Sanitary and medical services for german refugees from the occupied regions of Ukraine in 1943-1944.

Abstract

Aim of the article. The article reveals the main aspects related to the organization of sanitary and medical services for ethnic Germans, exported by the Nazi authorities from the occupied regions of Ukraine in 1943-1944. Research methods. Problem-chronological, descriptive and comparative methods were used. Scientific novelty. Based on the involvement of a wide range of archival documents, for the first time in historiography, it was possible to highlight in detail one of the littleknown and at the same time essential subjects of the evacuation of ethnic Germans from the occupied Ukrainian regions in 1943-1944. Conclusions. The level of health care for German refugees depended mostly on the territory of their stay. At the first stage of the evacuation, the Nazi authorities were unable to pay due attention to this significant issue since many resources were at the Wehrmacht disposal. The negligent attitude of indeed responsible authorities to the evacuated ethnic Germans' problems also played an important role. Very significant changes in refugees' situation took place only after moving to German territory in early 1944. Trying to prevent the mass spread of various infectious diseases among them, the Nazi administration was forced to take several urgent measures (such as disinfection, quarantine, and vaccination), which helped stabilize the sanitary and epidemiological situation gradually.