Russian War Relief (RWR) (also known as the Russian War Relief Fund and The American Committee for Russian War Relief) was the largest American agency for foreign war relief. It had the "express and exclusive purpose of giving succor to the Russian people at a time of crisis."
Organizational history
On July 29, 1941, one month after Germany's attack on Russia, a group met in New York. This effort led to the formal establishment of Russian War Relief, Inc. (RWR) in New York on September 12, 1941. The group had headquarters located at 535 Fifth Avenue in New York City.
["Chairman,"]
''New York Daily News,'' Sept. 29, 1941, p. 75.
The organization launched its fundraising drive with a mass meeting held at
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...
on October 27, 1941.
In addition to fundraising to provide medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the people of Soviet Russia, RWR conducted a public education mission to build support for the war effort. Late in 1941 the film ''Our Russian Front'' was produced, featuring war footage from the Eastern front.
["'Our_Russian_Front]
'_to_be_Shown_at_Trans-Luxe_Theatre,".html" ;"title="Our Russian Front">"'Our Russian Front
' to be Shown at Trans-Luxe Theatre,"">Our Russian Front">"'Our Russian Front
' to be Shown at Trans-Luxe Theatre,"''Boston Globe,'' March 7, 1942, p. 14. The movie, produced by director Lewis Milestone and documentary filmmaker Joris Ivens, featured narration by Walter Huston and was displayed in theaters to a paying audience.
The film premiered on February 11, 1942.
Aid distributed
A wide array of medical and humanitarian aid was provided to the Russian war effort by Russian War Relief. Some products distributed during the first year of the war included
typhus
Typhus, also known as typhus fever, is a group of infectious diseases that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and a rash. Typically these begin one to two weeks after exposure.
...
and
malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
medication, hospital field tents, x-ray film, surgical implements, sterilization equipment, and artificial sweetener.
"Relief Society Sends Saccharine to Russians,"
''Daily Palo Alto Times,'' Jan. 8, 1942, p. 7.
Officials
Fred Myers, who later founded the Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is an American nonprofit organization that focuses on animal welfare and opposes animal-related cruelties of national scope. It uses strategies that are beyond the abilities of local organizations. ...
(HSUS), served as director of public relations and was later promoted to Executive Director. The chairman of Russian War Relief was Edward C. Carter, chairman of the National Committee for Medical Aid to the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
, a member of the Executive Committee of the American Russian Institute, and secretary general of the Institute of Pacific Relations
The Institute of Pacific Relations (IPR) was an international NGO established in 1925 to provide a forum for discussion of problems and relations between nations of the Pacific Rim. The International Secretariat, the center of most IPR activity ov ...
.
From 1942, the fund was headed by Allen Wardwell Allen Wardwell (1873–1953), was an American attorney and banking law expert who was the vice president of the American-Russian Chamber of Commerce in 1929, and a name partner of Davis Polk & Wardwell.
Education
Wardwell graduated from Yale Univ ...
.
See also
* '' Our Russian Front''
References
{{Authority control
Organizations established in 1941
Soviet Union friendship associations
Soviet Union–United States relations
United States friendship associations