7 Surprising Facts About the Czech Red Cross

Until the mid-1800s, there was little concern for soldiers injured in warfare or for veterans. There was no organized support for the wounded, no dedicated places for their care, and certainly no trained medical personnel or proper equipment. Everything changed in 1863 with the creation of an international humanitarian organization that operated on principles of neutrality and volunteerism, aimed at offering care for injured soldiers and safeguarding medical staff. Today, the Czech Red Cross stands as a humanitarian organization involved in civil defense and public protection, boasting 15,000 members and volunteers. They provide crucial assistance during disasters and emergencies, delivering medical, rescue, social, and various humanitarian services while acting as the officially recognized support entity for military medical services. Additionally, they focus on health education, collaborate with healthcare providers, and spread knowledge about the Geneva Conventions.

1. What Events Led to the Formation of the Red Cross?

In 1859, a Swiss businessman named Henri Dunant (1828-1910) traveled to Italy to meet French Emperor Napoleon III. However, a life-altering moment occurred when he came across the horrifying aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, where almost 40,000 soldiers lost their lives, and countless wounded lay unattended on the battlefield. Dunant abandoned his initial plans to dedicate himself to organizing care for the injured. He later recounted his experiences in a book titled Remembering Solferino, published in 1862, which received widespread acclaim. His endeavors ultimately led to the establishment of an international organization aimed at aiding victims of war, particularly the injured soldiers.

2. The International Red Cross

A landmark conference in Geneva took place in October 1863, where thirty-six delegates representing sixteen European nations gathered. In August 1864, a founding conference led to the creation of the First Geneva Convention, which was progressively adopted by other European countries in the subsequent years. The International Red Cross is tasked with offering protection and assistance to both military and civilian casualties, including prisoners of war, detained civilians, wounded soldiers on battlefields, and non-combatants in occupied territories. The organization ensures adherence to international humanitarian law and also visits political detainees. Furthermore, its members engage in an array of humanitarian efforts beyond conflicts and natural disasters, and provide support for the elderly, the homeless, single mothers, disabled children, and individuals with disabilities. The headquarters of this organization is located in Geneva, which is also home to the Red Cross Museum.

3. Emblems of the Red Cross

The globally recognized Red Cross symbol was established in 1863. It features a red cross on a white background, an inverted version of the Swiss flag, symbolizing neutrality. In 1876, Muslim nations opted for a red crescent on a white background as their emblem for the same reason. More recently, in 2007, a red square on a white background was authorized as a symbol for volunteers. During wartime, these symbols—the cross, crescent, and square—are recognized worldwide as marks of protection for the injured and ill, along with those providing care. They embody the principles of independence, neutrality, and impartiality that characterize the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

4. Nobel Prize Honors for Henri Dunant and the Red Cross

After the inception of the International Red Cross, Dunant gained international recognition. In 1865, he was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor by Napoleon III. Later, in 1901, he, along with Frédéric Passy, a French politician and economist, became the first recipients of the Nobel Prize for Peace. The Red Cross itself has received the Nobel Peace Prize on three separate occasions: in 1917, 1944, and 1963.

5. Establishment of the Czech and Czechoslovak Red Cross

In the Czech lands, the Patriotic Auxiliary of the Red Cross for the Kingdom of Bohemia was founded on September 5, 1868, making it the 13th National Red Cross Society in the world. Subsequently, in 1870, the The Patriotic Auxiliary Society for the Moravian County was established. Following the formation of independent Czechoslovakia, these two provincial organizations merged into the Czechoslovak Red Cross, officially founded in February 1919.

6. Alice Masaryk and the Czechoslovak Red Cross

The driving force behind the establishment of the National Red Cross Society was Alice Masaryk (1879-1966), the daughter of Czechoslovakia’s first president, Tomáš G. Masaryk. In February 1919, she gathered social workers, military representatives, and cultural figures at the Municipal House in Prague. Alice envisioned the Red Cross’s mission as tackling tuberculosis, combatting hunger and malnutrition—especially among children—promoting health education, training nurses, running social institutions, and advocating for the creation of sanatoriums for the poor. During this assembly, plans were made to launch the Czechoslovak Red Cross, and Alice was appointed its leader due to her extensive background in social and health initiatives.

Alice Masaryk served as the first and only chairwoman of the Czechoslovak Red Cross during the interwar period, holding the position until her resignation in December 1938. She passed away in 1966 in Chicago, and in 1994, the Czech Red Cross arranged for her ashes to be returned to the Czech Republic, where they were interred in her family grave at the cemetery in Lány. The Czech Red Cross honored her legacy with the Alice Masaryk Medal, its highest award, first presented in 2003 during the tenth anniversary of the independent Czech Red Cross formed after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

7. The Alice Masaryk Museum and the Czech Red Cross in Lány

In Lány, alongside the Masaryk family grave in the local cemetery, visitors can explore Lány Castle, its sprawling park, and the T. G. Masaryk Museum, as well as the Alice Masaryk Museum and the Czech Red Cross Museum. Alice Masaryk financed the construction of the building now housing the museum in 1928 for the local Czechoslovak Red Cross branch. This facility, along with its garden, served as a pioneer social home and one of the earliest counseling centers for mothers and children until 1991. On the ground floor, guests can view Alice G. Masaryk’s authentic household items, as well as a waiting area for mothers and children. The first floor is dedicated to showcasing the history of the World Red Cross with a particular focus on World War I and general wartime conflicts.