![]() ![]() As Europe reflects on the titanic struggle of 1914-18 it is important to recall the advances made since 1945 through European integration and redouble efforts to combat nationalist and extremist forces. This system has brought many benefits to Europeans but in recent years the system has been under challenge by the rise of Euroscepticism, populism and nationalism. ![]() Die Stunde Null was the backdrop to the revolutionary ideas of the EU’s ‘founding fathers,’ statesmen such as Robert Schuman, Alcide De Gasperi, Jean Monnet who developed the novel idea of a community of states establishing a political system based on sharing sovereignty. The difference was that the second major internecine war in Europe in a generation led to a profound change in political thinking, at least in Western Europe, about how states should conduct their relations. It took the Second World War to bring about sufficient political forces to embark on a revolutionary new approach to inter-state relations.Īfter both wars Europe was exhausted and devastated. The balance of power approach to international relations was broken but not shattered. Diplomatic alliances and promises made during the First World War, especially in the Middle East, also came back to haunt Europeans a century later. The First World War destroyed empires, created numerous new nation-states, encouraged independence movements in Europe’s colonies, forced the United States to become a world power and led directly to Soviet communism and the rise of Hitler. When Europeans commemorate the Great War of 1914-18 this summer they should be reflecting not only on the diplomatic blunders and the enormous waste of lives but also the beginning of a new approach to international relations epitomised by the EU. The EU has provided the essential infrastructure to deal with ‘the German Question’ – the role of the largest and most powerful state in Europe. But without both World Wars there would be no European Union (EU) today. The Second World War was an even bigger calamity for Germany and Europe. Today, the Red Cross still has Production Rooms in service, which carry out similar services for active duty military members, veterans and disaster victims.The First World War was a calamity for Germany and Europe. The role of the Production Corps was formalized in 1920, and it became one of the nine units in which volunteers could serve. ![]() Volunteers made thousands of comfort items and surgical dressings for hospitalized service men and veterans, as well as for soldiers at remote military outposts or Navy stations. Between 19, over 8 million chapter women along with many Junior Red Cross members produced over 370 million relief articles for the Allied armed forces and civilians in Europe.ĭuring the post-war period, the Production Corps continued its work as a peacetime operation. Comfort items included hand-knitted socks, sweaters, soap and razors. The Army and Navy regularly requested thousands of surgical dressings and what were referred to as “comfort” items for their men. As soon as the call went out, thousands of Americans began knitting the required socks, sweaters, mufflers, helmets and wristlets based on detailed instruction booklets and patterns that had been approved by the armed forces. It didn’t require any special training and tasks were accomplished quickly.Īmerican Red Cross historical poster with the message: You can help – American Red CrossBeginning with America’s entry into World War I, the American Red Cross launched a massive campaign to have the home front knit wool articles for the armed forces on campaign in Europe. But, the Production Corps was ultimately the most popular. Other services that developed during the war effort included hospital service, camp, canteen, motor corps, and home service. entry into the war, the Production Corps services expanded and encompassed the active U.S. The Production Corps started in 1916 as a result of these early relief efforts. Since the start of the war, the Red Cross had been providing relief to worn-torn European countries first with doctors, nurses, and medical supplies on the SS Red Cross or Mercy S hip and later with hospital garments, surgical bandages, and refugee clothing, sent to sister Red Cross societies, and produced by women recruited through The Women’s Bureau of the Red Cross. military, the Red Cross was championed by President Woodrow Wilson as he called upon the American people to back the organization in its support of thousands of young men heading to the battlefields of Europe. Bound by its government charter to support the U.S. When the United States officially entered the Great War on April 6, 1917, it had been raging in Europe since the summer of 1914.
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