Pursuit of an 'Unparalleled Opportunity'
The American YMCA and Prisoner of War Diplomacy among the Central Power Nations
during World War I, 1914-1923.
by Kenneth Steuer

Appendix 18a

Post-War Russian POW Relief

image These three documents describe the activities of the American YMCA in providing War Prisoners' Aid relief work for two hundred thousand Russian prisoners of war and Red Army internees in post-war Germany, particularly at the prison camps at Stargard and Parchim. The first document, A Passionate Appeal for the Long-Suffering Russian Prisoners, was written in January 1920 by B. Schaposchnikow, President of the Russian Camp Committee at Stargard, and Lexajew, Secretary. The committee sent this appeal to the American people outlining the sufferings of Russian POW's still in captivity seven months after the end of World War I. While the Russians acknowledged the efforts of the German government and welfare agencies to provide relief, the POW's still needed food, clothing, medical assistance, and mental relief to survive their incarceration. The prisoners especially thanked the American YMCA for its assistance to Russian prisoners. Many of the POW's had been behind barbed-wire for over six years and the committee called on American citizens, farmers, politicians, journalists, and authors to work for the repatriation of these unfortunates.1

The second document, What the "Y" Has Done to Help These Unfortunate Men, was also written by Schaposchnikow and Lexajew, representing the Russian Camp Committee at Stargard around January 1920. In this letter, the Russians thanked the American YMCA for its WPA efforts in "keeping alive the souls of these men in a soul-destroying environment." They reviewed the educational, religious, and recreational activities of the WPA secretary during 1919 and highlighted the Christmas celebrations, which included the distribution of games, musical instruments, money for a Christmas tree and decorations, and a pound of apples for every prisoner. The prisoners acknowledged the Russian book parcels sent by the Norwegian Relief Committee and the ongoing distribution of candy, cigarettes, cocoa, and milk by the American Association. The committee members also thanked the American YMCA for the funds provided to destitute prisoners.2

The impact of the Russo-Polish War and the incarceration of Red Army internees in German prison camps in December 1920 is depicted in the third document, Mr. M.V. Arnold, Representative of the American YMCA, Parchim. The Russian prisoners gave Arnold, the American WPA secretary assigned to this prison camp, this program of appreciation for his relief work. The cover includes various drawings of the prison camp, the contents of food parcels, a boxing demonstration, and Christmas festivities, the latter somewhat incongruous with the Bolshevik hammer and sickle. The interned Red Army troops expressed their appreciation to the American YMCA in helping them celebrate Christmas in the traditional Russian fashion. Arnold had provided the prisoners with a decorated Christmas tree, games, plays, and presents. The YMCA had extended the hand of Christian friendship to men far from home and irregardless of their political view. The third page of the program is the Russian version of the text.3

Appendices to Chapter 18:
Appendix 18a:
Post-War Russian POW Relief
Appendix 18b:

Notes:

Note 1: B. Schaposchnikow and Lexajew, A Passionate Appeal for the Long-Suffering Russian Prisoners, Stargard, Germany, 29 January 1920. Armed Services Records Box 53, Folder: "Prisoner of War Reports-Donald Lowrie-1920," Kautz Family YMCA Archives, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. back

Note 2: B. Schaposhnikow and Lexajew, What the "Y" Has Done to Help These Unfortunate Men, Stargard, Germany, circa January 1920. Armed Services Records Box 53, Folder: "Prisoner of War Reports-Donald Lowrie-1920," Kautz Family YMCA Archives, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. back

Note 3: Mr. M.V. Arnold, Representative of the American YMCA, Parchim, Parchim, Germany, 31 December 1920. Armed Services Records Box 55, Folder: "Prisoner of War Work-Reports to John R. Mott-1917-1919," Kautz Family YMCA Archives, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. back