A Half-Century’s Journey: Sisters of Mercy, Members of the Red Cross

Abstract

The article based on the study of archival sources of the Russian State Military Historical Archive and the National Archive of Czech Republic shows the process of recruitment, training and further service for the sisters of mercy of the Russian Red Cross (RRC) during the First World War (1913—1918). It also traces the subsequent service of the sisters of mercy of the RRC in the ranks of the Russian (White) army on the fronts of the civil war in Russia (1917—1922). The authors of the article indicate a severe deterioration of the conditions of service and living of the sisters of mercy in comparison with the First World War. The study of archival sources abroad allowed the authors to trace the further fate of the sisters of mercy in exile from the 1920s to 1960s. Former sisters of mercy had often become members of the International Red Cross (ICRC) and worked in its hospitals. They participated in the activities of various funds of ICRC, which were helping seriously ill and disabled people as well as orphans among Russian immigrants. They were continuing medical practice and receiving new qualifications as teachers of preschool institutions. After the World War II (1939—1945), some former sisters of mercy of the RRC established funds and public organizations by themselves to provide financial help for Russian immigrants of advanced age. Their active community work saved many immigrants in Europe from arrests and forced returns to the USSR. The authors of the article urge for creation of a set of names of former sisters of mercy, members of the Russian and International Red Cross with brief history of their lives at home and in exile. The first ones they include: T. A. Schaufuss (1891—1986), K. A. Rodzianko (1881—1970), Countess S. V. Panina (1871—1956), A. L. Tolstaya (1884—1979), Andreyanov sisters — E. A. Shapilovskaya (1886—1939) and V. A. Friedman (1888—1961).