The first half of the 20th century: world wars, Greater Romania, and interwar Europe
What the domain covers
This domain covers the making and unmaking of Greater Romania, the two world wars, and interwar European politics. The exam tests treaty outcomes, constitutional change, territorial losses and the relationship between domestic authoritarianism and international pressure.
Core knowledge
- In 1918 Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania united with Romania; the Paris peace treaties of 1919–1920 recognised the new borders.
- The 1923 constitution established a liberal parliamentary system with universal male suffrage and centralisation; it did not resolve agrarian and minority tensions.
- Interwar Europe saw dictatorship and revisionism: Mussolini in Italy, Hitler in Germany, the Great Depression, and the Little Entente.
- In 1938 Carol II imposed royal dictatorship, suspending parliamentary politics.
- In 1940 Romania lost Bessarabia and northern Bukovina to the USSR, northern Transylvania to Hungary, and southern Dobruja to Bulgaria. The 1944 coup turned Romania against Germany; the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty confirmed the 1940 losses except northern Transylvania, which returned to Romania.
Worked example
A source from 1940 calls the territorial changes a "dictate". Explain why. Reasoning: Romania was not a military participant in the arbitration decisions; the Vienna Award and Soviet ultimatum imposed cessions under pressure. The term is political and should be explained, not merely repeated.
Traps
Do not confuse 1918 unions with the 1920 Treaty of Trianon alone; do not say the 1923 constitution created a dictatorship; distinguish 1940 losses from 1947 peace terms; avoid treating the 1944 coup as communist seizure of power.