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BEST 1 VNAnE COPY . _ i ' IDENTIAL FD-72 (34.514) FEIJERAL. BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION DETROIT TORI4 fio. I '111111 CUE OTAIDIMAT10 AT 5-g/ 9 111,91,1f WSW AT CHICAGO ' - AN WADI 441:15.1, PAllsoo Ton wttlek MANI 10/10,19/55 Nuroafeaux my AUCUST J. BAUMGARTNER AJB:NLB WU; VIOREL DONISE TRIFA MARACIIMOPTAIM INTERNAL SECURITY - RU SYNOPOISOOFACM ,. GEORGE MUNTEAN interviewed 10/19/55 and furnished signed statement regarding subject's activities. MUNTEAN described subject as student leader and Iron Guard member at the University of Bucharest between 1937 and 1941. MUNTEAN states subject responsible for assassinations of prominent Rumanians between 1939 and 1940. MONTEAN in 1/41 witnessed a student demonstration in Bucharest led by the subject wherein subject denounced the Allied powers and called upon the assembly to support the Axis powers. Subject reportedly responsible for the wholesale killing of Rumanian Jews. MUNTEAN states that in 1/41 he witnessed testimony indicating that TRYFA gave orders for outrages committed on various Rumanian citizens. TRIFA reportedly sentenced to life imprisonment by the Axis Military Court and reportedly in hiding in Spain or Italy. prior to his entry into the United States. - RU G - DETAILS: GEORGE MUNTEAN„ 424 West Belden Avenue Chicago, prepared an article pertaining to the subject which was subsequently printed in the June, 1955 issue of "Credinte (The Faith) a Rumanian language newspaper, published in Detroit, Michigan. This article pertains to the subject's activities In Rumania prior to subject's arrival in the United States and is extremely critical of the subject. MUNTEAN was interviewed on October 19, 1955 at his residence, at which time he furnished . the following signed statement: . ,•.= ITICAAL AMIN? AI MANIA *a oar intmc IN new ones I I •TOPICS or T1OS RIIPONT q_ Bureau (105-11006) (RM) - Detroit (1054478) (RM) 1 - Chicago (105-951) . This is al FBI Investigative report and mahes o recommendation far thiamine or disaPpt h DE cop. 4 . PROPERTY OF FBI—This report is loaned to you by the FBI, and neither It nor its contents are to be distributed outside the agency to which loaned.' DECLASS IF I CENTRAL IN SOURCES MET NAZI WAR CR DATE 2003 ED AND RELEASED BY TELL 'BENCE AGENCY HODS EXEMPT ION3B2B IMES DISCLOSURE ACT 20-08 eai Pet COOROINAllal WITH 14440P.

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Page 1: BEST VNAnE COPY - Central Intelligence Agency...BEST 1 VNAnE COPY i_ 'IDENTIAL FD-72 (34.514) FEIJERAL. BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION TORI4 fio. I DETROIT 111111 CUE OTAIDIMAT10 AT 5-g/9

BEST 1 VNAnE COPY

. _i 'IDENTIAL FD-72

(34.514)

FEIJERAL. BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONDETROIT

TORI4 fio. I'111111 CUE OTAIDIMAT10 AT 5-g/9

111,91,1f WSW AT

CHICAGO '-

ANWADI

441:15.1,PAllsoo Ton wttlek MANI

10/10,19/55Nuroafeaux myAUCUST J. BAUMGARTNER

AJB:NLBWU;

VIOREL DONISE TRIFA

MARACIIMOPTAIM

INTERNAL SECURITY - RU

SYNOPOISOOFACM,.

GEORGE MUNTEAN interviewed 10/19/55 and furnished signed statementregarding subject's activities. MUNTEAN described subject asstudent leader and Iron Guard member at the University of Bucharestbetween 1937 and 1941. MUNTEAN states subject responsible forassassinations of prominent Rumanians between 1939 and 1940.MONTEAN in 1/41 witnessed a student demonstration in Bucharestled by the subject wherein subject denounced the Allied powersand called upon the assembly to support the Axis powers. Subjectreportedly responsible for the wholesale killing of Rumanian Jews.MUNTEAN states that in 1/41 he witnessed testimony indicating thatTRYFA gave orders for outrages committed on various Rumaniancitizens. TRIFA reportedly sentenced to life imprisonment by theAxis Military Court and reportedly in hiding in Spain or Italy.prior to his entry into the United States.

- RU G -

DETAILS:

GEORGE MUNTEAN„ 424 West Belden Avenue Chicago,prepared an article pertaining to the subject which wassubsequently printed in the June, 1955 issue of "Credinte(The Faith) a Rumanian language newspaper, published in Detroit,Michigan. This article pertains to the subject's activitiesIn Rumania prior to subject's arrival in the United States andis extremely critical of the subject. MUNTEAN was interviewedon October 19, 1955 at his residence, at which time he furnished .the following signed statement:

.,•.= ITICAAL AMIN?AI MANIA *a oar intmc IN new ones

I I•TOPICS or T1OS RIIPONT

q_ Bureau (105-11006) (RM)- Detroit (1054478) (RM)

1 - Chicago (105-951).

This is al FBI Investigative

report and mahes o recommendation

far thiamine or disaPpth DEcop. 4 .

PROPERTY OF FBI—This report is loaned to you by the FBI, and neither It nor its contents are to bedistributed outside the agency to which loaned.'

DECLASS IF ICENTRAL IN

SOURCES MET

NAZI WAR CR

DATE 2003

ED AND RELEASED BYTELL 'BENCE AGENCYHODS EXEMPT ION3B2BIMES DISCLOSURE ACT

20-08eai

• Pet COOROINAllal WITH

14440P.

