Semenov Mikhail A.,
Candidate of Sciences (History), Junior Researcher, Institute of History of the Siberian Branch of RAS. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Red Cross Organizations in Western Siberia during the Great Patriotic War
DOI:10.31518/2618-9100-2018-1-14
The article considers the state and activity of the Red Cross societies in Western Siberia during the Great Patriotic War. The focus is made on the organizational structure of the Red Cross in this period and its features. The author describes integration of the Red Cross management system into the structure of party and Soviet bodies of the USSR; emphasizes the dual essence of the Red Cross society which was a non-governmental organization on the one hand and remained under the control of the state – on the other. The article shows the change in the number of Red Cross organizations during the war years, the effect of mobilization and migration processes; considers financial status of Red Cross staff. It is concluded that during the war the state's influence on the Red Cross society decreased and the significance of its non-governmental elements increased. The author shows the main goals and tasks facing the Red Cross during the war, traces their evolution. Data on the main directions of its activities are given: training of nurses, sanitary squads, sanitary posts, organization of donor movement, sanitary and educational work, etc. As a result, it was concluded that the organization of the Red Cross of Western Siberia during the war, despite numerous difficulties, reduced support for the Red Cross movement from the state, played a significant role in training, preventing mass epidemics, providing support for the activities of evacuation hospitals. At the same time, a significant part of the activities of the Red Cross bodies was carried out without the involvement of public funds. The reliance on population providing broad support to the state health care system during the war years was entirely justified.
How to cite: Semenov M.A. The Red Cross Organizations in Western Siberia during the Great Patriotic War // Historical Courier. 2018. № 1. URL: http://istkurier.ru/data/2018/ISTKURIER-2018-1-14.pdf
Links: Issue 1 2018
Keywords: Red Сross; Western Siberia; health care; the Great Patriotic war