Sinaia, August 20, 2024 – Institute for the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism and
Memory of the Romanian Exile (IICCMER), in partnership with the Peleș National Museum
and the "Nicolae Iorga" Institute of History of the Romanian Academy, organizes a
special debate, which will take place at the Peleș National Museum, on August 23, 2024,
from 1:00 p.m., on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the crucial moment in
history of Romania, when His Majesty King Michael I decided to dismiss and
the arrest of Ion Antonescu and the change in the political and military direction of the country.
The event titled "August 23, 1944. 80 years in retrospect" is taking place
under the aegis of the "Ideas in the Agora" debate series, initiated by the well-known historian Sorin
Antohi, as a special edition, number 101.
Discussions will focus on the complexity and necessity of the moment 23
August 1944, which changed the course of World War II. These will
explore the role played by King Mihai, the historical parties, the Romanian army,
as well as the Communist Party, along with the analysis of the diplomatic negotiations that have
led to the conclusion of the armistice. Renowned personalities in the field of history,
law and political sciences, such as Sorin ANTOHI, representative of the Royal House
of Romania, Dinu ZAMFIRESCU, President of the Scientific Council of IICCMER, Narcis
Dorin ION, Manager of the Peleș National Museum, Stelian TĂNASE, historian and writer,
Alexandru MURARU, deputy and professor, Matei GHEBOIANU, Dean of the Faculty of
History of the University of Bucharest, Manuel STĂNESCU, Deputy Director of
Institute for Defense Policy Studies and Military History, and Simion
GHEORGHIU, researcher at the "Nicolae Iorga" Institute of History of the Academy
Romanian, will bring valuable insights into the impact that these
events had on the destiny of the nation. The discussion will be moderated by Mioara
ANTON, director of the "Nicolae Iorga" Institute of History, providing a framework
academic to reflect on a defining moment in Romanian history.
The event will also include a memorable screening, with the testimony of King Michael I
about those decisive historical moments, extracted from the interview conducted by
Stelian Tanase.
Access is free.

For more information about IICCMER's work, please contact us.
contact us by e-mail office@iiccmer.ro or by phone 40 21 316 7565 and let us know
follow on our website iiccmer.ro or on Facebook and Instagram platforms.

***
About IICCMER
Institute for the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism and the Memory of Romanian Exile
(IICCMER) is a government structure established in 2005 and located in
coordination of the Prime Minister of Romania. His role lies, above all, in
management and scientific analysis of the totalitarian period and
its consequences. Secondly, IICCMER supports the creation and implementation of
educational tools with a memorial purpose, thus contributing to
articulating the context in which fundamental values and rights are received
of our post-totalitarian society. Last but not least, IICCMER has the role of
collect, archive and publish documents relating to