Foreign medical missions in Serbia in the First World War

Abstract

During the First World War, from 1914 until 1915, Serbia has been subjected to aggression and occupation by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During the entire period of aggression and occupation, the Austro-Hungarian army and the local authorities carried out severe war crimes against wounded, sick, medical personnel and the civilian population. In addition to the aforementioned in the year of 1915, a major epidemic of all three types of typhoid occurred in Serbia. Because of the war and epidemic of typhoid the medical situation in Serbia was very difficult so a large number of medical missions from Allied and neutral countries have come to Serbia to help. The medical missions came from Russia, Great Britain, Canada, Greece Australia and New Zealand, as well as from neutral countries such as Switzerland, the USA, Netherlands and Denmark. These medical missions have managed to provide great assistance in rescuing wounded and sick in Serbia. Also, a large number of doctors and medical personnel from these missions have died or suffered from infectious diseases.

Keywords

• first world war
• austro-hungary
• military hospitals
• wounded
• sick
• medical personnel