Gheorghe Arsenescu

Gheorghe Arsenescu (May 31, 1907 – May 29, 1962) was a Romanian Army officer who led an anti-communist resistance movement in post-World War II Romania.

Biography Early years and World War II He was born in Câmpulung. His father, Captain Ion Arsenescu, fought in World War I and was killed in action at the Battle of Mărășești. Gheorghe Arsenescu graduated from the "Dinicu Golescu" High School in his hometown, and then, following in the military tradition of his father, enrolled in the Higher War School, in Bucharest. After graduating in 1924, he joined the 30th Regiment Dorobanți from Câmpulung.

At the start of World War II he was Operations Chief for the 2nd Mountain Division (Vânători de munte), under the command of General Ioan Dumitrache. He fought in the Crimean campaign, was wounded, and then returned to the front. During the war he rose to the rank of colonel.

Anti-communist resistance In the summer of 1947 Arsenescu hid firearms at the in Cetățeni. The following spring, he set up the "Dragoslavele" rebel group, which included Gheorghe Hachenzelner, Petre Cojocaru, Longhin Predoiu, Ion Mică, and Ion and Gheorge Purnichescu, In March 1949, the two of them went to Nucșoara, where they found shelter with Arnăuțoiu's parents and brother. Arsenescu started recruiting locals, arguing that he possessed armament, that he had personal contacts with the French Embassy, and that the West was bound to start a war with the Soviet Union, therefore the days of the Communist regime were numbered After this close call, Arnăuțoiu and Arsenescu decided to split into two separate groups, so as to minimize chances the resistance in the area would be decapitated if they were caught together. Later that year, Arsenescu narrowly escaped capture yet again, once in Bughea de Sus and once in Mățău, after being betrayed by some neighbors. In the fall of 1951, Arsenescu was ambushed by the security forces while crossing Râul Târgului; badly wounded by gunfire, he managed to hide in the woods and found refuge in the home of Apostol Postoaca. A notable member of Arsenescu's resistance movement was Elisabeta Rizea, who was captured by the Securitate at the same time as he was.