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The Death Of Franz Ferdinand

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The death of Franz Ferdinand in 1914 started the chain of war declarations eventually leading to the Great War, later known as World War I. Involving 32 countries and almost every continent, this total war between the Allies and the Central powers is one of the most brutal wars to date. The Red Cross provided support to those fighting in the war and those who were not. The Red Cross positively impacted both the people affected by World War I and the world. This was done by assisting both soldiers and their families during war, providing jobs for women, and helping to evolve humanitarian law.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, or the ICRC, was founded in Geneva, Switzerland by Henry Dunant, a Swiss businessman, in 1863. Its primary purpose was to provide medical assistance to soldiers in the field. The ICRC also tried to “develop international humanitarian law to guarantee the protection of human dignity” (Forsythe). In addition, the Red Cross was a neutral organization, meaning that they did not support either side of the conflict exclusively. This meant that they provided care for both sides of the conflict. These guidelines were outlined in 1864 at the first Geneva Convention. In Articles 1 and 2, it is stated that “ambulances and military hospitals shall be acknowledged to be neutral” and “persons employed in hospitals and ambulances, comprising the staff for superintendence, medical service, administration, transport of the wounded, as well as chaplains,

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