By 1914, the socio-economic, ethno-demographic, political, cultural and educational situation was signifi cantly diff erent in Bucovina and Bessarabia. During the First World War, the Bucovinians and Bessarabians were in diff erent camps of the Warring Powers, and heavy fi ghting took place at the borders of the two provinces. The internal and external context of the union of Bessarabia and Bucovina with Romania was diff erent. In 1917, Bessarabia was embraced by an impressive movement of national liberation, the main claim being the autonomy of the province. In autumn 1917 the Council of the Country (Sfatul Ţării) was formed, and on 2 December the Moldovan Democratic Republic was proclaimed. At the beginning of 1918, the Romanian army entered Bessarabia to put an end to anarchy and disorder. The Council of the Country voted on 24 January 1918 the independence of the Moldovan Democratic Republic. At the meeting of March 27, 1918, the Council of the Country voted for the declaration of the conditional union of Bessarabia with Romania. On October 28, 1920, the representatives of Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan signed in Paris the Treaty on the Recognition of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania. The collapse of the Habsburg Empire created favourable conditions for the affi rmation of the Romanian national movement in Bucovina. On October 27, 1918 a meeting of representatives of the Bucovinian Romanians was held in Cernăuţi which was proclaimed Constituent. On the same day, 50 members were elected to the Romanian National Council and an executive committee, led by Iancu Flondor, was created. On November 11, 1918, the Romanian army entered Cernăuţi, and in the following days took control of the entire territory of Bucovina. On next day, the Bucovinian government was created, headed by Iancu Flondor (president). On 25 November, 50 new members were co-opted in the Romanian National Council, including 12 Bucovinian refugees. On 28 November 1918, the General Assembly of Bucovina convened, and decided the unconditional unifi cation of Bucovina with the Kingdom of Romania. After almost a year of negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference, the Bucovina union with Romania was offi cially recognized.