Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Fascism and Communism, formerly known as Liberation from Fascist Occupation Day, is observed in Romania on August 23. On this day in 1944, King Michael I led a coup which resulted in the overthrow of Ion Antonescu and his fascist government. Following the coup, Romania joined the Allies.
Ion Antonescu rose to power in 1940. When 19-year-old Michael I formally assumed the throne, he declared Antonescu Conducător (leader) of the state and became a ceremonial monarch. On July 22, 1941 Romania entered World War II, joining Germany in Operation Barbarossa.
In 1944, King Michael I, some military and state leaders, and opposition politicians joined forces and staged a coup. Originally, the coup was planned for a later date, but the conspirators had to hurry up because of the Jassy-Kishinev Offensive of the Red Army. Antonescu was successfully deposed on August 23, 1944.
Following the coup, the Red Army advanced to Romania. King Michael I joined the Allies and declared war on Germany. The Communists exerted de facto control in the country. In 1947, they forced Michael I to abdicate and leave Romania.
From 1949 to 1990, the anniversary of the coup was observed in Romania as a public holiday named Liberation from Fascist Occupation Day. Since 2011, it has been observed as Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Fascism and Communism to commemorate two events: the 1944 coup and the Molotov—Ribbentrop Pact of 1939.