Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/3RR. Digwuren 04:36, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

"Disputed"

In another context, Dahn recently made a very apposite edit summary: 'something does not become "disputed" when it is disputed by a buch of wikipedians'. Indeed: one needs reliable sources to indicate that a dispute exists. So can the obstructionist parties come up with such sources (which, you will recall, have been requested since March 26), or are they keeping up the tags merely because they don't like the word "occupation" (not in itself a valid reason for tagging)? Biruitorul 02:25, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

That's an excellent point and I can't believe I never thought of it. To that end, I would like to invite all parties who wish to tag this article as "disputed" to kindly show us information from respectable and reliable sources to prove that there is in fact an academic, serious, off-wiki debate as to whether or not Romania was occupied. (Statements of the Communist Party or from official Soviet/Communist Romanian documents should not count, due to conflict of interest.) K. Lásztocska 02:42, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

There's BSE and some pre-coup romanian ones.Anonimu 05:49, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

When I hear BSE, I think mad cow disease, so please explain that one. And no, "pre-coup romanian" (ie Communist propaganda) sources are not to be accorded much weight, per our WP:RS policy. Biruitorul 21:52, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Good point, indeed. To get the ball rolling, here is a blurb for one of the books quoted in the article. Since the article is currently blocked from editing, let me put the whole text here:

The Red Army in Romania (Constantin Hlihor and Ioan Scurtu, ISBN 9789739839259)
This book, written by two well-known specialists in twentieth century Romanian history, is the first comprehensive study of the Red Army's occupation of Romanian territory in 1940-1941, and its occupation of the country at the end of World War II, which lasted until the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country in 1958. Based on previously unavailable archival sources, it will be of interest not only to students of contemporary Romanian history, but also to anyone interested in the occupation policies of the Red Army and Soviet policy in Eastern Europe at the end of World War II. The authors discuss the geopolitical and historical conditions that allowed the Red Army to occupy Romania, the consequences of the occupation on the country, particularly on political life, as it directly led to the establishment of a totalitarian communist regime in Romania. An important part of the book also deals with the consequences of Red Army's stationing on Romanian territory, its impact on the evolution of social relations in the country, and the opposition of Romanian society to the Russian occupation. Much attention is paid to the economic aspects of the occupation, where a detailed account of the costs and losses to the Romanian economy as consequence of the Red Army's abuses and its illegal confiscation of Romanian goods and materials and their export to the Soviet Union is presented. The circumstances surrounding the Red Army's withdrawal from Romania in 1958 is also discussed in detail. The appendixes include translations of many relevant documents referring to the Soviet occupation of Romania, making it a valuable book for students and researchers alike.

What part of "Soviet occupation of Romania" (from 1944 to 1958) is not clear to the people insisting on those tags? Turgidson 03:00, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Of course all of us thought about what Dahn said (you need to have sources to have a disagreement). Now, there are 2 problems here:

1. Anonimu's position is not rational, nor compliant with wikipedia rules. At some point we will have to ask for some form of arbitration or admin intervention, because we entered the realm of vandalism. Dpotop 08:21, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

The Arbitration committee already refused to intervene, thus acknowledging i was acting according to wkirules. ;)Anonimu 09:09, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Where? Dpotop 09:47, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

There was an arbitration case, but arbitrators (who did not review every piece of evidence with a microscope) merely decided this was a content dispute, not that you had been "acting according to wkirules". The level of disruption that obstructionist parties have created here is indeed vandal-like. Biruitorul 21:52, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

1. If Dahn were *completely* right, then the world would be a better place. In practice, law (including wikipedia rules) is always open to interpretation. This is why legal precedents are so important in real life. Now, Dahn *is* right in saying that you have to found your argument on reliable sources (which Anonimu does not), but the same reliable sources can usually be interpreted in many ways. Dpotop 08:21, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Anonimu, recall that we are not bound here by some form of truth, but by NPOV, which is the reflection of existing theories according to their perceived weight. The commie theory of the "liberation" is already presented according to its perceived weight (which is low). Dpotop 08:21, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

"Political delirium"

As an aside, here is a fragment from the editorial "Political delirium", by George Damian, Ziua, June 6, 2007:

Despite the armistice convention signed in Moscow at that time, the Soviet troops continued to take Romanian soldiers on the way hostage. The Soviet occupation didn't make Romanians happy. [...] Even the communist leaders understood the idea that "Russian troops in Romania is no guarantee for the future". In 1958, the respective leaders managed to make Hruschev withdraw the Soviet troops. [...] Minister Meleşcanu's message - "Let the Russians come!" - is hallucinating as far as history is concerned. In 2008 there will be 40 years since Russian troops last walked on Romanian territory.

