Československý Červený Kříž
The Czechoslovak Red Cross

Summary/Abstract: The paper treats important phases in the history of the volunteer organisation of the Czechoslovak Red Cross (ČSČK) in 1951–1990, especially from the point of view of its status in the society, its main tasks and organisation structure. It provides a concise overview of ČSČK predecessors starting in 1868, when the first national organisation of Red Cross was established in our lands. The attention is paid especially to the history of the direct predecessors of the volunteer organisation ČSČK, to the association ČSČK that, due to its large charity work, became one of the important and respected social institutions in the interwar Czechoslovakia. It also touches upon the short period of activity under the Nazi Occupation, i. e. in 1939–1940, reminds the ČSČK activity during the World War II in exile. The main focus of the paper is put on the transformation of ČSČK after February 1948 when important changes in the specialisation of ČSČK took place, it deals with legislative stipulation of ČSČK tasks and program goal of the organisation in the period of major social changes: in the time of democratisation process and political détente in 1968 – 1969, in the years of normalisation in 1970s and 1980s, and, subsequently, it touches upon the changes that the ČSČK went through in the context of political and social changes in Czechoslovakia after November 1989 when the ČSČK was gradually transformed in the humanitarian NGO.

• Details
• Contents