WWII veterans pension - Romania

Discussion in 'Postwar' started by Cristian Petrica, Jan 23, 2009.

  1. Cristian Petrica

    Cristian Petrica Junior Member

    Hello, I decided to do whatever I can in order to present the WWII veterans situation in my country therefore I'll contact various associations and news agencies to say few words and hopefully raise attention. I find outrageous and shameful that Romanian government pays a pension of around RON 200 (EUR 46 or USD 60) for WWII veterans. There are a lot more to say but I'll stop here. I am an individual and I do not represent any interests of a private or legal person. I am not looking for publicity or any form of compensation. I would just like that the romanian WWII veterans to be known. I think it's a shame for all romanian governments that are or used to be in power to treat these people in such a way. Thank you for your time. Regards, Cristian Petrica
     
  2. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Hello Cristian and welcome to our forum. Thats a very noble and interesting cause you are supporting. If you have any info on veterans of the Romanian army in WW2 we would welcome you posting it.
     
  3. Cristian Petrica

    Cristian Petrica Junior Member

    Hello Gotthard and thanks for your reply. According to my research in Romania live around 300 000 (widows included). I had the chance to meet very few especially at countryside were I grew up. There are various NGO's dealing with their problems but not able to do much. I would say that they have a really hard life but can still able to give lessons of pride and honor like the one who publicly refused a decoration offered by the romanian president two years ago and made very strong comments about their real problems. Here is a picture of some of them at a ceremony: Tot mai puţini veterani de război I'll be happy to give any other info if somebody is interested. However for very specific questions it might take some time since I have to search and document my answer. Regards, Cristian
     
  4. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Cristian,
    Welcome to the forum.
    Veterans are not treated with the respect that they deserve in many countries and pensions are usually minimal as most Governments just do not wish to spend money as they are usually crying poverty.

    I would be interested to learn how the Soviets treated the Romanian WW2 Veterans following the war, when yours and other countries came under the Soviet rule.

    I mention this because Stalin was brutal with his own people and Romania did fight with Germany in Russia.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Welcome to the forum
     
  6. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Only war disabled WW2 Veterans get anything? Being a Vet entitles you to nothing. except what others get. As to respect? What respect? Where is that supposed to come from?
    Sapper
     
  7. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The provision of state benefits in Romania is obviously inadequte but if all those who served in WW11 receive a war pension then they are ahead of the UK - Don't forget that those who were signed on for 'Duration of Emergency' in Britain don't receive one either - only ex-regulars receive a WD pension based on years served.
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I remember when I came home from Iraq in Aug 2003 I told my then wife I was still in Germany waiting for a flight. I wanted to go to the Bank's Head Office in Sheffield where she worked and surprise her in my uniform.

    When I arrived in the UK my mate (another squaddie) was waiting for me in his car on the barracks to take me too Sheffield.

    I got told I couldn't leave in my uniform as it may upset the civilian population. I explained I had no other clothes except some dirty PT Kit. I had to strip off my uniform and leave the barracks in a smelly t-shirt and shorts in a rather miffed off mood. I've never forgived the Army for that bitter pill which I've never been able to swallow.

    To end on a happy note by the time I got to Sheffield I'd put the uniform back on in my mates car but she had already finished work. My mate took me to my house to be greeted by a house with a yellow ribbon or two tied to it and the neighbours coming out to give me a round of applause and the best hugs and kisses I ever had off the ex-wife.


    And back in the room.......Sorry Rant over :D
     
    Paul Reed likes this.
  9. Cristian Petrica

    Cristian Petrica Junior Member

    Tom, After the end of WWII, Soviet army was present in Romania until September 1952 (lowest number of troops was 19 000 and highest 600 000). Having a target to implement the communist doctrine they used all necessary means and Romanian army was one of the first to be “reorganized”. The vast majority of the lower rank veterans were not having any problems but seeing Russian officers giving them orders and instructions on how an army should be run. The high rank position in Romanian army was cleared of any officer (might have been 30% from the whole army) thought to have feelings against Russian occupation and/or communist doctrine. Cleared mean sent to jail for various fabricated reasons, forced to work in mines etc or sometimes assassinated. Russian army worked closely with the newly formed Romanian communist party on this. No Stalin type brutality after the end of war. Before the war yes..very few captured before august 1944 when we changed sides came back. I remember my father spent years looking for any sign of his older brother who was a POW in Russia but nothing came out. He traveled to Russia many times with no result.. As a small note, Russian army was seen by romanians as a band of savages and I mean no disrespect for any soldier who fought back than while german soldiers were seen as being polite, well educated and fair. In Gorj county were a german unit was stationed near my village, my grandmother used to have a small shop. She never saw a german soldier drunk and before they left all soldiers having a debt came, paid and said good bye. It seems that soldiers were crazy after eggs as my father used to tell me..He was a kid back than and soldiers were asking him for eggs that were eaten raw right away but always giving him something in exchange ( amixture of honey and butter or various other sweets). When Russians came, they just took whatever wanted from villagers (food, drink) and shot a man who did not wanted to hand over a pig he had in courtyard..These kind of stories about Russian soldiers one can hear from elders in many villages in Romania. Any ideas of a resource were I can find what german unit was stationed in my village? Maybe a map resource with german units stationed in Romania during WWII.. Thank you. Regards, Cristian
     