Is the calculation mistake in original, or were there Russian soldiers in Romania even in 1968? Digwuren 13:36, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

This is a mistake, surely in 1968 there were no more Soviet troops in Romania. That was the year when the Ceausescu regime risked another Soviet invasion, for criticizing the Soviet's crushing of the Prague Spring. Icar 13:49, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Yes, I asked myself the same question. Apparently, Damian is thinking of 1968, and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, not 1958 (as I would, too), when making that calculation: "The Czech experience in 1968 - occupied by the "allies" in the Warsaw Treaty - was well interpreted in Bucharest. After 1968 Romania refused troop participation in the Warsaw Treaty operations and it also refused to shelter "allied" troops on its territory." Turgidson 14:52, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

As Karl Marx said in The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon: "Hegel remarks somewhere that all great world-historic facts and personages appear, so to speak, twice. He forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce." Turgidson 11:43, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Are you not a bit ideologic here (as opposed to factual)? :) Dpotop 13:20, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

This is just my personal comment about a current event (somewhat related to the subject at hand) on a talk page -- no pretensions of being factual, or anything. While at it, let me also remind everyone the words of George Santayana: "Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them." Turgidson 14:52, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Why is the title POV?

I mean, what sources are you using to state that title is POV? Because you need to have sources to do so. In the absence of such sources, I will refer the article to dispute resolution. Dpotop 10:14, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

There's a number of people, popularly referred to as Stalinists, who unreasonably oppose any classification of Soviet occupation as "occupation", sometimes claiming to do so would be "hate speech".^[2] (Take a look at Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Occupation of Latvia.) As is a usual practice of denialists, the first step towards denying an emotionally unpleasant topic is throwing around a lot of unreasonable doubt, trying to create an appearance of controversy. In Wikipedia, this is done by throwing around useless POV tags. Digwuren 11:46, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

Good analysis, Digwuren—this is a texbook case of "Soviet occupation denialism". Turgidson 13:06, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

BTW, can someone point me to the previous (failed) arbitration request? Dpotop 10:14, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

It was delisted at [3]. Digwuren 11:41, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

One more time, let me address this question to those putting the "POV" tag, containing the assertion: "The neutrality of this article's title and/or subject matter is disputed... Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page." On what basis is any information in the article, or its title, or the subject matter thereof, being disputed? I don't see any rational, cogent argument on this talk page disputing either the title or the subject matter, despite the advertisement in the tag. What I see is a tag being slapped ad nauseam, with no justification whatsoever. It's a sad spectacle. Turgidson 16:14, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

There aren't any {{IDONTLIKEIT}} tags ... Digwuren 17:40, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

A similar process is currently going on at Occupation of Latvia 1940–1945. Perhaps, it's desirable to hold an WP:RFC on the topic of How disruptive is baseless adding of POV tags?. An official declaration of such as a form of vandalism might curb the practice somewhat. Digwuren 17:46, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

to the commie

[4] I am Russian, dude. Colchicum 13:30, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

BTW, Anonimu has just broken 3RR. Colchicum 13:33, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

and pigs really fly — Preceding unsigned comment added by Anonimu (talk • contribs) 2007-06-16T16:59:56 (UTC)

Technically, it takes four reverts to break 3RR. Anonimu only has made three. Digwuren 14:16, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

Even some commies changed their tune in the 1960s, see here:

The first period of the communist regime in Romania, 1944-1958 is defined by Stefan Fisher Galati as the loss of national identity by the destruction of the "bourgeois nationalist" legacy and the diminution of Romania's national sovereignty under a virtual Soviet occupation #8. [...] The regime still based its rule on Soviet support. And the role of the Red Army in bringing communism in Romania was emphasised by the RCP leader Gheorgiu Dej as late as May 1961, when he was still referring to the "glorious freedom bringing Soviet Army" and was originally acknowledged in the 1952 Constitution #11, according to which the Romanian People's Republic had come into being "as a result of the historic victory of the Soviet Union over German fascism and of Romania's liberation by the glorious Soviet Army" #12;. The turning point of this policy is generally considered the Romanian reaction at Valev plan for division of labour within the CMEA, which designed Romania development as to focus mainly on agricultural supply for the most communist industrial countries. The famous declaration of the RCP from April the 23rd 1964, published in Scanteia, the official newspaper of the party, stated that: "There does not and cannot exist a 'parent' party and a 'son' party or 'superior' party and 'subordinate' parties...No party has, or can have, a privileged place, or can impose its line and opinions on other parties." #13

