Romania: Romanian Armed Forces

A file containing documents relating to the Romanian armed forces. The principal document in the file is the annual report for 1975 by the British defence attaché in Bucharest. Subjects covered in the report include the high priority given to national defence; military equipment as a major industry in Romania; changes in Romania's military leadership; the involvement of Romanian soldiers in major civilian projects, referred to as "patriotic work"; the high morale of Romanian soldiers despite their basic living conditions; Romania's strained relations with the Warsaw Pact, contrasting with improving relations with the armed forces of other countries; and an analysis of Romanian military equipment. Other subjects discussed include Romania's status as the "maverick of the Warsaw Pact", meaning that the Soviet Union was the country's prime potential threat; a report on a major mobilisation exercise; a new installation that resembled a satellite-tracking station; and analysis of speeches by the Romanian president, Nicolae Nicolae Ceaușescu.