[1] On June 26, 1940, the Soviet Union demanded that the regions of northern Bukovina and Bessarabia be evacuated of all Romanian military personnel and civilian administration, and that the territories be ceded to the USSR.
Due to overwhelming international pressure, the Romanian government was forced to accept the ultimatum,[2] and the Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina commenced on June 28.
During the retreat of the Romania Army from Bessarabia, Atanasescu abandoned his troops and fled to Galați; his actions were blamed on ethnic minorities, including Jews.
Later that summer, the pro-France Romanian government ceded Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria under the Treaty of Craiova and Northern Transylvania to Hungary under the Second Vienna Award.
3,094 of 9 September 1940 to remove from the army Atanasescu and several other generals considered to be close to Carol II and accused of behaving inappropriately as high military commanders during the dramatic circumstances of the summer of 1940.