Polish Red Cross (Polish: Polski Czerwony Krzyż, abbr. PCK) is the Polish member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Its 19th-century roots may be found in the Russian and Austrian Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. On regaining its independence in 1918 Poland's charitable institutions were able to reconvene and establish the Red Cross on its territory under the presidency of Paweł Sapieha, formerly President of the Red Cross in Galicia. The new society was recognized by the International Red Cross on 24 July 1919. During the Polish People's Republic (1947–1989) the Polish Red Cross lost its autonomy and all its assets to the state. Across its hundred year history it continues its humanitarian work at home and abroad. Its focus is on education, exhumations and missing persons. It continues to carry aid to refugees.[1]
On 18 January 1919 the Polish Samaritan Society organized a meeting of all Polish charities that followed the Red Cross principles. With the support of Helena Paderewska, then head of what was called the Polish White Cross society, the participants formed the Polish Red Cross Society. A temporary committee of 30 was elected to develop draft statutes and to proceed with preparations of the new PCK.
In 1922 after the Polish–Soviet War the Polish Red Cross participated in an exchange of Polish and Russian prisoners. Ekaterina Peshkova the chairwoman of organisation, Assistance to Political Prisoners (Pompolit, Помощь политическим заключенным, Помполит),[2] was given an award by the Polish Red Cross for her participation in the exchange of POWs.[3][4] Before World War II the PCK operated ambulances on behalf of the Polish Army in order to aid the Army's budget.
1942年、著名なポーランドの暗号学者マリアン・レジェフスキとヘンリク・ジガルスキは、占領下のフランスからスペインへ脱出した。到着後、彼らはスペイン軍に投獄された。ポーランド赤十字社は、捕虜に食料小包を届ける手配をした。赤十字職員は、食料小包を受け取る「ポーランド人捕虜」のリストをポーランド語で送った。赤十字社は後に彼らの釈放を確保することができた。1944年のイタリア戦役中、アンデルス軍の赤十字責任者はステファン・ティシュキェヴィチ伯爵であった。[ 5 ]
第二次世界大戦終結後、ポーランド赤十字社は、ドイツ政権崩壊後に獲得した地域でポーランド当局が医療サービスを確立するのを支援した。例えば、ハリナ・フミエレフスカはシュチェチンにおけるポーランド赤十字社の代表であり、市内各地に病院や診療所を設立するのを監督した。[ 6 ]