But I guess there are still some for which the clock stopped on March 5, 1953, when Uncle Joe died. Oh, well... Turgidson 18:18, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

The "POV" tag was added again, this time by User:Petri_Krohn. Despite what the tag promises, namely "Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page", I do not see any reasoning offered by User:Petri_Krohn for his action. Isn't it fair to infer that, indeed, he has no reason for putting the tag? — Turgidson 23:47, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia requires that reasons for the tag are presented on the talk page. The tagger hasn't given any reasons, hence I'm removing the tag. Martintg 12:20, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

see the archive (and people say there's no baltic waff..)Anonimu 12:24, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

Baltic waffles are tasty! You should try the ones available in Canada, with yummy maple syrup.

Now back to the topic at hand, you have still not presented any reasons to keep the {{POV}} tag. Digwuren 13:12, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

I had in mind to put the arguments here again, but since i see you people have no desire to discuss and ony want to push your POV, i won't do it.Anonimu 17:06, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

What about your POV? Biruitorul 18:20, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

It's called truth ;) Anonimu 18:31, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

Sorry, the Party's claims to holding the absolute truth of things were long ago debunked. Biruitorul 19:01, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

What party? I'm a supporter of a party-free political system. So your blue+yellow sophistry doesn't work with meAnonimu 19:24, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

1. Blue + yellow = green. Personal attack noted. 2. The Communist Party: you are an avowed Communist, are you not? Biruitorul 19:27, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

1.paranoia 2. Communist party != CommunismAnonimu 20:09, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

1. Again, more personal attacks. 2. Then how else will Communism come about, except with a vanguard party? Biruitorul 04:19, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

1. you have some problems man. 2. Revolution! Anonimu 06:48, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

1. No, and I urge you to cease your personal attacks. 2. Good luck with that. Biruitorul 22:36, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

1.No personal attacks (from me at least) 2. Thanks.Anonimu 22:48, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

Reasonably interpreted, they were. as I'm sure the community will decide at some future date. Biruitorul 23:22, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

An aside: what is meant by "blue+yellow" sophistry? All I can think of is the flag of Bosnia-Herzegovina...K. Lásztocska 04:32, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

Blue + yellow = green = Iron Guard (greenshirts). Biruitorul 05:05, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

Yeah green like in and . (maybe i'm too subtle for you)Anonimu 06:48, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

No, you were caught in another personal attack and are now desperately backpedalling, like with "holodeni". This is neither the place for personal attacks nor for cute "subtlety", but rather for hashing out any issues there may exist with the article called "Soviet occupation of Romania". Got it? Biruitorul 22:36, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

Let's suppose you're right (which you aren't BTW), how could you prove that?Anonimu 22:48, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

I couldn't do so beyond any doubt, but I could do so beyond a reasonable doubt. I'll save my energy for now (having already gone through responding to your risible claims) for a later date, though. Biruitorul 23:22, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

Ahh! The truth. You mean, this one, or this other one? For me, it's the first, but I wouldn't POV-push it. Moreover, you must understand that wikipedia does not care about the truth, whatever it may be but about reliable sources. Dpotop 19:42, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

No, I mean something like zis. Yeah and i guess books by spies an traitors are really reliable.Anonimu 20:40, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

This sounds like a time warp conversation. As I was quoting above, even the Communist Party of Romania changed its tune circa 1964, and backpedalled on calling the Soviet occupation of Romania the "liberation of Romania by the glorious Soviet Union". Only die-hard jejune admirers of Tătuca Stalin still use that agitprop phrase, with its sycophantic undertones. The point is, reputable scholars (like the ones we quote at length in the article, following established WP guidelines) refer to the "Soviet occupation of Romania". All the rest is sophistry and a smoke screen for a discredited ideology that should comfortably rest on the ash heap of history, as predicted by President Ronald Reagan in his June 8, 1982 address to the members of the British Parliament — Turgidson 21:19, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

Point 1: Let's all calm down and enjoy our plates of Baltic waffles like a nice happy wikifamily...yummy. Can someone please pass the kisel?

Point 2: I'm about to go request that this article be protected again, since you guys seem incapable of resolving this dispute, and I don't want to see everyone wasting their energy on a pointless edit war.

Point 3: Does anyone else think Anonimu and Biru need professional help in resolving their feud? K. Lásztocska 01:17, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

My two cents:

1) Of course, waff was the not-so-subtle insinuation by Anonimu that any editor who doesn't share his POV is a Waffen-SS. I would hope such personal attacks against fellow editors should not be tolerated at WP, but apparently, they are.

