Figure 1.--The Polish Army during ther Soviet-Polish War was briefly occupied Kiev (May 1920). The American Red Cross provided food and medical supplies for a children's hospital. The photo shows the children affected by tuberculosis and malnutrition also receiving heliotherapy. This was the only American relief supplies that got tghrough to what was becoing the Soviet Union until the rasging famine forced the Bolsjheviks go let in Amrerivan food relief that was saving starbing Eiropeans. It is difficult to know how to classify the cfacikity as American, Polish, Soviet, or Ukranian. Source: Library of Congress LC-DIG-anrc-12052.

We are not sure to what extent sanatoria were founded in Russia during the Tsarist era. We note the American Red Cross establishing a sanatorium in Kiev (1920) which was briefly occupied by the Polish Army during the Soviet Polish War (1919-21). The American Red Cross took the opportunity to found and supply a childfren's hospitsal in Kiev m(Msay 1920). It focused on tuburculosis, but nutrition was also a serious problem. Undernourished children are most susectable to disease. There was at the time a terrible famine devloping in the Soviet Union. And the Bolsheviks were using food as a weapon. It can not be called a Soviet san, but it did occur in the Ukraine which ultimately was part of the Soviet Union. As a result some Anerican food got into the Soviet Union, but it was not until the following year (1921) that the Soviet Government finally permitted large-scale American food relief to get to its starving people. During the Soviet era, 'sanatorium' was used to describe a spa-like resort during the pre-War era in western Europe. It was a kind of resort/recreational facility with a with a health image. They might provide medical care for short-term rest and care. Soviet sanatoria did not have the strong association with tuberculosis.

Created: 7:27 AM 10/29/2021
Last update: 7:27 AM 10/29/2021