This video details the site where Nicolae and Elena #Ceausescu were tried and executed in 1989 after the Romanian uprising and downfall of the Communist regime. I have been once before but wanted to go back with a proper camera to record, what for me, is a very interesting place that represents a real piece of modern history.
The site is in the former Romanian School of Cavalry Officers which opened in 1919 and was a very prestigious institution, opened by King Ferdinand I. It stopped serving as the Cavalry School in 1948 but remained as a military barracks until 2003. It is located in Targoviste about an hour's drive North East of Bucharest. WF84+V9 is the GMaps plus code.
The whole period of the 1989 uprising leading up to it and after is interesting, but this trial still poses a lot of questions to this day. As a summary, after the events of December 22nd 1989 around Romania, but particularly in Bucharest, the Ceausescu's fled by helicopter from the capital and headed toward Targoviste but were caught along the way in a car after the helicopter put down. They were taken to the Cavalry School on the night of the 22nd of December and spent three nights there under constant watch. Sometime on the night of the 24th December, a secret code was apparently passed from General #Stanculescu, who was Ceausescu's most trusted General, but who turned on him, to the base and it initiated the trial and execution.
The trial was considered as just a show, as the outcome had already been determined, the Exceptional Military Court found both guilty of crimes against the state and people and in less than an hour, had sentenced them to immediate execution. The couple had their hands tied, were led directly out the back against a wall and without a pause, were shot by a firing squad.
Its a strange feeling there, as you can feel what took place, as nothing has really changed, the rooms are intact. I used my tablet to show video from the trial day to highlight how much the rooms are the same.
Well worth a visit, it is classed as a museum now but its not busy as not many people know where it is. The Targoviste train station is literally 50m across the road if anyone wants to catch the train there. Entry fee is only a couple of Lei. The lady who works there as a full time guide is very friendly and has so much information.
Thanks for watching, if there is anything anyone would like a video about in Romania send me some ideas, there is a general contact email on the channel. Stay safe guys.
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