The uprising against Ceausescu’s regime began in Timisoara, about 250 miles  northwest of the capital Bucharest, and resulted in days of battling on the streets.

A deportation order served on December 15 on Reformed Church pastor Laszlo Tokes, an ethnic Hungarian cleric, triggered a mass protest.

The demonstration by his congregation in Timisoara against the order was violently put down by government security forces.

But the revolt blazed a trail to Bucharest and the rest of the country.

Local journalist Raico Cornea says at first the rebels were driven by anger.

[Raico Cornea, Journalist]:
"I think it started rather as a rebellion, a wish to externalize a fury."

Pitched battles broke out in Bucharest and other cities as Ceausescu’s security force fought with the army for control of the country.

Some in the army refused to obey orders.

[Nicolae Durac, Former Army Officer]:
"On December 18, I already knew from my colleagues who took part in military actions against demonstrators what was going on. Normally, I knew that orders I received were in the same direction (to act against demonstrators), but I refused to execute them."

On Christmas Day, the Ceausescus were subject to a secret trial and convicted of the genocide of 60,000 people. They were executed by firing squad, prompting rejoicing in the streets.

Many thought life would change after the overthrow of the communist regime.

[Raico, Cornea, Romanian Survivor]:
"in the first days of the revolution, we said to ourselves: we will live like in America. The majority of the people said this. As time passed, we changed it to: we will live like in Germany. After one year, two, three, five: it's fine to live like they do in Austria. In the end, after twenty years who are we comparing ourselves to? - Hungary!"

Up to 10,000 people were reported to have died, many of them civilians.