Party Vigilance Regarding University “Elements” in the „50s. Top Secret Instructions
Party Vigilance Regarding University “Elements” in the „50s. Top Secret Instructions

Summary/Abstract: In 1950 the communist government established, by Decree No. 100, the new categories of “enemies of the people”; that is all those known to have a reactionary past and an attitude adverse to the Romanian popular democracy Actually, as far as 1947, the N.K.V.D. directions concerning states under Soviet influence provisioned the removal of valuable professors who enjoyed prestige and popularity. On March 25 1950, the Ministry of Public Education released Instructions no. 75, considered top secret, for a better knowledge of such “elements” within the upper education system. Such instructions stated that in the shortest time possible, the managements of Universities should elaborate lists with the teaching staff - professors, assistant professors, assistants, lecturers, etc, and their characterization, organized in a table, containing information such as: political background, professional skills, etc. The term elements in the official correspondence of the Ministry of Education meant literally removing teaching staff from their teaching role and including them in the Communist ideological system, which abusively subordinated the universities, which, traditionally, had been elitist and autonomous. The teaching staff of “Victor Babeş” University was not exempt from the generalized “cleansing” movement that started after 1948. Massive campaigns of suspicion and pressure took place, especially in between 1952-1953 and during the autumn of 1957. Such Personnel Policy intended to prevent and annihilate all resistance against ideological servitude, and encouraged the attitude of duplicity and give-away.

• Details
• Contents