History of Russia: The exhibition “Sisters of Mercy of the First World War” in Martial Chamber

May 5, 2016 at the Museum of the "Russia in the Great War" in the Martial Chamber (the Museum-Preserve "Tsarskoye Selo) is presented the exhibition "Sisters of Mercy of the First World". Its centerpiece is cards and postcards of 1914-1918 from the collection of a member of the St. Petersburg club history buffs postcards Victor Palagnyuk. Also on display there are items from the collection of the State Museum "Tsarskoye Selo" and the sketch model of the monument sisters of mercy.

May 3 (old style) 1867 Alexander II approved the charter of the "Society for the care of wounded and sick soldiers". In 1879 the company was renamed the "Russian Red Cross" - ROKK. Its honorary members were emperor, grand dukes and princesses, many high-ranking secular officials and representatives of the higher clergy. At the time of the creation of the Society patron, Empress Maria Alexandrovna, and later it was under the patronage of the Empress.  

Presented at the exhibition postcards reflect the image of a nurse in a variety of circumstances of war: at the forefront in providing first aid to the wounded, to make them out of the fire, nursing the sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals, the hospital trains, hospital.

Authors’ postcards are made by famous artists Mikhail Nesterov, Sergei Yaguzhinsky, Peter Heller, Timothy Mozgov, Mstislav Dobuzhinsky and their contemporaries.

Photographic postcards imprint real episodes of the medical service activities with the participation of the sisters on the fronts of the war.

The exhibition presents postcards of various charities, the texts of which called for a humane, compassionate towards the sick and wounded soldiers.

True rarities - photographic postcards of sisters of Mercy with dedications to the relatives and loved ones, as well as postcards sent by mail to themselves the Sisters of Charity.

A collection of postcards complement items from the collection of the State Museum "Tsarskoye Selo", united by the theme of the Red Cross and the revealing image and place nurses in various fields not only life, but also art.

In June 2016 a monument to the First World War sisters of mercy will be opened in Moscow. The exhibition in the Martial Chamber presents two draft models of the monument, by sculptor Lev Beybutyan and Jan Neumann. The monument will be installed in the A. A. Vishnevsky 3rd Central Military Clinical Hospital. The grand opening will take place on June 23.