Ion Victor Antonescu (* June 15th, 1882 in Pitești) is a Romanian General. In the First World War, he made important decisions in 1917 regarding the defense of Moldavia. In 1933, he was appointed chief of staff of the army.
In 1937, he became minister of defense under Prime minister Octavian Goga. During the dictatorship of Carol II of Romania, he stayed in this office in 1938 under Goga's successor Miron Cristea as well, but was dismissed in the same year.
Both the fascist Iron Guard and the King have a complicated relationship with him.
On July 2nd in 1940, he was arrested for his protests against the cession of Bessarabia to the Soviet Union, but released two days later.
Between the wars, he married Maria Niculescu.