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Summary/Abstract: Bercu Zuckerman (1906-2000), known as Barbu Zaharescu, was a member of Romanian communist movement since 1923. For his political convictions, he was imprisoned in 1924, 1925-1931 and 1940-1944. After the second World War he was at the head of instutions such as: Institute of Political and Administrative Studies (1947), PMR Publishing House, „Lupta de clasă” review (1950-1954), „Maxim Gorki” Institute (1950-1952), Institute of party’s History (1955). In 1955 he was elected correspondent member of Academy. Between 1955 and 1961, he had diplomatic missions in Argentina, Turkey, China, Birmania, Vietnam. Member of the Central Committee (1955-1974). Ion Prunescu was a policeman in the interwar period and served under Ion Antonescu regime. Starting with 1939, Prunescu was working for the anticommunist Brigade II, achieving, within this department, the function of commissioner and chief of the surveillance division. From this position, he ordered the surveillance, identification and annihilation of communist networks, by arresting their members, prosecuting and even convicting them or extending their conviction. Among those under surveillance, chased, investigated or with extended sentences given with his contribution were such communist leaders as: Teohari Georgescu, Iosif Roitman (Chişinevschi), Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej or Chivu Stoica. In 1946, Prunescu Ion was caught, tried and sentenced to life hard labour and wealth confiscation for “activity against the working class”; then, through a sentence of the Military Court, his punishment was commuted to 25 years of hard labour and, under the 1964 Pardon Decree, Ion Prunescu was released on 7 August after 18 years of imprisonment. After his release, he was chased by the Securitate, forced, through blackmail, to collaborate with this institution, being used as an agent to provide informative notes on his former colleagues from the police.

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