The history of Bessarabia and of Marshal Ion Antonescu is contained in two collections of documents that were launched in Chisinau on September 3. The books “Bessarabia: Letters to the Marshal” and “Bessarabia of Marshal Antonescu” were compiled by historian and archivist Alexandru Moraru, who is a member of the Union of Professional Journalists of Romania, IPN reports.

The two collections include almost 400 documents found in Iasi, Romania. These refer to the period when Bessarabia was under the management of Marshal Ion Antonescu. “The books represent two collections of unique documents. I decided to make them public as I gathered over 400 documentary articles published in different newspapers. There is nothing more important than the documents of that period. A person who has such a collection of documents can form a clear opinion about a personality or about a historical period. I created instruments of work for historians, journalists, politicians and ordinary people,” the author said in the launch.

In the event, historian Anton Moraru noted that the two books controvert Soviet historians’ data showing that Marshal Antonescu was a fascist, who repressed the Jewish people. “Alexandru Moraru in his books presents documents that cannot be denied. The historical facts are proven by documents. These collections refute the lies about Ion Antonescu. The marshal is presented as a personality who contributed to the economic, cultural and social development of Bessarabia,” stated Anton Moraru.

The launch took place at the National Library within the 2015 International Book Show. The books were issued in a number of 100 copies each, with the author’s money.

Alexandru Moraru was awarded the medal “Commemorative Cross of World War II 1941-1945” for his work and a Diploma of Excellence. He is the author and editor of a number of collections of documents that appeared in Iasi and Chisinau in 2006-2015.