2) What dispute? A dispute presupposes some kind of reasoned argument between two parties. As far as I can tell (please do correct me if I'm wrong), the other side has no argument, but just slaps "POV" tags, with depressing monotonicity, and with not even an attempt at an argument on the talk page. Also, the only improvements to the article come from editors who agree with the preponderance of scholarly literature (which recognizes that Soviet troops occupied Romania from 1944 to 1958), and add content accordingly. The other side has very little to contribute, for there are no works they can cite to the contrary, just stale Communist propaganda, circa 1952. But if they can find something that's backed by the literature, go ahead, let's see what they got. If not, perhaps it's better to let the article develop in peace and quiet?

3) As a start, maybe someone can break the news to Anonimu that Communism mercifully rests on the asheap of history? Maybe we can all get back to being more productive editors if we settle on that simple observation, and just move on? Turgidson 03:43, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

I completely agree. (I know what he meant by "waff", btw, just thought the Baltic-waffle joke was funny.) K. Lásztocska 03:54, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

welcome back.Anonimu 06:48, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

Thanks. I did miss this sort of trench warfare....incidentally, either don't make stupid comments that can easily be interpreted as personal attacks, or be man enough to at least admit to insulting someone. Oh, and get that ridiculous cartoon off your userpage please. K. Lásztocska 18:01, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

it's not my fault some editors (maybe unintentionally, but most probably consciously) misunderstand my words. why?Anonimu 18:27, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

No, but you could at least make an effort to say less rude/controversial/potentially offensive things...it's just common courtesy. K. Lásztocska 19:19, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Every word i say can be potentially offensive if people assume bad faith. Anonimu 19:45, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Oh, c'mon, Anonimu, stop impugning the motives of other editors. When you slap one of your usual "POV" tags, with the summary, "defending the truth against the baltic waffen", what's left to interpretation? Even assuming all the good faith in the world, tell me how the editors who were at the receiving end of your personal attack are supposed to view it, except for what it was, clear as day? (And, by the way, I (pronoun) is written in English as I, not i.) — Turgidson 23:25, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Personally I think we shouldn't care much about this tag. It is as devalued as it is abused. The more these guys add it all over Wikipedia, the less it means. As of now, it means more or less nothing. Colchicum 09:52, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

True, but it does needlessly deface the article. Biruitorul 22:36, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

I'm forced to make the observation that there's nothing "wrong" with being a Waffen SS... they were organized (illegally conscripted) throughout Eastern Europe to fight against the Red Army, after the Nazis had already inflicted the Holocaust. The only thing the Waffen SS units were "guilty" of was fighting was the Soviets. And the Latvian Waffen SS, at least, wore the Latvian flag under their uniforms, hoping--ultimately in vain--for the time they might be able to free their homeland from both Nazis and the Red Army, both of whom they despised. (This information has been cited in similar past discussions.) —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 00:25, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Anonimu's latest tagging

The last comment I seem to see in talk is something along the lines of "Yeah and i guess books by spies an traitors are really reliable. Anonimu". And books by a government (Soviet) that explicitly declared the purpose of history is to serve politics are more reliable? Tagging an article as "POV title" with a comment that is less than informative is nothing but vandalism. You think the title should be changed? Present your reputable sources and discuss. POV tagging with NO SOURCES is not positive editorial behavior. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 19:04, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

Imposing a POV title by making a synthese of a limited number of sources and quotes taken out of context is against wiki policies. (per WP:SYNTH)Anonimu 19:19, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

It's interesting to note that Anonimu requested full page protection immediately after reintroducing the tag, and claiming "full scale revert war" (which he himself had initiated) as the basis for the protection. Funnily, his protection request specifically states there's "no discussion on talk page", yet his tag says "see the relevant discussion on the talk page". If that's not gaming the system, what is? Digwuren 19:24, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

I rechecked the history, and it's Petri Krohn, not Anonimu, as I erroneously stated above, who started this particular war. Digwuren 16:30, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Yet another thread of Anonimu bashing (as evident from the title). It's clear you want to hide the fact that the article title violates one of wiki's three main policies by starting another campaign against me. As a note, i made the request after an edit by a suspected sock of User:Bonaparte, who eventually got banned.Anonimu 19:31, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

Reputable sources confirm the appropriateness of the title, there is no "synthesis." Can you specify a specific source you disagree with, why, and what reputable source you have that indicates otherwise? I'm not bashing you, I'm discussing your latest tagging which has led to a sequence of events requiring complete edit protection of the article. That is a significant enough event to merit its own subtitle, which only reflects your action which began this sequence of events. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 21:10, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

