December 12, the day Romania broke relations with the USA and officially entered the war alongside Nazi Germany
Romania declared war on the United States on December 12, 1941, aligning itself completely with the Axis. The decision led to the severance of diplomatic relations and justified the American bombing of strategic targets in Romania in the following years.
Romania entered the war in 1941 PHOTO Archive
1913 – Recovery of the “Mona Lisa” painting
Picture “Mona Lisa” Leonardo da Vinci's was recovered on December 12, 1913, in Florence, after it had been stolen in 1911 from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The work was found in the possession of Vincenzo Peruggia, a former employee of the museum, who tried to sell it to the Italian authorities.
The “Mona Lisa” painting was recovered in Florence, two years after it was stolen PHOTO Archive
The investigation confirmed that Peruggia had acted alone, taking advantage of his previous access to the museum. The recovery allowed the painting to be temporarily repatriated to Italy, before it was returned to the Louvre, where it once again became one of the centerpieces of the collection.
1915 – Frank Sinatra was born
Frank Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915 and became one of the most influential American singers of the 20th century. He won numerous Grammy Awards for his musical career and was recognized for his major impact on the swing and pop genres.
As an actor, Sinatra won the Academy Award for his supporting role in the film “From Here to Eternity” (1953). He also remained a prominent figure in the entertainment industry through his work as a producer and career longevity.
1941 – Romania declares war on the USA
On December 12, 1941, Romania declared war on the United States, under pressure from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The decision came in the context of Romania's alliance with the Axis Powers, after the US entered the war following the Pearl Harbor attack.
No direct military operations took place between Romania and the United States. The declaration of war, however, led to the breaking of diplomatic relations and consolidated Romania's total alignment with the Axis military strategy until 1944.
1983 – Amza Pellea died
Amza Pellea died on December 12, 1983. He was one of the most popular Romanian theater and film actors, known for his historical roles and for the character Nea Mărin, which brought him wide popularity among the public.
Throughout his career, Pellea worked at the Bucharest National Theater and played in important films such as “Mihai the Brave”. His artistic achievements established him as one of the essential figures of Romanian cinema and stage.
2002 – Enlargement of the European Union
On 12 December 2002, the European Union invited ten candidate states – Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus and Malta – to join the EU as of 1 May 2004. The enlargement was the largest in the organization's history, with the number of member states increasing from 15 to 25.
For Romania and Bulgaria, 2007 was set as the deadline for accession, following the evaluation of the level of preparation and the ongoing negotiations. The 2002 decision marked an essential step in the process of expansion into Central and Eastern Europe.
