Saving Foreign Children From "Moral Decay": Switzerland's Children's Homes During the Second World War

Abstract

During Second World War, Swiss Red Cross provided assistance to destitute children in France and Belgium through various initiatives, including establishing Swiss-run children's homes. However, strong Swiss curriculum at Boitsfort Children's Home in Belgium also sought to inspire Swiss nationalism within children, in order to cure what Swiss termed as the moral decay of child. Therefore, goal to redeem both child's health and child's national character were central to Boitsfort operations, providing unique historical insight into vital link between children and nationhood during war.