Gheorghe Gaston Marin
Encyclopedia
Gheorghe Gaston Marin was a Romania
n former communist
politician who had many roles under Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
and Nicolae Ceauşescu
. He was born Gheorghe Grossmann in Pădureni
Vaslui County
. Late in his life, he emigrated to Israel
but later returned to Bucharest where he died.
Born into a Jewish
family, Marin studied electrical engineering
at Grenoble
, France
(between 1936 and 1941). A member of the French Resistance
, he was given charge of the FTP-MOI
's south-western region. In July 1944 he instigated the revolt at the mines, one of the first steps in the French liberation from German occupation
. In August 1944, Gaston liberated the French city of Carmaux
, capturing 120 German soldiers. A few days later, he also liberated Albi, the capital of the Tarn region.
After the start of Communist Romania
, he became Councillor of the Romanian Council of Ministers
in 1945-1949 and Minister of the Economy in 1948-49; he was part of Romania's delegation
to the Paris Peace Conference
. From 1949 to 1954, Gaston Marin was Minister of Electrical Energy and Electrical Industry, and then, up to 1965, President of the Planning
Committee. In 1955-1966, he served as President of State Committee for Nuclear Energy, and was (1962-1969) Vice-president of the Ministerial council, as well as Minister of Metallurgy, Mining, Chemistry, Transport and Telecommunications, Building, Chemical Industry, and National Trading.
In 1963, after attending John F. Kennedy
's funeral, he established diplomatic relations with the Western world
, including the United States
. Those steps were highly encouraged by the US government and US President Lyndon B. Johnson
, and gained Romania a privileged communist country status.
From 1969 to 1982, Marin was President of the Pricing
Committee, until being removed from official positions by Ceauşescu, being by far the last Gheorghiu-Dej supporter to be eliminated from the Romanian government.
He had been a member of Poalei Zion in his youth and, in 1989, made aliyah
(emigrated to Israel
).
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n former communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
politician who had many roles under Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej was the Communist leader of Romania from 1948 until his death in 1965.-Early life:Gheorghe was the son of a poor worker, Tănase Gheorghiu, and his wife Ana. Gheorghiu-Dej joined the Communist Party of Romania in 1930...
and Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
. He was born Gheorghe Grossmann in Pădureni
Padureni, Vaslui
Pădureni is a commune in Vaslui County, Romania. It is composed of eight villages: Căpoteşti, Davideşti, Ivăneşti, Leoşti, Pădureni, Rusca, Todireni and Văleni....
Vaslui County
Vaslui County
Vaslui is a county of Romania, in the historical region Moldavia, with the seat at Vaslui.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 455,049 and the population density was 86/km².*Romanians - over 98%*Romas, other-Geography:...
. Late in his life, he emigrated to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
but later returned to Bucharest where he died.
Born into a Jewish
History of the Jews in Romania
The history of Jews in Romania concerns the Jews of Romania and of Romanian origins, from their first mention on what is nowadays Romanian territory....
family, Marin studied electrical engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(between 1936 and 1941). A member of the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
, he was given charge of the FTP-MOI
FTP-MOI
The Francs-tireurs et partisans – main-d'œuvre immigrée were a sub-group of the Francs-tireurs et partisans organization, a component of the French Resistance. A wing composed mostly of foreigners, the MOI maintained an armed force to oppose the German occupation of France during World War II...
's south-western region. In July 1944 he instigated the revolt at the mines, one of the first steps in the French liberation from German occupation
Military history of France during World War II
The military history of France during World War II covers the period from 1939 until 1940, which witnessed French military participation under the French Third Republic , and the period from 1940 until 1945, which was marked by mainland and overseas military administration and influence struggles...
. In August 1944, Gaston liberated the French city of Carmaux
Carmaux
Carmaux is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.Carmaux was famous for its important coal mining and its glassworks . "In 1892, Jean Jaurès supported the miners of Carmaux when they went on strike over the dismissal of their leader, Jean Baptiste Calvignac."...
, capturing 120 German soldiers. A few days later, he also liberated Albi, the capital of the Tarn region.
After the start of Communist Romania
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
, he became Councillor of the Romanian Council of Ministers
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
in 1945-1949 and Minister of the Economy in 1948-49; he was part of Romania's delegation
Delegation
Delegation is the assignment of authority and responsibility to another person to carry out specific activities. However the person who delegated the work remains accountable for the outcome of the delegated work. Delegation empowers a subordinate to make decisions, i.e...
to the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Treaties, 1947
The Paris Peace Conference resulted in the Paris Peace Treaties signed on February 10, 1947. The victorious wartime Allied powers negotiated the details of treaties with Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Finland .The...
. From 1949 to 1954, Gaston Marin was Minister of Electrical Energy and Electrical Industry, and then, up to 1965, President of the Planning
Planned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
Committee. In 1955-1966, he served as President of State Committee for Nuclear Energy, and was (1962-1969) Vice-president of the Ministerial council, as well as Minister of Metallurgy, Mining, Chemistry, Transport and Telecommunications, Building, Chemical Industry, and National Trading.
In 1963, after attending John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's funeral, he established diplomatic relations with the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
, including the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Those steps were highly encouraged by the US government and US President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, and gained Romania a privileged communist country status.
From 1969 to 1982, Marin was President of the Pricing
Pricing
Pricing is the process of determining what a company will receive in exchange for its products. Pricing factors are manufacturing cost, market place, competition, market condition, and quality of product. Pricing is also a key variable in microeconomic price allocation theory. Pricing is a...
Committee, until being removed from official positions by Ceauşescu, being by far the last Gheorghiu-Dej supporter to be eliminated from the Romanian government.
He had been a member of Poalei Zion in his youth and, in 1989, made aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
(emigrated to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
).