Right — "POV tagging with NO SOURCES is not positive editorial behavior". But, as everyone knows, this is Anonimu's standard modus operandi — an M.O. which is allowed to continue ad infinitum. At any rate, as has been pointed out ad nauseam on this talk page, the vast majority of reliable sources (just look them up in the article) refer to the Soviet occupation of Romania, an event that indisputably occured. Does anyone seriously dispute the fact that Soviet troops occupied Romania starting in 1944 and were stationed there up to 1958? If so, let's see even a single reliable source that denies this historical fact. If no such source can be adduced, the whole silly charade with the "POV title" tag should cease once and for all. Turgidson 02:38, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

While is an undisputed fact that Romania was under an allied occupation between 1944 and 1947 (soviet army being just the insrument), it's just a pov original synthesis of reliable sources to unclude the 1947-1958 period under "occupation". We don't speak about the continual presence of US troops in Germany since ww2 as an occupation. You may keep the current title (or better name it Allied occupation of Romania), but stop at 1947, according to the international law, or split the article, and create a new one about the soviet troops in Romania (I think other east european countries have such articles).Anonimu 13:36, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Since the article cannot be edited now (thanks to Anonimu's intervention), let me adduce one more title here: Alexandre Cretzianu and Romulus Boila, Captive Rumania; A Decade Of Soviet Rule, Praeger, New York, 1956, xvi+424pp OCLC 1868458. The book can be accessed here, and is reviewed by Andrew Gyorgy, American Slavic and East European Review, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Apr., 1958), pp. 249-250 doi:10.2307/3004180. Is there any doubt about what the title of this book refers to? Turgidson 03:13, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Another example of OR.Anonimu 13:36, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Your comparison of U.S. presence in Europe under NATO and Soviet presence in Romania is WP:OR. Romania was specifically under Soviet occupation (the occupation agreement having terms specifically between the Soviets and Romanians, not "Allies" and Romanians). Reliable sources confirm the characterization of subsequent Soviet troop presence in Romania after the war as occupation. Again, your reliable sources in opposition? What you contend we speak of or don't speak of is your WP:OR. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 14:19, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Nop. It was the same: allied troops on a the territory of a former axis country (just that Allied administration lasted longer in Germany), and then presence of a military block troops on the territory of it member (incidentally or not, Germany joined NATO i the same year Romania joined the Warsaw pact). What occupation agreement between the soviet Union and Romania? Do you have knowledge of such documents? Then why did you keep quiet all this time? We could have ended the discussion months ago if you brought that document. The current refs are synthetized in a tendentious OR manner.Anonimu 14:40, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

By the way, since you're so fond of quoting Dahn of late, I'm sure he won't mind my repeating something he wrote on my talk page: "the way in which Anonimu cited me is tendentious. One of the prerequisites of my 'dissertation' was that there is at least another reputable source saying and explaining that it was not — while in the [Ceauşescu] article one will easily find jurists arguing that the [trial] wasn't a legal mess (not very convincing, imho), I have yet to find one single material outside of the biased ones saying that the occupation was not an occupation (just ones not bothering to call it anything, for reasons that cannot be and should not be inferred)." That's quite right. In order to justify that absurd tag, you need to bring reliable sources -- ie, not Communist propaganda -- demonstrating scholarly disagreement on whether Romania was occupied by the USSR from 1944 to 1958. The clock has been ticking since March 26... Biruitorul 22:16, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

The other part of the message was equally relevant, but you didn't copied it here, or even linked to it... A lot of sources speaking about the events use "presence" or synonims. Of course, thye don't say "Romania was not occupied", because no official ever claimed so (as opposed to the occupation of Baltics, or the trial of Ceausescu). So this is actually an unexistent dispute, "occupation" being just a term used by particularly anti-russian or anti-communist authors adopted by users with similar views here. As Khruschev put it: "imperialist circles, in order to serve their anti-Soviet propaganda and to slander the Romanian People's Republic, make large use of the fact that Soviet troops are still stationed on your country's territory"Anonimu 20:05, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

