Sick and Disabled Ukrainians from the Tsarist Army in Prisoner of War Camps in Germany: Everyday Life, Forms of Self-organization, and Peculiar Features of Repatriation (1917)

Keywords: sick, disabled, Ukrainian prisoners of war, camp, infirmary, repatriation, donations, charitable collections, Germany

Abstract

The purpose of the research paper is to conduct a systematic analysis of everyday life, forms of self-organization, and peculiar features of the repatriation of the sick and disabled Ukrainians from the tsarist army in the prisoner of war camps in Germany in 1917.

The scientific novelty. The presented issue is the first attempt at a holistic representation of the everyday life of sick prisoners of war who were admitted to the camp infirmaries, as well as of the process of repatriation of disabled Ukrainian prisoners from three Ukrainian camps (Rastatt, Wetzlar, Salzwedel) in the territory of Germany.

Conclusions. The life of disabled people in the camps of Ukrainian prisoners of war was marked by significant difficulties caused by both the limited physical capabilities of that category of camp inmates and the limitation of the choice of food allowance. The last circumstance, the need to perform hard labor, as well as the general discomfort that marked the prisoners’ stay in the camps, led to the contraction of tuberculosis and other diseases in some of the camp inmates. An infirmary was established in each camp to improve their health, but its main purpose was to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. In order to solve the problem of disabled and seriously ill prisoners, the governments of the warring states (including Russia and Germany) reached an agreement on the proportional exchange of those two categories of persons. That made it possible to start the process of their mutual repatriation, but its volumes were relatively small due to the actual opposition of the Russian government, which feared that in such a way, the enemy’s human resources would be strengthened. As a result, the departure of repatriates was chronically delayed, and although they received limited humanitarian aid from Ukrainian camp communities, as well as Russian and international Red Cross organizations, the morale of the disabled deteriorated. But despite all the difficulties, over 530 disabled and sick people, including Ukrainian activists as well, went home from three Ukrainian camps in 1917.

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Published
15.10.2024
How to Cite
Dema, O., Krotofil, M., & Sribnyak, I. (2024). Sick and Disabled Ukrainians from the Tsarist Army in Prisoner of War Camps in Germany: Everyday Life, Forms of Self-organization, and Peculiar Features of Repatriation (1917). Eminak: Scientific Quarterly Journal, (3(47), 185-199. https://doi.org/10.33782/eminak2024.3(47).735
Section
Modern History