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CG 105-951

"Chicago, IllinoisOctober 19, 1955

"I,'George Muntean, make the follow-ing voluntary signed statement to RichardH. Hachtsheim and August J. Baumgartner whohave identified themselves to me as SpecialAgents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"I first met Viorel Trite in 1937while we were both attending the Universityof Bucharest at Bucharest, Rumania. Trifa,at that time, was studying law and I wasenrolled in the school of business. Trifalin 1937, was active as a student leader andwas also a leader in the Rumanian Iron Guard.In 1939 Trifa was President of the studentorganization, at the University of Bucharest.As President of the student organization,Trifa in 1939, issue 4 a manifest requestingall students in Rumania to join the IronGuard stating that the Iron Guard wasdestined to become the strongest organizationin Rumania. In 1939 the Prime Minister ofRumania, Armand Calinescu, ordered the ironGuard dissolved and three months later he wasassassinated. The man who was arrested forthis assassination, one Theodorovidh, testifiedin court that he was ordered by Trite and Siamto carry out this assassination. Thisinformation became public knowledge in Rumaniasince it appeared in the press and on the radio.Following the assassination Trifa disappeared forapproximately six months during Which time thepolice were seeking him. He reportedly was inhiding in Germany. In 1940 the political partysupporting the Iron Guard won the election inRumania and Trifa returned to the Universityof Bucharest to complete his education. He againserved as President of the student organization.

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ESTV! LQLE OPY

C0 105-9511

In late 1940 tick. I rga, President

kof the Ristorical'A'ademy ofUniversity of Buchare tvArligiL/14AgAcaru, Secretary of theNational Party of Rumania, andGabriel'Marineacu Chief of Policeof Puchareit s were assassinated.These assassinations were invest-igated by the axis militarygovernment. Two of the assassinstestified in June of 1941 that theIron Guard was responsible for theassassinations and that theassassinations were specifically -ordered by Iron Guard leaders:Roria

1

Sima and Viorel Trifa. I have nofirst hand knowledge of Trifatscomplicity in these assassinations butI was present in court When theassassins testified that Trifa hadgiven the orders for the assassinations.The results of this trial was madepublic through the Rumania press andthe radio.

"Between January 15 andJanuary 20, 1941, while in Bucharest,Rumania, r witnessed a studentdemonstration lead by Trifa in front ofthe German Embassy in Bucharest. Iheard Trifa speak in praise of theaxis powers calling upon the assemblyto kill American and British soldiers.Trifa, in his speech, referred to theAmericans as Capitalists and gangsters.Trifa, in concluding his speech, statedthat the Iron Guard knew what to do next.Following this speech on January 21through January 24, 1941, the Iron Guard,in a last attempt to regain power,

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CG 105-95/

started a rebellion Whichresulted in the wholesale killingof thousands or Rumanian Jews.I did not see Trifa activelyparticipating in the killings butI saw newspaper photogrou:hs ofTrifa standing among the odietof the victims. I saw the resultsof these -killings where the bodiesof the Jewish Rumanians had beenhung in the city abattoirs inBucharest. In February of 1941 theGerman Government in Rumania outlawedthe Iron Guard'and in a hearing heldby the axis military government inJune of 1941 Trite was sentencedto life imprisonment by the court asa result of his activities in theJanuary rebel/ion. I was presentIn court in June of 1941 when amember of the Iron Guard testifiedthat he had been ordered by Trifato cut out the tongue of one Cohan,a Jewish tailor, Who allegedlyfailed to -carry out Trifa t s orderspromptly. I was also present inCourt when testimony was given thatTrifa had ordered that 0116 Blues, adressmaker, and one Bianco, a hatmaker,have their eyes put out and their tonguecut' out. I saw movies Wherein humanskin was used in the making of lampShades and heard testimony that thiswas done upon the orders of SiMa andTrifa. Trifa had left Rumania prtorto these trials and was reportedly inhiding in Italy or Spain.

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COPY

..0

CG 105-951

"I last saw Trifa on the streetsof Cleveland, Ohio, in approximatelyMarch of 1953. At this time r approachedhim and accused him of being a murderof Rumanian citizens. Trifa at that —time told me to forget stating thatpeople here In the United States arenet as intelligent as they are. in Rumania.Trifa instructed me to be quiet and notto mention may such thing again. I havesince hoard that Trifa holds a lat.:lingposition in the Rumania Orthodox Church inDetroit, Michigan, but have had no furthercontact with him.

"I have read this statementconsisting of this and three other pagesand have initialed each page and anycorrections appearing thereon. Thisstatement is correct and true to thebest of my knowledge.

"/8/ George M Muntean

"Witnessed:August J. BaumgartnerSpecial Agent F.B.I.

in/a/ Richard R. NachtshoimSpecial Agent'F;B.I."

,f. UNTEANEAN cur izeaidez at 424 WestABeldqp,AVenui, Chicago. He is married and the fatherof a thror/year old son. MUNTEAN was born June 20, 1919in Frem t. Ohio. In 1.921 he was taken by his parentsto Rumailia Where he resided until 1948, at Which timehe retftned to the United States. MUNTEAN claimsderivative citizenship in the United States in that hisparents were American citizens. He is currently employed

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BEST LA L!

CONFIDENTIAL

CG 105951'

by the We/by Corporation, Clock Manufacturers, at 833West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago. MUNTEAN indicatedthat he would be Villing to testify to informationcontained in the 'Signed statement.

The Chtoago files contain no informationpertaining to GEORGE MUNTEAR.

- R -

CONFIDENTIAL

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