No, it was not equally relevant, but if you want to copy whatever you were referring to, go ahead. I don't care what terms others use. We need a single title, and given the term is common enough, that will do for a title, unless you want to produce contrary reliable citations. Citing Khrushchev will not bolster your case, and neither will claims of Russophobia or anti-Communism (anyway, any sane person would be anti-Communist, for as Whitaker Chambers wrote: "I see in Communism the focus of the concentrated evil of our time.") Please stop trying to impose this demented ideology on a scholarly project by invoking some of its most evil practitioners in your defence. Biruitorul 23:20, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Merely incantating the acronym "OR" doesn't cut the mustard, Anonimu. I note that you still have not brought up a single reliable source that denies Romania was occupied by Soviet troops between 1944 and 1958. I, on the other hand, have in my hand the book by Sergiu Verona, "Military Occupation and Diplomacy: Soviet Troops in Romania, 1944-1958", Duke University Press, Durham, NC, 1992, ISBN 0822311712, which I used as a source for a sizable portion of the article. You can jump up and down all day long saying OR! POV! OR! POV! Facts are facts, and they trump such tendentious interpretations. Turgidson 18:26, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

It's OR, because all those quotes have an ambiguous formulations and synthetized (uneuphemistically: manipulated) in an original way to impose a certain POV. You want me to show you a source saying: "Romania was not occupied between 1944 and 1958"? We both know that's impossible to find. Real historians write about thing that happened, only fiction writers find the need to emphasize that something didn't happen. I proposed a compromise, that would be in line with international law and with WP:NPOV, but it seems you only want to impose a certain pov supported by an original synthesis of reputable or not so reputable sources. BTW, could you copy the first sentence of the third pharagraph on page 148 of that book. I'm sure Mr. Verona won't mind. It's a pretty short sentence.Anonimu 20:46, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

What's "original research" in quoting well-established scholars talking about the Soviet military occupation in the very title of their work, published by a prestigious academic press such as Duke University Press? What's to manipulate or synthesize or whatnot when something clearly occured, and that's what the title of the article says? This conversation is getting to be surrealistic. Maybe we should talk about how many angels can dance on the point of a needle, instead? Sounds more real than denying that the Soviet Army stayed on in Romania till 1958. As for that paragraph from Verona's book, you can transcribe it as well -- it can be found on Google books. But essentially it says the Communist regime in Romania got tougher in 1958, just after the Soviet troops withdrew -- eg, it imposed the death penalty for Romanians who had contacts with "foreigners". Aahhh, le charme discret du communisme. OK, so how does this affect the title of this article, one way or the other? Turgidson 22:44, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

The title is usually the least reliable part of a book/article etc. Content doesn't alwats reflect the title (I suppose you know the story behind "Enigma Otiliei"). So no, a title is not reliable source, and it's original research to use the title (which is actually ambiguos, and someone could very well understand that a period of the presence was occupation, while another was due to diplomacy) without knowing the exact content of the book. So you don't actually have the book in your hand, you just have a small portion (about half of it) which is available on google books. Probably Biru should cite here the relevant part of Dahn's message to him.20:05, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

     Let's see if I have Anonimu's logic right. We all "know" there are no sources contrary to the position that Romania was occupied for the period specified (1944-1958). That is because every historian who has written on this topic saying the Soviet presence in Romania was an occupation from 1944-1958 is a liar (a less euphemistic way of describing "fiction writer"). The only problem is, if they are all liars, then it should be simple to produce reputable sources/evidence to the contrary—not impossible.
     When all is said and done, Anonimu's position is simply this: "I can't prove it's a lie, therefore it's a lie." —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 03:51, 5 September 2007 (UTC)
P.S. If you read the agreements, they specified "Allies (Soviets)" meaning the U.S.S.R. specifically as opposed to simply "Allies" meaning all of them. And as I already mentioned quite some time ago..."(however, the post-armistice occupation is no longer "Allied," the peace treaty only mentions continued Soviet presence)".

end this "debate."

Unless someone can produce ANY respectable source which claims that Romania was NOT occupied by the Soviet Union, this "debate" can rightly be considered a non-issue. As it stands right now, it appears to be "all published sources, common parlance, and nearly everyone taking part in this "dispute", vs. Anonimu." Please, Anonimu, enough with the pointless edit warring and try doing something that might bring the end in sight: finding a source to back up your claims! K. Lásztocska 12:38, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Can you bring a source that says belgium did not occupy Mongolia? The lack of source explicitely denying this make it less untrue? No. Nope, it's actually "an original tendentious synthesis of published material, common parlance of K. & friends, and a lot of anti-Russian baltics" vs. "fighters against western propaganda". I already proposed two reasonable NPOV soltions in line with soem of the sources already present, but they were both refused.Anonimu 14:42, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Your Belgium-Mongolia example is ridiculous and a complete non-sequitur. The point is, once again: all published sources we have found refer to the Soviet presence in Romania as an "occupation." You, on the other hand, do not call it an occupation, for whatever political reasons of your own. You have produced no evidence to support your claims and have evaded all our questions and challenges. You're going to have to do better than than if you want to be taken any more seriously than a common troll. K. Lásztocska 16:11, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

