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Established in 1863, Red Cross had turned 50, when the first world war affected Europe, and its colonies. The first world war (1914-1918) was an overwhelming period for the Red Cross and its National Societies. War was a national priority, and Red cross had to provide support to the wounded soldiers on both sides. Despite a blurred line of distinction between the two tasks, Red Cross maintained its neutrality and gained in stature. It is indeed ironic that for its war time role, Red Cross earned a Nobel peace prize in 1917.
Red Cross had to tackle two unprecedented issues. First was about Prisoners of War (PoWs), and second one was use of Chemical Warfare through use of Mustard Gas. Red Cross set up an International PoW Agency in Geneva in 1914. Over the next four years, it would inspect many of these camps, ensure supplies to these camps, and restore contact between captured soldiers and their families. Regards Chemical Warfare, Geneva convention of 1925 banned its use. However both these issues continued to place the organization in cross-fire between the warring sides.
Polish-Soviet War 1918-1921
The end of first world war, did not end all the conflicts. While Germany surrendered in November of 1918, its armies were still occupying parts of Soviet Union and Poland. As the German army retreated, Soviets re-occupied not only theirs, but also Polish territories. Between 1919 and 1921, Poland and Soviets were at war, to establish former’s independence. This was the year, Poland issued postage stamps to support its National Red Cross.
Despite oversight of Red Cross, there were gross human right violations, with respect to PoWs and civilians. More than half of PoWs on each side were killed. Further, warring sides took civilians as hostage, and reportedly killed patients and medical personnel in hospitals. At the same time, a civil war between the Soviet Red army, and the Rebel White army was also ongoing. This was also marred by human rights violations, beginning with the execution of Romanov’s in 1918. A mere two decades later, German conquest of Poland in 1939, marked the beginning of the second world war.
The Baltic Wars 1918-1920
Similar to Poland, Baltic countries such as Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania also aimed to gain independence. With Germans weakened by surrender, Soviet Union occupied Latvia and Estonia in late 1918. For next two years, Latvians and Estonians fought a war against the Soviets. Both Estonia and Latvia gained independence 1920s with Tartu and Riga-treaty in 1920. The following postage stamps are issues from these countries towards the end of the wars within their countries. When wars end, rehabilitation begins, and National Red Cross societies need more funds than ever.
Peace was short-lasting. The countries were occupied by Germany in 1940-41, and were merged into Soviet Union as the second world war ended. Both countries became independent again, only in 1991 when they started issuing their own postage stamps.
Italian-Ethiopian War (1935-36)
In 1922, Benito Mussolini rose to power in Italy after leading a march on Rome and forcing the king to appoint him prime minister. Hitler followed suit in Germany in 1933. So, in 1934-35 when Italy began its invasion of Ethiopia, the only independent kingdom in Africa at that time, countries of the world were unsure. France and Britain supported Italy, and so did Japan. Germany provided a limited ammunition to the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie.
Italians sprayed Mustard Gas on the Ethiopian army as well as the civilians. Despite this being a violation of 1925 Geneva convention, countries, and League of Nations did little to either prevent or censure its use. In May 1936, as the Italians occupied the capital Adis Ababa, Haile Selassie and his wife, Menen Asfaw, Empress of Ethiopia took asylum in England. Ethiopian Empire issued Red Cross overprint postage stamps, while the war was in progress in 1936.
Italian-Ethiopian war is often considered as a prelude to the second world war. As predicted by Ethiopian Emperor, many other countries in Europe met the same fate as Ethiopia during the second world war. It was only in 1941, that Ethiopia regained independence and Emperor Selassie was restored. However in gratitude, the Empress donated her original crown (as seen in the 1936 postage stamp) to Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. She never wore a full crown again.
Civil wars, Red Cross and Philately
As the first world war led to an expansion of arms, armies, and aircraft, the scale of civil wars changed. While charter of national Red cross societies was to support war wounded in conflict between countries, civil wars were different. Yet as a voluntary force, National Red cross societies raised funds, and provided medical care during these situations.
National Red Cross Anniversaries
While Red Cross was established in 1863, many National Red Cross societies were established later. For instance, French Red Cross in 1864, Portuguese in 1865 and American Red cross in 1881. National Red cross anniversaries led to postal issues. In 1931, American Red Cross had turned 50. US Post issued a stamp, that featured Red Cross as a mother-nurse, tending for the Earth.
National Red Cross societies had expanded themselves in role, as well as stature. Given the numerous civil and military causalities, Red Cross societies were engaged in providing medical and nursing care at various levels.
The period between the two world wars was one of political indecision, rise of nationalism, and economic downfall. This was also a period when wars were becoming more and more sinister, with little regard for conventions and logic. Red cross and its National societies often had little support from the collective of international community. It was an agency caught between many local cross-fires. Humanity continued to see an extension of this indecision, as horrific crimes committed during the second world war.
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