Granì (Feb 2014)
The activities of charitable organizations in the general area of «Kyiv» (1941 - 1943): the social aspect
Abstract
In this paper based on archival documents analyzed the activities of charities in the general area of «Kyiv» in Kyiv and Poltava region during 1941 1943. Author notes that currently there is no thorough study of complex topics charities in the studied region, but there are an article by M. Sribna and PhD theses of V. Udovika and О. Kostyuchka where the authors consider the context of the theme of societies assistance. This publication draws on the State Archive of the Kiev region, and memoir literature and eyewitness testimony of members of the activities of these organizations, including Chairman of the Red Cross Professor of Kiev F.Bohatyrchuk «My life way» and Chairman of the Red Cross Poltava G. V’ yun «Under the Sign of the Red Cross». Newest article is an analysis of the Articles of Association of the Ukrainian Red Cross. Statute of the war differed from previous legal and regulatory documents of the organization, because here in this document were written under wartime conditions. Regional activities of Ukrainian Society of the Red Cross in the General area «Kyiv» regulated its Articles of Association, clearly defined scope of activities, aims and objectives of the Company. Acceptance of the Society was controlled and clearly subordinate to the Central Committee. The features of the activities of the Red Cross Society of the Ukrainian territory of Kyiv and Poltava regions separately. It is claimed that the attitude of the German authorities in the territory of Poltava in the activities of charitable societies are more loyal than in Kyiv, where the focused power structure of the governing bodies, the local population was controlled tougher. On the territory of Kyiv and Kyiv oblast Society acted illegally, but their activity has provided assistance to prisoners, vulnerable populations , definitely persecuted for not obey the laws of the «new government». The territory of Poltava Society had official status, but failed to attract enough participants activists, as it was in the Kyiv region. At the initial stage of the war were Ukrainian Red Cross Society, which in autumn 1941 at the Kiev military operations helped prisoners of war and local residents provided first aid, organized heating and nutrition. Ukrainian Red Cross Society in 1942 changes to the front and the transformation of government and their functions, changing its name to Committees mutual and serves as the social security system. At the regional and local level, a system of care that provide active assistance to the local population. These systems were modified subordinate bodies URCS. Authors believe that it is difficult to overestimate the contribution of activists of the Society in aid in the survival of the local population during the occupation, as members of the Society tried its utmost to help the people through all the suffering the war years in the region.
