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Prince Mihail R. Sturdza (1886 - 1980). Romanian nobleman and diplomat. Was a descendent of the wealthy and influential Sturdza family of Romanian landowners, politicians and boyars. Played a brief role in Romanian interwar politics.

Mihail Sturdza, original a conservative and nationalist, was a member of the Iron Guard and developed strong fascist and antisemitic convictions. As a supporter of the leader of the Iron Guard Horia Sima, he was a brief period (September 14, 1940 - January 26, 1941) Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania during the so called National Legionary State after the abdication of king Carol II.

As Foreign Minister Sturdza signed on November 23 1940 the Tripartite Pact with nazi-Germany in the presence of Adolf Hitler, the German minister of Foreign Affairs Joachim von Ribbentrop and the Romanian head of government general Ion Antonescu. In December 1940 Sturdza obtained the replacement of the German ambassador Wilhelm Fabricius with Manfred Freiherr von Killinger, perceived as more sympathetic to the Iron Guard^[1]. After the clash between the Iron Guard and general Ion Antonescu in January 1941 (see Legionary Rebellion), which was won by the latter, Sturdza had to resign. Antonescu took over leadership of the ministry, with the compliant diplomat Constantin Greceanu as his right hand.

Sturdza was from 1938 Romanian ambassador in Denmark. In that capacity he was involved in the assassination of Romania's Prime Minister Armand Călinescu on 21 september 1939. It seems that the action was carried out with German approval and assistance. On September 1, representatives of Germany, Fascist Italy and the Iron Guard met with Sturdza in Copenhagen to discuss Călinescu's killing^[2] ^[3].

After the defeat of the Iron Guard in January 1940 Sturdza followed partyleader Horia Sima in exile; first in Sofia, Bulgaria and afterwards in Germany. Sturdza became again Minister of Foreign Affairs in a Romanian pro-Nazi puppet government in Vienna from 10 December 1944 untill the end of World War II.

After WW II Sturdza fled first to Fascist Spain and later to USA, were he kept strong ties with other members of the Iron Guard in exile. He wrote several publications about the history of his native country and international affairs. In later years he was involved in rightwing organisations. In 1968 he published his memoirs^[4], which took approval in rightwing circles for the cold war- and anti-communist points of view.

Notes

^ Deletant, p.63, 301
^ Ciobanu, p.57,58
^ Ignat & Matei, p.71,72,73
^ Sturdza

References

Dennis Deletant, Hitler's Forgotten Ally: Ion Antonescu and His Regime, Romania, 1940-1944, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2006.

Nicolae Ciobanu, "Armand Călinescu: Jertfă pentru liniştea şi independenţa ţării. «Omul de oţel» împotriva Gărzii de Fier" ("Armand Călinescu: A Sacrifice for the Country's Peace and Security. The «Man of Steel» versus the Iron Guard"), in Dosarele Istoriei, 6/IV (1999)

Petru Ignat, Gheorghe Matei, "Asasinarea lui Armand Călinescu" ("Armand Călinescu's Assassination"), in Magazin Istoric, October 1967

Mihail R. Sturdza, 'The Suicide of Europe', memoirs of Prince Michel Sturdza, former Foreign Minister of Rumania. Western Islands Publishers, Boston, Los Angeles, 1968.

[1] Deletant, p.63, 301

[2] Ciobanu, p.57,58

[3] Ignat & Matei, p.71,72,73

[4] Sturdza

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[2]

[3]

[4]

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 Mihail Sturdza, original a conservative and nationalist, was a member of the [[Iron Guard]] and developed strong fascist and antisemitic convictions. As a supporter of the leader of the Iron Guard [[Horia Sima]], he was a brief period (September 14, 1940 - January 26, 1941) [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Romania)|Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania]] during the so called [[National Legionary State]] after the abdication of king [[Carol II]].
-As Foreign Minister Sturdza obtained in December 1940 the replacement of the German ambassador [[Wilhelm Fabricius]] with [[Manfred Freiherr von Killinger]], perceived as more sympathetic to the Iron Guard<ref>Deletant, p.63, 301</ref>. After the clash between the Iron Guard and general [[Ion Antonescu]] in January 1941 (see [[Legionary Rebellion]]), which was won by the latter, Sturdza had to resign. Antonescu took over leadership of the ministry, with the compliant diplomat [[Constantin Greceanu]] as his right hand.
+As Foreign Minister Sturdza signed on November 23 1940 the [[Tripartite Pact]] with nazi-Germany in the presence of [[Adolf Hitler]], the German minister of Foreign Affairs [[Joachim von Ribbentrop]] and the Romanian head of government general Ion Antonescu. In December 1940 Sturdza obtained the replacement of the German ambassador [[Wilhelm Fabricius]] with [[Manfred Freiherr von Killinger]], perceived as more sympathetic to the Iron Guard<ref>Deletant, p.63, 301</ref>. After the clash between the Iron Guard and general [[Ion Antonescu]] in January 1941 (see [[Legionary Rebellion]]), which was won by the latter, Sturdza had to resign. Antonescu took over leadership of the ministry, with the compliant diplomat [[Constantin Greceanu]] as his right hand.
 Sturdza was from 1938 Romanian ambassador in Denmark. In that capacity he was involved in the assassination of Romania's Prime Minister [[Armand Călinescu]] on 21 september 1939. It seems that the action was carried out with German approval and assistance. On September 1, representatives of Germany, [[Fascist Italy]] and the Iron Guard met with Sturdza in Copenhagen to discuss Călinescu's killing<ref>Ciobanu, p.57,58</ref> <ref>Ignat & Matei, p.71,72,73</ref>.
+After the defeat of the Iron Guard in January 1940 Sturdza followed partyleader Horia Sima in exile; first in Sofia, Bulgaria and afterwards in Germany. Sturdza became again Minister of Foreign Affairs in a Romanian pro-Nazi puppet government in Vienna from 10 December 1944 untill the end of World War II.
-After WW II Sturdza fled to USA, were he lived in Cleveland, and wrote several publications about the history of his native country and international affairs. In later years he was involved in rightwing organisations. In 1968 he published his memoirs<ref>Sturdza</ref>, which took approval in rightwing circles for the cold war- and anti-communist points of view.
+After WW II Sturdza fled first to Fascist Spain and later to USA, were he kept strong ties with other members of the Iron Guard in exile. He wrote several publications about the history of his native country and international affairs. In later years he was involved in rightwing organisations. In 1968 he published his memoirs<ref>Sturdza</ref>, which took approval in rightwing circles for the cold war- and anti-communist points of view.