Were there volunteers during World War II?
With this text, we want to honor the memory of those who died in the Second World War. In particular, those whom today we would call volunteers.
Without social networks, bank accounts and reposts. Who were the philanthropists at that time and how did they cope?
Becoming a volunteer today is easy. In Ukraine, there are many charitable and public organizations, volunteer groups and initiatives that always have projects that you can join. During the Second World War, the territory of modern Ukraine was absorbed by the Soviet Union. But despite the control of the party in all spheres of human life, volunteering took place.
Red cross
This organization worked unstable on the territory of the Russian Empire, and then in the USSR. Depending on the change in political attitudes, she was either given the opportunity to work and helped, or banned and repressed.
During the Second World War, the Red Cross provided medical aid, in particular, to those injured during hostilities, and was involved in the creation of field hospitals in the liberated territories to combat infectious diseases and their spread. Due to the policy of the USSR, the Red Cross, particularly in Ukraine, had weak external relations with organizations in other countries, but it was thanks to it that material and humanitarian support was provided from the British Red Cross, American Red Cross, Argentine Red Cross, etc.The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Central Committee, the Ukrainian Regional Committee and the organization "Women's Service to Ukraine" helped to provide humanitarian aid to the local population and transport prisoners of war to shelters of the Ukrainian Red Cross.
The common people
Not having a special social status, ordinary people helped each other. Some accepted refugees and hid representatives of the most vulnerable, at that time, nationalities, some gave away their clothes or shared food.
Also, people who had authority among the population independently initiated the collection of funds and products for the victims. For example, in the Kherson region, a local priest organized a gathering for wounded soldiers.
In 2011, the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War had an exposition where the main objects of the exhibition were patchwork quilts. They were made by American women for immigrants, which were also Ukrainians.
Does it take a lot to do good? Help is always on time. Today, it is much easier to be a volunteer and help others than it was during the Second World War. Everyone can make someone else's life better.