Charitable assistance to those affected during the First World War: examples of publicstate cooperation

Introduction. In the context of Russia’s frequent involvement in military conflicts, the authorities naturally needed any help, both within the ongoing hostilities and in overcoming their consequences, and therefore not only did not refuse public charitable assistance in this area, but also encouraged and cofinanced it in every possible way.

Materials and methods. The approach chosen in this work is focused on the methodological thesis proposed by the famous researcher of the history of domestic charity G. N. Ulyanova about the need to consider the term “charity” rather conditional in relation to the activities of public organizations during the First World War due to the observed symbiosis of “authority and society in the sphere of providing assistance.” Which forced us to pay special attention to the structuralfunctional method of research in following the principles of historicism, a social approach to the study of history, objectivity and a comprehensive study of the problem. The sources involved in the analysis were documents from archival funds and previously unstudied regulatory and information-statistical materials on the problems and history of the activities of the state and society in the field of organizing and providing assistance to war victims.

Analysis. The article examines the actions of the authorities, which complemented their efforts to help those affected by the war by attracting private assistance. With the outbreak of the war, members of the imperial family initiated and took part in the work of semi-state and semi-public charitable organizations. The state contribution was determined by financing, while the public contribution – by the voluntary participation of private individuals. The coordinating body was the Supreme Council for Charity of the Families of Persons Called up to the War, as well as the Families of Wounded and Fallen Soldiers, headed by Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. At the regional level, Committees were established to assist soldiers affected by the war.

Results. The study concluded that the establishment of “private law” societies specializing in charitable assistance became the most common type of practice in the field of public charitable initiatives during the period under study. Organizing the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers in special shelters and returning them to work through training and introducing them to professions adequate to their capabilities, as well as organizing their employment, constituted a significant segment of public charitable assistance to war victims. 

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