The Baltic escape from hell. The Nansen office and the Romanian POWs (1919-1921)
The Baltic escape from hell. The Nansen office and the Romanian POWs (1919-1921)

Summary/Abstract: This paper investigates the role of the Nansen office in the hugely difficult task of repatriating the POWs from a Russia marred by the immense destructions caused by the Great War, the Civil War and the Bolshevik regime. The article focuses on the safeguarding of the life of at least 18,000 Romanians by the Nansen office, especially through the Baltic Sea “avenue”. The wavering relations between the Nansen office and the Romanian Government that has refused to allow the opening of a new salvation route for the POWs through the Danube and has postponed for long the application for funds thus creating big troubles to the former is also approached. The article concludes that the survivors of this ordeal may have been taught the best lessen about multi-ethnicity, tolerance, compassion and humanitarianism.

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