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Further Reading

Romania

In accordance with the December 1991 Romanian constitution, the Romanian armed forces have the defensive mission of ensuring the territorial integrity of the country. The military enjoys popular support, partly because of its role in supporting the December 1989 revolution. The army is the largest service. Romania has an all-volunteer military force; conscription ended in 2007.

The Romanian armed forces have about 75,000 military personnel and 15,000 civilians, for a total of 90,000 men and women. Out of these 75,000, about 45,800 are in the Land Forces. In 1993, the U.S. military began training of Romanian military and civilian officials through International Military Education and Training (IMET) and other exchange programs, emphasizing civilian democratic control over the military.

A defense access agreement with Romania represents the first time US military forces, albeit in small numbers, will be stationed in a new NATO ally that is also a former member of the Warsaw Pact.

Throughout history, periods of occupation of any territory have always been recorded as difficult times, times of abuse and requisitions. Despite the efforts and dedication of many military leaders, subordinates often bring disgrace to their uniform. In recent history, after 1945, the Soviet Army has been the most disgraced army of all, due to its alarmingly large number of soldiers who brought shame to their country by perpetrating heinous crimes in the occupied territories. This image of the Red Army can't be changed in the eyes of many past and future generations.

Romanian citizens of the time witnessed unforgettable misdeeds by Soviet soldiers, from robberies to rapes and murders. Rapes were a disgraceful chapter written by Soviet troops. Russian soldiers would rape seventy year old women. The criminal acts perpetrated by many soldiers of the Red Army during their stay in Romania, from the end of World War Two until 1958, brought irreparable physical and mental damage to their victims.