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TheLatvian Red Cross (Latvian:Latvijas Sarkanais Krusts) is anon-governmentalnon-profit volunteer-ledhumanitarian organization, and the nationalRed Cross Society inLatvia.
The Latvian Red Cross was established 20 November 1918 inRiga,[1] only two days after theproclamation of the independent Republic of Latvia. During the earliest time of the Latvian republic, the Latvian Red Cross took care ofrefugees andprisoners of war of the recently ended World War I. During theLatvian War of Independence the Latvian Red Cross also aided the wounded and sick. In the beginning of 1919 the Latvian Red Cross operated hospitals inJelgava,Liepāja,Valka andRūjiena; in the second half of 1919—Riga,Pļaviņas,Smiltene andGulbene. The Latvian Red Cross was recognized by theInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent in 1923.[2]
In 1938 the Latvian Red Cross had 3,500 members, 10 hospitals with 1,000 beds,tuberculosis sanatoriums inTērvete,Krimulda, Liepāja andCēsis with room for 800 clients. It also had 92health care units, 159ambulances, 10emergency stations, threepharmacies, twonursing schools, a storage facility and an orthopedic workshop.
The economy of the Latvian Red Cross was mainly supported by sales oflottery tickets, a state monopoly on the sale ofplaying cards, a surcharge to railway tickets anddonations. Heads of the Latvian Red Cross were professor, surgeonJānis Jankovskis (1918–25), doctorKārlis Kasparsons (1926–29) and dentistKārlis Barons (1930–40).[1]
The Latvian Red Cross wasliquidated after theSoviet occupation of Latvia in 1940. Initially operations resumed after theGerman occupation of Latvia in 1941, but were interrupted later by the German authorities. The Latvian Red Cross was restored 1945 in exile after World War II ended. It was restored in wartorn Germany by Latvian refugees, headquarters were inMünster.
On 26 April 1991 the 11th Latvian Red Cross congress took place in Riga. At this congress it was proclaimed, that the current Latvian Red Cross is the only legal successor of the 1918 founded organization.[1]
