The forced labor in Romania
December 1940
In December 1940, Decree-Law no. 3984 excluding the Jews from the military services was enforced. They were to pay a fee instead of the military service not performed and submit to the forced labor regime under military jurisdiction. The amounts paid by Jews varied between 3000 and 7000 lei/year, plus a percentage that went between 20 and 30% of the state's taxes.
A regulation of July 1941 brings several additions: the obligations imposed by the decree of December 4, 1940, apply "upon reaching the age of 18 and cease as soon as the age of 50 has been reached" - Regulation on the Decree-Law no. 3984 on the military status of the Jews.
The age limit worked only in theory, many archival documents proving that the Romanian authorities used even 15, 16, or 17-year-olds in forced labor.
For almost four years, this law was the foundation of the forced labor regime to which the Jews of Romania were subjected. They could be sent to work either inside the residence localities, in the localities where they were evacuated, or in the external work detachments. The working and accommodation conditions there were extremely severe.
The conditions under which Jews employed in external detachments were forced to live were sometimes so critical that even Army officials demanded to replace Jews because their physical condition no longer allowed them to continue their work.
A regulation of July 1941 brings several additions: the obligations imposed by the decree of December 4, 1940, apply "upon reaching the age of 18 and cease as soon as the age of 50 has been reached" - Regulation on the Decree-Law no. 3984 on the military status of the Jews.
The age limit worked only in theory, many archival documents proving that the Romanian authorities used even 15, 16, or 17-year-olds in forced labor.
For almost four years, this law was the foundation of the forced labor regime to which the Jews of Romania were subjected. They could be sent to work either inside the residence localities, in the localities where they were evacuated, or in the external work detachments. The working and accommodation conditions there were extremely severe.
The conditions under which Jews employed in external detachments were forced to live were sometimes so critical that even Army officials demanded to replace Jews because their physical condition no longer allowed them to continue their work.