The invalids of two wars: disabled Russian veterans in emigration (1917 - 1920s)

The article highlights the destiny of thousands of disabled Russian war vet 59 erans who found themselves in exile, which is an obscure and dramatic page in the history of Russian emigration. The issue is relevant today for a number of reasons. The history of the adaptation of the Russian emigration in the early twentieth century, its efforts to preserve national and cultural identity in a hostile environment is a valuable research-worthy experience, which helps to embrace the processes currently taking place among the Russian emigration as well as to address the acute problems this country is facing now. In this context the study of Russia’s humanitarian activities targeted at the most vulnerable members of the emigrant community allows to trace the spiritual tradition of social self-organization in the conditions of a deep crisis. The disabled veterans of the First World War and the Russian Civil War, mostly bedridden, completely blind and unable to work, in need of permanent medical care and treatment, were left without care and means of support. The situation was aggravated by the “squeeze out” policy toward Russian refugees, pursued by a number of Eastern European countries and Turkey in the early and mid-1920s. The only hope for these disadvantaged people was the activity of Russian humanitarian organizations, which resumed their work in exile. The Russian Red Cross Society, the All-Russian Urban Union, the Foreign Union of Disabled Russian War Veterans and a number of other public organizations managed in a short time to recreate and develop the infrastructure of medical institutions, homes for the disabled and shelters, catering points, hospitals and health resorts providing medical care and charity to the Russian invalids in exile. Thanks to this support, the disabled veterans received care and medical aid, as well as an opportunity to undergo social adaptation and rehabilitation, which ensured their gradual integration into a new society. The care and aid practices organized for the Russian disabled war veterans abroad reflected both strengths and weaknesses of the Russian emigrant community, on the one hand, setting an example of civil self-organization for the benefit of the disadvantaged, and, on the other hand, spotting those who were ready to capitalize even on the misfortunes and sufferings of their compatriots.