 Complete the following phrase:  On January 10, 1941 he was named commanding officer of the 11th Infantry Division of the Romanian Armed Forces. On May 9, 1941 he was awarded the Order of the Star of Romania, Commander rank. Romania joined Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941 in order to reclaim the lost territories of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina. Popescu fought with his division in Southern Bessarabia and at the 