Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - We begin our Work in Germany
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lation definitely needed a compatriot who could help
them. :
Before I started this trip, I realized that relief
work in Germany, even if it was limited to
children, would probably elicit much critism, both
in Sweden and in other countries. This was the case.
After it had been made public that Swedish activities
would be started in Germany, I daily received letters
expressing disapproval of my taking the initiative
in this matter. In this case, as in others, it proved
that many people were apparently unable to
distinguish between the followers of Naziism and those who
were guided by purely humanitarian motives and
who quite simply extended a helping hand to a
suffering people. Even the American press had made
rather sharp attacks against me in ċonsequence of
the initiative I had taken. But one has to accept this
with resignation. In my opinion, it is absolutely
necessary that humanitarian activities be conducted
in a clean and straightforward manner, and that
sympathies and antipathies should in no way
influence their planning. The only task of an
organization such as the Red Cross is to try to help people
in need, with no concern for race, nationality, creed
or political affiliation. The duty of the Red Cross is
to help wherever it can. As far as I can gather, an
increasing number of people have understood that
the attitude of the Red Cross and other Swedish aid
organizations at that time was absolutely correct.
Before, when the Swedish Red Cross worked in
Germany during the last months of the war, it was
to help the people who were suffering in
concentration camps. It was to help those who were the active
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