Communist justice minister who signed Romania’s armistice, purged for “nationalist deviation” and executed
Born in Bacău into a political family, he joined the Socialist Party in 1919 and was a founding member of the Romanian Communist Party in 1921. A lawyer and sociologist with a Leipzig doctorate, he was elected a deputy for the Workers and Peasants’ Bloc in 1931 and joined the Central Committee. Imprisoned and interned during the war, in 1944 he and Emil Bodnăraș represented the party in the secret talks with the National Liberals and National Peasants to overthrow Antonescu. He drafted the proclamation of the 23 August coup, signed the armistice in Moscow on 12 September, was minister of justice in 1944–1948 and sat on the Politburo in 1946–1947. Branded a “chauvinist” by Gheorghiu-Dej and sidelined, he was arrested in April 1948 and executed at Jilava in 1954 after a show trial. He was rehabilitated in 1968.
Also known as: Lucretiu Patrascanu
Activities and affiliations
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1919–1921
Socialist Party of Romania (1918–1921)
Political and party leadership -
1921–1948
Romanian Communist Party (PCR)Main
Political and party leadership- Central Committee and Politburo member1931–1948
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1944–1947
Romania state institutionsArmistice and peace-treaty signatory
Diplomacy and international organization -
1944–1948
Romania state institutionsMinister of Justice
Law and justice
Career Timeline
- 1919Joins the Socialist Party of Romania
- 1921Founding member of the Romanian Communist Party
- 1931Deputy for the Workers and Peasants’ Bloc; Central Committee
- 1944.08.23Drafts the coup proclamation
- 1944.09.12Signs the armistice in Moscow
- 1944–1948Minister of Justice
- 1946–1947Politburo member
- 1948.04.28Arrested
- 1954.04.17Executed at Jilava
- 1968Rehabilitated
Related historical events
- 1944–1949The People's Democracies of Eastern EuropePurged Romanian Communist leaderDropped from the leadership in February 1948, arrested in April and executed in 1954.
- 1944–1948Romania: From 23 August to the People's RepublicCommunist representative and minister of justiceHelped prepare the coup of 23 August 1944 and drafted the king's proclamation; held the Justice Ministry under Sănătescu and Groza until he was attacked for “nationalist deviation” at the February 1948 congress and arrested on 28 April.