Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej was a Romanian politician who served as the General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1945 until his death in 1965. He played a significant role in establishing a communist regime in Romania after World War II and was instrumental in the country's post-war reconstruction. Under Gheorghiu-Dej's leadership, Romania pursued a policy of industrialization and sought to strengthen ties with the Soviet Union. However, he also promoted a degree of independence from Moscow, particularly during the 1960s, which laid the groundwork for later reforms under his successor, Nicolae Ceaușescu.