December 25, 1989: Comrades Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu of Romania are sentenced to death by masked “judges” and executed following a fascist-led military coup.

The lifelong communist militants, both from poor peasant backgrounds, are murdered by the pro-imperialist Council of National Salvation and buried in an unmarked grave.



“Some would like again to reintroduce unemployment, to reduce the living standards of people, and in order to dismantle Romania, to endanger the future of our independent people and nation.

“Dear comrades, the best answer we have to give is the unity of all working people from the entire nation. Firm action to achieve social development programs of the homeland and continue lifting the level, living, material and spiritual, of the people. It depends on us that Romania continues to remain a free country, independent and for construction of socialism! And I wish to declare here again that we will do everything to defend the integrity and sovereignty of Romania, the freedom and life of our people, the welfare of our entire nation!”

- From Nicolae Ceaușescu’s final public speech in Bucharest, December 21, 1989.

