National History and Ideology: The Union of 1918 As Reflected in the Work A Quarter Century after the Union of Transylvania by Silviu Dragomir

Silviu Dragomir (1888–1962) considered, together with the representatives of the Transylvanian Romanians, that the only realistic solution was the union with Romania. Historical writing, in his opinion, had to provide the European political and scientific world with evidence of the legitimacy of national aspirations. In this sense, the purpose of the historian involved in the national movement was to make it known that the national ideals at the beginning of the 20th century were in line with historical truth. Silviu Dragomir identified the internal and external causes that allowed the Romanians in Transylvania to unite with Romania. Last but not least, the author emphasized the role played by personalities such as Vasile Goldiş, Gheorghe Pop de Băseşti, Alexandru Vaida-Voievod, Iuliu Maniu, Aurel Lazăr, Ştefan Cicio-Pop, Ioan Suciu, Aurel Vlad and others in the preparation and organization of the main moments that preceded the Great Assembly in Alba Iulia. The historian highlighted the solidarity between the elite and the rest of the Romanian population in Transylvania. Silviu Dragomir did not analyze the reasons that led to the loss of part of Transylvania on 30 August 1940. He preferred to remain focused only on historical analysis. His active presence in Romanian politics, especially between 1937 and 1940, allowed him to observe many of the negative parts of the Romanian political life that facilitated the territorial losses suffered by Romania in 1940