  10. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    So pleased for you Drew. Days to remember......
    Sapper
     
  11. Elven6

    Elven6 Discharged

    Only war disabled WW2 Veterans get anything? Being a Vet entitles you to nothing. except what others get. As to respect? What respect? Where is that supposed to come from?
    Sapper

    They are entitled to A pension like all retirees in all fields of work, as for respect, well it really depends on what kind of person you are. For instance, I respect war veterans because they did something I haven't/couldn't, now of course not every shares my view on the subject, protesting on a veterans behalf probably won't make people respect them anymore then they already did before.

    Don't want to discourage you anymore Cristian but factor in Romainia's position, do they even have enough money to provide better pensions for veterans? Unfortunetly the needs of the elderly have to be put aside in the grand scheme of things for a government short on cash.
     
  12. Cristian Petrica

    Cristian Petrica Junior Member

    Thank you all for postings. I am glad I found this forum. I will be back tomorrow with more comments/answers. Have a nice day/evening. Cristian
     
  13. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Cristian,
    Thankyou for your excellent reply to my question.
    I will see what I can find on the German units in Romania.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  14. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Veterans don't seem to be treated with the respect that they deserve by any governments around the world. Where would we be without their sacrifices.

    Cheers

    Paul
     
  15. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Veterans don't seem to be treated with the respect that they deserve by any governments around the world. Where would we be without their sacrifices.

    Cheers

    Paul

    Paul,

    That is exactly the point that I was trying to make.
    Most Governments appear to be a bad as each other.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  16. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    I am presuming many of these Romanian WW2 veterans will have fought for Germany as part of the Axis?
     
  17. Cristian Petrica

    Cristian Petrica Junior Member

    I am presuming many of these Romanian WW2 veterans will have fought for Germany as part of the Axis?

    Indeed. They fought for the Axis up to August 1944 than for Russia until the end of WWII.
     
  18. Cristian Petrica

    Cristian Petrica Junior Member

    They are entitled to A pension like all retirees in all fields of work, as for respect, well it really depends on what kind of person you are. For instance, I respect war veterans because they did something I haven't/couldn't, now of course not every shares my view on the subject, protesting on a veterans behalf probably won't make people respect them anymore then they already did before.

    Don't want to discourage you anymore Cristian but factor in Romainia's position, do they even have enough money to provide better pensions for veterans? Unfortunetly the needs of the elderly have to be put aside in the grand scheme of things for a government short on cash.

    I was not thinking of respect from people but from the government. The form of "respect from the government" I am thinking of is the regulations issued in regard with veterans and the way these regulations are applied. I would leave the small pension received by wounded or disabled veterans now and I'll give you an example of an existing regulation and the way state employees understand to apply it. Veterans here are entitled to have a free (per year I guess) trip (accommodation included) to a resort in Romania specialized in treating various diseases. Recently in a newspaper was a story about an 83 years old veteran trying to get his ticket. Everytime he went to the office, employees there told him it can't be done that particular month he went and told him to come back next month. It took 6 months until he got his ticket. The thing is these tickets are sold by pension house employees to some other people not entitled to use it and the resorts do not really care if a 40 years old will show up with a veteran ticket. I personally heard a taxi driver laughing about how cheap he got his ticket and what a great week he had to a resort. There are so many stories like the one above and it really drives me mad. However, the truth is that many bad things are the result of an extremely high level of corruption in Romania. It is my country and it's not easy to say it. I am aware that corruption is everywhere but the impact on the society is way smaller than here. As for the money..while is not a rich country I am sure there are enough to provide a better support for veterans (I am thinking of the wounded or the ones with disabilities now not the elderly in general). It is not such a big effort especially when there are not many left. In its "generosity" gov now prepares a law to raise the pension which is around EUR 46 by 4.5%...such a bad joke..It's just sad when huge amounts from the budget and EU funds are given for building the infrastructure (roads etc.) and somehow bids are won by companies owned by relatives/friends of high rank officials with an estimated cost per km of highway of EUR 57 000 000 ..the most expensive in Europe. I did not wanted to waste your time with the above and miss the main subject of the discussion but I hope it'll give a better understanding of the facts. Thanks for reading. Cheers Cristian
     
  19. Cristian Petrica

    Cristian Petrica Junior Member

    Only war disabled WW2 Veterans get anything? Being a Vet entitles you to nothing. except what others get. As to respect? What respect? Where is that supposed to come from?
    Sapper

    I hope my last post will answer to your questions in regard to where the respect should come form. I would ask you if I may if you and your fellows soldiers expected a good treatment (in any way not necessarily material) from your government after the war ended. I would also ask if overall you have the feeling that veterans were treated well by your government up to these days. I know "treated well" is quite vague but I am curious to read your comments.. Thank you very much. Regards, Cristian
     
  20. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

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