Straja Țării


Straja Țării was a youth organization in the Kingdom of Romania, created in 1935 by King Carol II to counter the growing influence the Iron Guard had over the youth of Romania. Its members were known as străjeri, and used a form of the Roman salute as greeting.

Character

The monarch modeled it on the Nazi Germany's Hitler Youth, and took inspiration from other fascist groups such as the Italian Balilla. This shape became more obvious on December 3, 1938, when Straja Țării was re-organized along the lines of Carol's personal regime, replacing all existing youth movements, including Scouting, and became overseer of sports and all other activities. Although the King was often referred to Marele Străjer, the actual leaders of the group were General Teofil Sidorovici and Nisa Cămărășescu.
All boys aged 7 to 18 and all girls between 7 and 21 were supposed to join. A body comprising 18- to 21-year-old boys completed Straja, and it was responsible for offering low-level military education and training.
In 1939 the Straja Țării played a starring role at the "Freude und Arbeit” exhibition which was held in Bucharest under the auspices of Dr. Robert Ley and the "Deutsche Arbeitsfront".
Members were bound by a Crez, which read:
"Credință și muncă pentru Țară și Rege
1. Cred în Dumnezeu și în Biserica străbunilor mei;
2. Cred în Regele Țării, Marele nostru Străjer, Cârmuitorul destinelor Poporului Român;
3. Cred în muncă și jertfă — închinându-mi întreaga mea ființă pentru ridicarea și propășirea Patriei;
4. Cred în Straja Țării — chezășia Unității Neamului, Hotarelor și Sufletului Românesc."

Disbandment

In the summer of 1940, following the cession of Northern Bukovina and Bessarabia to the Soviet Union, it was employed in an offering help to the many refugees in various parts of Romania. The Romanian Radio engaged in a propaganda campaign, praising Straja Țării as Armata Albă a Regelui, while hiding the fact that theirs had been the only form of aid for the displaced.
Later that year, when the National Legionary State government replaced Carol's regime, after the crisis provoked by the Second Vienna Award, the organization was disbanded and all its assets were taken over by the Iron Guard.