Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1916, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “On February 15th, closed with the German Red Cross Kirmiss contract for $7,500.00.” Moses was referring to the big Red Cross Society drive that took the form of a German Street Fair in the Chicago Coliseum on April 2. In 1916, charitable events were held throughout the United States for the German Red Cross, with many using street fetes as a vehicle. I have uncovered very little about the Chicago event, but it was similar to the one held in Cincinnati the year before. “The Cincinnati Enquirer” described the event at the Music Hall on November 18, 19 and 20 in 1915, reporting, “It will be a faithful reproduction of the famous old German city of Nuremburg on the occasion of a typical Kirmiss, the proceeds of the undertaking to be for the benefit of the German-Austro-Hungarian Red Cross fund. The unusual attractiveness of the affair will consist in placing in the north wing of Music Hall a replica of the old city of Nuremberg, with its quaint tiled-roof houses and its famous ‘Bratwurst Gloeklein.”
Baltimore’s “Der Deutsche Correspondent” included a history of the German Red Cross on 23 Nov. 1916 (page 4):
“The German Red Cross is an old established institution, which has given capable services in times of peace whenever natural or industrial calamities have compelled earnest and systematic relief action…At the outbreak of the war, the German Red Cross, complete as it already was for conditions then existing, was amplified and expanded into the magnificent organization to which all classes of social life in the German Empire have been proud to contribute, The advice and services of the greatest authorities in the sciences of medicine and surgery at its command.
The responsibilities of the German Red Cross are stupendous and the daily continuation of the war in all its varied phases and territories has causes a corresponding increase of suffering and of pitiful conditions for the relief of which additional funds are urgently required and earnestly solicited.
Contrary to general belief, the German Red Cross concerns itself not only with the succor and care of the wounded and convalescent soldiers, but also with the relief of innocent victims, reaching out a helping hand to the uttermost limits to those who have borne the brunt of the war’s hardships. This includes not only the soldier who has been disabled during outpost duty on the farthest front, but also his dependent wife and children at home, who must be clothed, fed, educated and provided with medical attention.
Thousands of volunteer workers who had received instruction in first aid, together with a legion of highly trained nurses have taken up the work of mercy in relieving the wounded, whether friend of former foe, and in many homes today fervent gratitude is being voiced to the German Red Cross for its skilled assistance in restoring loved ones to the families’ bosoms; husbands and fathers and brothers who might have succumbed to their wounds on the battlefield but for its timely aid.
The most advanced practices in restoring to health the wounded and convalescent are employed. The facilities of sanitariums and institutions for teaching the blind, the crippled and partially helpless and the hopelessly invalided, have become available for these unfortunates, Special training schools are maintained for those who have had to use artificial limbs, so that they may not become totally incapacitated, thus giving them an opportunity of again becoming useful and independent members of society.
By Nov. 16, Chicago’s “Day Book” reported, “Berlin. – German Red Cross and the Ass’n of Patriotic Ladies have received $50,000 from the U.S. branch for relief to families of soldiers” (page 31). At the end of 1916, the German Red Cross Society received $200,000. This figure was included in a December 30 article in the “Chicago Tribune.” The article included a list of gifts and bequests during 1916 by Chicagoans:
“It is not an exaggeration that the donations and bequests to charity, educational and religious institutions, art music and the public welfare in general in the United States during the year 1916 will reach nearly a billion dollars. Among the items which will help to make up this huge total are large sums raised by Americans for relief to war sufferers and help for war makers. It is estimated that nearly $5,000,000 have been sent through the principle agencies in New York and Boston, but to this sum should be added those sent through other agencies in various parts of the country and the numerous contributions, which have been made direct, and not through any special fund. Supplies worth millions of dollars have also been collected and sent in addition to cash donations. Of these war gifts Belgium has received about $11,000,000, France nearly $4,000,000, Germany about $9,000,00, Poland $2,300,000, England 1,125,000, Jewish sufferers $6,500,000, Serbia $320,000, Russia $160,000, Armenians and Syrians $2,565,000, Lithuanians $138,000, Balkan fund $500,000, Japan $11,000, Christmas gifts $400,000, Roumania $3,200, Australia $30,000, Italy $62,000, and several smaller amounts have been sent for ambulances, artists, surgical dressings, education, hospitals, etc. These sums represent those sent by the Red Cross and larger relief organizations. The increase of wages and bonuses paid by corporations to their employees amount at least $400,000,000. Christmas charitable organizations and God Fellows have added about $80,000,000 more to the grand total. The American board of commissioners for foreign missions has broken all records with receipts of $1,207,000 and $550,000 have been expended upon work among troops on the Mexican border. As to personal contributions it is impossible to form any estimate, except in a few prominent cases. John D. Rockefeller has donated to different objects about $9,500,000; Andrew Carnegie, $3,000,000; Julius Rosenwald $1,600,000, and Mrs. Russell Sage $525,000. The donations and bequests for various purposes in this country have amounted to $764,077.99, these including only large sums, which have been publicly announced. Of this total donations have been $623,262,002; bequests, $140,815,797. The objects of this beneficence are as follows: Charities, $657,042,700; educational institutions $72,612,619; religious institutions, $20,243,735; museums, art galleries and municipal benefits, $11,479,295; libraries, $2,717,450.”
To be continued…