The current title is clearly the result of confirmation bias. I only want a NPOV title in accord with international law, that doesn't overemphasize one POV (even the "virtual" weasel in one of the citation shows that the "occupation" is only a POV).Anonimu 16:24, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Yes, but unfortunately what you consider "POV" is actually a historical fact. Just out of curiosity, what title would you prefer? K. Lásztocska 16:36, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

A fact not supported by any official document (as opposed to the case of the Baltics where, even if politicaly motivated, such documents exist) and even contradicted by international treaties. I already proposed two solution before some user's vile attacks.Anonimu 16:44, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

We're arguing with you, we're not attacking you! Grow a thicker skin already and stop taking criticism of your political opinions as attacks against your very being! K. Lásztocska 16:46, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! Dahn 02:24, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

I doubt he reads wikipedia, but good luck. ;)Anonimu 14:42, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia is a Monty Python sketch! Digwuren 13:24, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

OMG I love that sketch! :) The part at the end where the policeman walks in and arrests them all under provision of the Strange Sketch Act is definitely one of my favorite Python moments. :) K. Lásztocska 17:41, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

I don't think that even is needed. If they are sources that declare Soviets occupied Romania(which as far as I can see is correct description), then having a source denying this is only going to be worhty of a sentence or two, explaining that opposite view alongside reasons for it.--Molobo 14:57, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

     BTW, regarding Anonimu's suggestion some time ago of "Soviet military 'presence' in Romania (1947-1958)" there is the problem of 160,000 Romanians deported to the Soviet Union over the period of 1945/52. The deportations of Romanians, non-repatriation of Romanian POWs, the illegal buildup of the Romanian army (by the Soviets), institution of military training for Romanian school-children, etc. are all still areas requiring coverage in the article.

     I should note that while that (deportations, military buildup, militarization of school-children) certainly sounds like an occupation to me (personally), it's not about what I or anyone else thinks, it's about what reputable sources say. My opinions and interpretations, no matter how well-grounded (or not)--and everyone else's--are WP:OR. If there are no reputable sources in opposition to "occupation", there is no debate. Since no one has produced such opposition sources, there is no debate. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 05:02, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

What? You mean the deportation of German ethnics tacitly aproved by the Western Allies? That happened before 1947. The POW's? Most of them returned before 1947. The ones who didn't were actually Bessarabians who returned to their soviet homes. What buildup? If you mean the western offensive, it was initiated by the forces who prepared the 1947 coup. What military training for school children? If you mean teens in military high schools, they still have military preparation even 17s year after the fall of the communist regimes. There's no debate indeed, because the story of "soviet occupation 1947-1989" was adopted only by a minority of historians, anti-russian nationalists and anti-communist propagandists. The OR synthesis of cherry picked sources doesn't make the current title a valid one.Anonimu 14:42, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

The debate is about wheather the Soviets liberated (the Allied view) or occupied (the Nazi view) Romania. As long as this article covers the liberation of Romania, calling it "occupation" is not only POV, but seen by many as Nazi hate speech. -- Petri Krohn 09:51, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Yada, yada, yada. Same old, same old, Petri Krohn. How about trying a different tack, once in a while? The "it's all a Vast Right-Wing Nazi Conspiracy" shtick is getting kind of tired. Turgidson 10:12, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Petri, YET AGAIN, then it is up to you to produce a reputable source, and not Soviet era "tales" of history--as we have Soviet authorities stating history serves politics and there is a long documented record of rewriting history to serve the latest whim of Soviet leadership. There is a "debate" only if you produce credible sources. "Seen by many as Nazi hate speech?" Please show scholarly sources. Russia's official position that the Soviet Union didn't occupy anyone is always noted (anywhere in the Baltic and Eastern European articles). People are free to choose to believe Soviet historiography, just as they are free to believe the Earth is flat or the moon is made of cheese; some choose to continue to believe the Soviet accounting of history. That too can be/is noted. That does not constitute "debate." Your contention that calling the Soviet Union (a despotic power which is dead) to proper account for its actions is Nazi hate speech is not editorial debate, it is, frankly, completely unsourced, and a quite vile contention which denies the subjugation of 100,000,000 Eastern Europeans for half a century. YET AGAIN, perhaps someday you will share with us the basis for this personal opinion of yours, given the quality of your other contributions to Wikipedia. I tire of you bringing up the Nazi argument every time you find fresh meat, sorry, new moderator/mediator. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 14:01, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Common sense

For those who do not know it, my position is that it does not matter how one decides to call this, since all that is negative or positive about the Soviet presence does not need to be read in the title, and can be referenced from reliable sources. At one point, I proposed that we use "military presence" or something, so that we get to move on and actually get this article somewhere.

