Just five years after the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Czech national organization which is a worldwide humanitarian network was founded. On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, 155 years will pass since the founding of the Red Cross on Czech soil.

This happened in September 1868, when the governor of Prague approved the creation of the Red Cross Patriotic Association for the Kingdom of Bohemia. The same association for the Margrave of Moravia followed in December 1870.

“Previously, national associations were only established in Belgium, Spain, France, Prussia, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Russia and the Netherlands. And in America this didn’t happen until 1881.” added the president of the Czech Red Cross [ČČK] Marek Jukl.

Since 1866, so-called ad hoc auxiliary associations have been established in Bohemia and Moravia. However, they could only officially use the Red Cross emblem after Austria agreed to the Geneva Convention. Austria, which initially rejected the treaty, fully acceded to the Convention only after losing the Battle of Hradec Králové [3.7. 1866].

Last year, CČK sent 43 missions to Ukraine with assistance of 121 million CZK

The impetus for the creation of a permanent association of the Red Cross in the Austrian Empire was, as well as for the formation of the Red Cross itself, was war. In particular the Prussian-Austrian war of 1866. At that time, Austria’s military medical services proved inadequate. Civil health services also needed strengthening, especially in the fight against cholera, which was brought to Czech soil by Prussian troops.

The Red Cross was formed in response to the war

True to the spirit of the ideas behind the Red Cross, Czech Red Cross associations focused on preparing medical services for wartime. They focus on medical education. The Red Cross operates nursing schools in Prague and Brno. He prepared and helped in times of floods and epidemics. She provides general social and charitable activities.

Cooperation with the fire department is very important. This resulted in the operation of the Samaria service [viz dobové foto vpravo]. It was the predecessor of the Czechoslovak Red Cross Medical Ambulance Service [1925] and current Emergency Medical Services. It was created by the nationalization of the ČSČK rescue service [1952].

The Red Cross played an important role during the First World War. On Czech territory, he developed a reserve hospital for wounded soldiers with 6,000 beds. And he provided several thousand nurses.

“To ensure the transport of wounded soldiers, 860 transport convoys were formed together with volunteer fire services, which transported more than eight million people who were injured during the war,” Jukl added.

CČK respects the responsibility towards tradition

After the war and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the two additional patriotic associations were followed up by the newly founded Czechoslovak Red Cross.

Conditions, whether technical, material or social, changed fundamentally between 1868 and 2023. As the International Committee of the Red Cross recognizes it CČK as a successor to all the associations mentioned above, the fact that CČK is ranked an important 13th among the world’s 192 national “red crosses” today, doesn’t change anything.

The war in Ukraine is one of many wars in the world

“Even after 155 years, our mission is still the same. And that is to assist in the spirit of humanitarian principles and other basic principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies wherever there is human suffering. Furthermore, it is the protection of human health and the promotion of respect for humanity.” closed President CČK Marek Jukl.

-RED-