- International Red Aid
International Red Aid was an international social service organization connected to the
Communist International . The organization was founded in 1922 to function as an 'international politicalRed Cross '.http://www.kurt-schilde.de/Texte/Rote_Hilfe.PDF#search=%22%22Internationale%20Rote%20Hilfe%22%22] The organization conducted campaigns in support for communist prisoners and gather material and humanitarian support in specific situations.The organization was led by
Clara Zetkin ,Elena Stasova andTina Modotti .National affiliates
By 1924 the organization had national affiliates in 19 countries. During its period of existence, the national affiliates of the International Red Aid included:
*Austria : Austrian Red Aid ("Österreichische Rote Hilfe")
*Britain: International Class War Prisoners Aid
*Bulgaria : Organization for Support to the Victims of the Capitalist Dictatorship
*Finland : Red Aid of Finland ("Suomen Punainen Apu")
*France : International Red Aid ("Secours Rouge International")
*Germany : Red Aid of Germany ("Rote Hilfe Deutschlands")
*Mexico : League for Support of Persecuted Fighters ("Liga Pro Luchadores Perseguidos")
*Netherlands : Red Aid of Holland ("Roode Hulp Holland")
*Norway : Red Aid of Norway ("Norges Roede Hjelp")
*Poland : "Czerwona Pomoc w Polsce"
*Soviet Union : International Red Aid to Fighters of the Revolution ("Международная организация помощи борцам революции")
*Spain : International Red Aid ("Socorro Rojo Internacional")
*Sweden : International Red Aid - Swedish Section ("Internationella röda hjälpen – svenska sektionen")
*USA :International Labor Defense [ [http://www.bolshevik.org/history/RevDef/Defense01.html Spartacist materials on revolutionary defense policy: What Defense Policy for Revolutionaries? ] ] [http://www.arbarkiv.nu/pdf_wrd/vik02.pdf] [http://www.difusioncultural.uam.mx/revista/sep99/fuentes.html fuentes ] ] [http://um2091.unimaas.nl:8180/DB=1.3/SET=4813/TTL=1/CMD?ACT=SRCHA&IKT=4&SRT=YOP&TRM=roode+hulp&REC=* Universiteit Maastricht (bibliotheek) - results/illegal ] ] [http://83.145.206.185/Kansanarkisto/materiaali/ARKISTOT/242_21854283_18182958_PUNAINENAPU.RTF Suomen Punainen Apu] (Kansan Arkisto)]In Spain
The International Red Aid made its first appearance in
Spain as a charity organization during the workers’ revolt of October1934 inAsturias . It provided aid to those imprisoned for their role in the rebellion, and organize amnesty campaigns for prisoners that were to be executed.The organization, which included many artists and writers, was later re-formed and expanded in
Barcelona in January1936 , with the aim of opposing fascism on multiple fronts.Activities during the Spanish Civil War
During the
Spanish Civil War , the writerJoaquín Arderíus served as the organization’s president before exiling himself toFrance and thenMexico . The SRI createdsoup kitchen s andrefugee camp s throughout the territory controlled by the Republicans, and also provided libraries for Republican soldiers, but many of their programs –as well as the food and aid that it collected- were focused on providing aid for children. [http://www.brigadasinternacionales.org/SocorroRojo.htm] For example, the SRI founded the "Escuela Nacional para Niños Anormales" (National School for Mentally Disabled Children) inMadrid , with 150 students. It also founded a Children's Park on the outskirts ofMadrid , providing shelter to an additional 150 children.Other activities included:
*The building of transportation networks betweenhospital s and the front.
*The transformation of various buildings (convent s, churches,palace s) into makeshift hospitals,clinic s,blood banks ,orphanage s, andschool s.Medical contributions included the establishment of 275 hospitals,
ambulance services, the establishment of theOrthodontics Clinic and College, dental hygiene campaigns, the mobilization ofdentist s to the front.POUM , a minor Marxist party in Spain at the time, organized a parallel Socorro Rojo in opposition to the International Red Aid. [ [http://www.alba-valb.org/articles/shouts.html ALBA - Articles - "Shouts from the wall." USF Magazine. 4(Fall) 1997. pp. 24-27 ] ]Military Activities
The ranks of the Fifth Regiment (dissolved
January 21 ,1937 ), established by theCommunist Party of Spain at the outbreak of the Civil War, were also swelled by members of the SRI. The Fifth Regiment, based on the SovietRed Army , includedJuan Modesto andEnrique Lister amongst its leaders, and fought primarily in the battles in and around Madrid throughout1936 . The SRI also helped Communist sympathizers in Nationalist Spain make their way to friendly territory.The insignia of the SRI consisted of an "S" (for Socorro) behind the bars of a prison.
In the Netherlands
The Dutch section of IRA held its first congress in 1926. [ [http://home.hccnet.nl/e.p.binnendijk/LITERAT.htm Lijst Van Geraadpleegde Literatuur ] ] The same year it began publishing "Rode Hulp".
In Finland
The Red Aid of Finland was active during the 1930s, led by the
Communist Party of Finland . It gave assistance to revolutionary prisoners in Finnish jails. Women connected to Red Aid would make handicraft works and organized bazaars, in order to finance the activities of the organization. The organization also tried to mobilize public opinion against ill-treatment of the prisoners. The Red Aid of Finland published "Vankien Toveri".In Latin America
Towards the ends of the 1920s,
Farabundo Martí became the leader of the International Red Aid inLatin America . [ [http://www.alternativabolivariana.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=405 ALBA .:Alternativa Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América - Content - BIOGRAFÍA ] ]Julio Antonio Mella , theCuba n communist leader exiled in Mexico since 1926, was a leading figure in the Mexican section of the organization.In the Soviet Union
Largest section of IRA was its Soviet branch, which accounted for about 10 million of the total 14 million membership of IRA.Fact|date=February 2007 MOPR organized numerous lotteries and fundraising drives.
In Korea
Yi Donghwi was a prominent IRA organizer. [ [http://mtcha.com.ne.kr/koreaman/sosun/man105-idonghui.htm 이동휘 (李東輝 ; 1873~1928) ] ]In Madagascar
A IRA branch was formed in
Madagascar in 1933. [Busky, Donald F.. "Communism in history and theory. Asia, Africa, and the Americas". Westport: Praeger, 2002. p. 128]References
External sources
[http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/SPfifth.htm The Fifth Regiment]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.