Bucharest, Romania: Statue of Iuliu Maniu

It's time for a lesson on one of the Founding Fathers of Romania. Iuliu Maniu was a lawyer and political leader of the country before and after World War I, and even rose to become Prime Minister of the country three different times in 1930s. 

The politics of the region changed quickly in that era, and Maniu had to watch as the country fell under the influence of Nazi Germany. Then Romania switched sides in World War II, aligning itself with the Soviet Uniion. You can imagine what would happen to someone who preferred the Western Allies (United States, England, etc.)  Maniu tried to flee the country in 1947, was caught, and was sentenced to a  life of hard labor. He died in 1953, and his body was literally thrown into a common grave. 

Maniu's last words were said to be: "If the Communists are overthrown in our country, it will be the most holy duty of every Christian to go into the streets and at the risk of his own life defend the Communists from the righteous fury of the multitudes whom they have tyrannized."

Maniu wasn't forgotten after the Revolution of 1989. A statue went up in the main city square in 1998, and several streets throughout the country have been named after him.