Nevertheless, the discussions on this page convince me that the "no occupation" side relies on nothing but personal POV, sophistry, and ridiculously outdated sources. Reasons have been given in favor of "occupation", no reason has been given in favor of dropping it other than some arguments concocted by users on wiki.

There is another issue I want to bring up. Not only are the sources using the term many, they are also diverse, and, most certain of all, only a minuscule number of them are Nazi (and, if any, those who are count only for the editors interested in a reductio ad Hitlerum). From the references you have at the moment, we see it used by leftist liberals such as Mircea Răceanu and possibly right-leaning researchers such as Dragoş Zamfirescu. To them, one could add the final report of the Presidential Commission for the Study of Communist Dictatorship in Romania (here, p.20; the section rendered there also quotes historian Stephen Fischer-Galati), essayists and civil society activists such as the politologist Alina Mungiu-Pippidi (in András Bozóki, Intellectuals and Politics in Central Europe, p.76) and Victor Frunză (Istoria stalinismului în România, passim), the historian and National Liberal politician Adrian Cioroianu (Pe umerii lui Marx, p.325-326) and, unless I'm mistaken, the Marxist historian Ghiţă Ionescu. I have not been able to find out if Vladimir Tismăneanu, a formerly Marxist historian and sociologist (who is also a vocal critic of any form of far right) makes use of the actual term, but he writes at length about politicial and military control exercised by the Soviets. And I could go on, but do I need to? Dahn 18:41, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Exactly, we can only have a meaningful discussion (and hopefully come to a conclusion!) once the other side actually presents a coherent case. Since that hasn't happened yet, the only "reason" for changing the title at this point is essentially that certain people don't like it. That is no reason and nothing we can even have a serious discussion about. K. Lásztocska 18:45, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Verifiability doesn't override neutralityAnonimu 18:51, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Quite true. Now can you please actually back up your position with something neutral and verifiable so we can stop going around in these stupid circles? K. Lásztocska 18:57, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Both my solutions were neutral, supported by some of the present sources and an uncountable number of other equally reliable sources (even more, if we consider the Basescu-Volodea report reliable). —Preceding unsigned comment added by Anonimu (talk • contribs) 19:07, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Aide from that, and neutrality refers to there being two versions of the events, both taken from outside wikipedia (two equally respectable versions, one would have to add, but you are still to find and reference a real second voice). Dahn 19:00, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

I agree there are reliable sources that consider the prolonged Soviet military presence in Romania an occupation. That is however not the issue here. My objection is, that the Red Army entered Romania as liberators, not as occupiers, as the article and its title now suggests. -- Petri Krohn 03:05, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

Yes, they entered as liberators, the same way as they did in Hungary. But then, also like in Hungary, they never really got around to leaving. Thus the liberators became the new occupiers. K. Lásztocska 03:22, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

Actually, no. There was no German occupation in Romania, and no puppet regime. Soviets entered Romania while fighting the Romanian army and the Romanian government. Like in Germany. After 1/4 of Romania was thus conquered, Romania changed sides. But the Soviets did not acknowledged the side change, and continued to treat Romanians as enemies until most of the territory (including Bucharest) was fully occupied. During this period they took huge numbers of POWs. So, the Soviets did occupy Romania. The only question is: how long did the occupation last. And here, Western and Romanian scholarship agree in saying it lasted until the retreat of the Red Army. Dpotop 06:02, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

It's funny: On one side, Soviets say they "liberated" Romania. OTOH, it is today accepted that Romania has an independent responsibility in the Holocaust. But the two are contradictory: If Romania was liberated from the Germans, then it's the Germans that were in charge. :):) Anonimu and Petri Krohn, are you hidden Holocaust deniers? :):):) Dpotop 06:02, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

Petri, if the Romanians had already expelled the Nazis, as I recall, exactly what and who was being liberated? What freedoms, documented in reputable sources, did the Red Army restore to the Romanians that they had lost under the Nazis, to substantiate the description "liberation"? Once again, the existence of a debate or dispute must be supported by genuine differences in interpretation of the same set of facts as documented in reputable scholarly sources. If you simply object based on your personal credos, that is, for an encyclopedic article, immaterial, just as my personal beliefs are immaterial. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 03:34, 7 September 2007 (UTC)