Ceausescu’s regime started to falter in the early 1980’s due to a high load of debt. Economic and social conditions worsened until the Leader was deposed and brutally killed in December 1989.

Ceausescu’s regime was propped up by a loyal and effective internal intelligence service called the Securitate. They had agents everywhere, and they would not hesitate to squash any and all dissent. Their brethren in the Foreign Intelligence Service were used to steal all kinds of intelligence and industrial secrets.

Ceausescu’s domestic priorities in the 1970’s see heavy industry take the lion’s share of investment, spies in foreign lands steal all kinds of stuff, and people get forced out of their homes into ugly new apartments. Plus, Ceausescu really starts to indulge in the lifestyle of someone who owns a country.

Ceausescu makes a name for himself in the early days of his rule, makes friends with former enemies, takes a trip to the far east, and lets Elena get a little power for herself.

From petty prisoner to high communist party official, we profile Ceausescu’s steady rise into the position that will set him up to rule Romania.

Royal rule is replaced by fascism, which doesn’t work out well. By the time the king takes power back, there is nothing he can do to stop the Soviet Red Army from rolling into Romania and eventually toppling his government.

Nicolae Ceausescu was born into obscurity in a village in southern Romania in 1918. His rough but uneventful upbringing led him to leave the village and explore the big city life, where he quickly devoted himself to communism.

In this episode, we take a look at where Romania is located, and how its history took a former Roman province, turned it into a Turkish vassal, and ultimately a country of its own.

Libya has been in turmoil since Ghaddafi’s death, with no end in sight. Plus, we take a look at some of Ghaddafi’s quirks.

Ghaddafi in traditional dress with some of his Amazons.

The Arab Spring arrives on Libya’s shores and dislodges Ghaddafi and his 42-year reign.

The tunnel under the road where Ghaddafi was found before his execution