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 Home > About the ICRC > History > 1918-1939 News Section History of the ICRC: the period between 1918 and 1939 ©ICRC/ref hist-01847-06h
Through its brutality and its impact on the civilian population, the Spanish civil war showed ominous signs of the descent into "total war"
The 1914-18 conflict was described as the one that would "end all wars"; the accent was put on preserving peace, and the Red Cross started to organize itself in that direction.However, events were to prove otherwise. Badly-healed wounds from World War I, economic disasters and the rise of nationalism brought about a number of conflicts and the ICRC found itself at work both in Europe and far away – in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Above all it was confronted by more and more internal conflicts, with mounting civilian casualties. The legal basis it needed was lacking and despite its best efforts to have governments adopt new laws to protect civilians, the absence of them was to have disastrous consequences after 1939.  Key document21-1-2005 Founding of the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent SocietiesThe First World War had shown the potential of the Red Cross volunteer base, but also the need for strengthened cooperation between societies. The Federation was formed to coordinate future peace-time activities. (About the ICRC\History\1918-1939) 13-5-2004 Marcel Junod (1904-1961): centenary of a "warrior without weapons"He fought off looters with his bare hands as Addis Ababa fell to Italian forces, bargained the exchange of hostages in Spain's civil war, was arrested by the Gestapo in Berlin as a spy and became the first foreign doctor to help atom bomb victims at Hiroshima. Close-up of a remarkable ICRC delegate. (About the ICRC\History) Africa25-1-2005 Italy's conquest of Abyssinia (1935-1936)In a conflict that saw modern weapons – including poison gas – used against barefoot warriors, Italy turned down the ICRC's offer of humanitarian help. But on the Abyssinian side, everything had to be created from scratch – starting with a Red Cross society. (About the ICRC\History\1918-1939) Asia25-1-2005 The Sino-Japanese conflict (1937-1939)When the latent conflict between Japan and China erupted again, causing immense suffering among the civilian population, the ICRC was not allowed to visit most prisoners and its appeal to belligerents to spare civilians went unheard. (About the ICRC\History\1918-1939) 21-1-2005 Manchuria and Shanghai (1931-1933)Japan’s bid for regional predominance led it to invade the Chinese province of Manchuria and the port city of Shanghai. The ICRC played no role in providing relief but dispatched a delegate to enquire about the fate of prisoners. (About the ICRC\History\1918-1939) Europe25-1-2005 The Spanish civil war (1936-1939)The mutiny in July 1936 by army units stationed in Spanish Morocco was the prelude to a three-year bloody civil war. Despite the absence of a real legal basis, the ICRC managed to negotiate access to prisoners and organized help for civilians. (About the ICRC\History\1918-1939) 25-1-2005 The Turkish-Greek conflict (1919-1923)As a result of the conflict, hundreds of thousands of people from both sides became refugees. The ICRC was involved with visits to prisoners, helping the refugees and displaced and trying to protect threatened minorities. (About the ICRC\History\1918-1939) 21-1-2005 The occupation of the Ruhr (Germany, 1923-1925)In the aftermath of the First World War, French and Belgian troops took control of part of Germany. The ICRC sent missions to the area, in the first such action in occupied territories. (About the ICRC\History\1918-1939) 21-1-2005 The conflict in Upper Silesia (1921)At the end of World War I the Polish and German communities in Upper Silesia – a region lying between the two countries – began fighting over their future status. This led to the ICRC’s involvement as a neutral intermediary, despite the absence of a legal framework. (About the ICRC\History\1918-1939) The Americas25-1-2005 The Chaco war (1932-1935)A border conflict over a remote piece of territory resulted in the capture of thousands of prisoners of war. The ICRC sent delegates to visit them but its help was not needed for POW mail. (About the ICRC\History\1918-1939) ICRC film28-4-2005 Humanitarian action and cinema: ICRC films in the 1920sA joint production between Memoriav and the ICRC, this double DVD production makes available for the first time rare footage of humanitarian work taken between 1920 and 1923. Shot amid the ruins of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian and Ottaman empires, the ICRC films show the suffering that followed the First World War and the attempts to alleviate it through the repatriation of prisoners of war, relief operations for children and refugees and the fight against epidemics. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\About the ICRC) ICRC film Includes Video Press article13-8-2003 Ethiopia 1935-36: mustard gas and attacks on the Red CrossOriginal title: "Les ambulances à croix rouge du CICR sous les gaz en Ethiopie" - article by Bernard Bridel published in the Swiss daily "Le Temps" on 13 August 2003. How the ICRC witnessed atrocities during Italy’s Abyssinia campaign and became embroiled in diplomatic controversy. (About the ICRC\History) Press article Includes Photo 12-8-2003 Famine in Russia: the hidden horrors of 1921Original title: "Secours en temps de paix – la famine en Russie" - press article published in the Swiss daily "Le Temps" on 12 August 2003. How the Red Cross joined forces with governments in a desperate attempt to save millions of lives. (About the ICRC\History) Press article Includes Photo  |
