19, 1946. After a coalition led by the Romanian Communist Party won the election (through widespread intimidation tactics and electoral fraud), he was appointed Minister of Defense, holding this ministerial portfolio from November 29, 1946 until December 27, 1947, when he was replaced by Emil Bodnăraș. He was promoted to General on September 23, 1947. On June 7, 1947, he signed the decree establishing the football club Asociația Sportivă a Armatei București, now CSA Steaua București. In 1949 he served as commander of the Military Academy in Bucharest. He was then Inspector-General of the Romanian Army until January 12, 1950, when he was discharged from active duty. He died in Bucharest in 1959. Awards German Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class & 1st Class (7 January 1942)(24 September 1941) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (the first foreign recipient of this decoration) Order of Michael the Brave, 2nd class (31 December 1942) References External links 1889 births 1959 deaths People from Târgu Jiu Romanian Land Forces generals Romanian military personnel of the Second Balkan War Romanian military personnel of World War I Romanian military personnel of World War II Romanian prisoners of war World War II prisoners of war held by the Soviet Union Horea, Cloșca și Crișan Division personnel Academic staff of Carol I National Defence University Romanian Ministers of Defence Recipients of the Order of Michael the Brave, 2nd class Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves