Sovietization of Bessarabia and policy toward women (1944-1945): the creation of Women’s Assemblies

The re-occupation by the Red Army of Bessarabia in March 1944 resumed the Sovietization process in the region commenced in 1940-1941. One of the main features of the Sovietization was a specific policy pursued toward women. By 1944 and 1945, around 90 000 Moldavians have been mobilized in the Red Army and fought subsequently agaist Nazy Germany. There was a lack of work force in the republic, so the Soviet regime tried to rectruit women to work in various fields. In this order, a special institution has been created to deal with women issues. Some women however did not accept Communist ideology and protested against certain policies of the regime and expressed their hope that Romanians (i.e. Bucharest authorities) will come back.