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Between Bombs and Good Intentions : The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Italo-Ethiopian war, 1935-1936 / Rainer Baudendistel.

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextSeries: Human Rights in Context ; 1Publisher: New York ; Oxford : Berghahn Books, [2006]Copyright date: ©2006Description: 1 online resource (360 p.)Content type:
Media type:
Carrier type:
ISBN:
  • 9781845450359
  • 9781782388722
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 963.056
LOC classification:
  • DT387.8
Other classification:
  • online - DeGruyter
Online resources:
Contents:
Frontmatter -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- List of Tables -- Foreword -- Preface -- Map -- Introduction -- 1. Switzerland, the ICRC and the Red Cross Movement at the Time of the Italo-Ethiopian War -- 2. An African Solferino: the Emergency Medical Relief Operation in Ethiopia -- 3. Red Cross Work Challenged: the Respect of the Emblem -- 4. The Heart of the Matter: Ensuring the Protection of the Emblem -- 5. Prisoners of War: Propaganda Prevails over Reality -- 6. ‘Rain that Kills’: the ICRC and Fascist Italy’s Chemical Warfare -- Summary and Conclusion -- Appendices -- Bibliography -- Index
Summary: The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have highlighted again the precarious situation aid agencies find themselves in, caught as they are between the firing lines of the hostile parties, as they are trying to alleviate the plight of the civilian populations. This book offers an illuminating case study from a previous conflict, the Italo-Ethiopian war of 1935-36, and of the humanitarian operation of the Red Cross during this period. Based on fresh material from Red Cross and Italian military archives, the author examines highly controversial subjects such as the Italian bombings of Red Cross field hospitals, the treatment of Prisoners of War by the two belligerents; and the effects of Fascist Italy’s massive use of poison gas against the Ethiopians. He shows how Mussolini and his ruthless regime, throughout the seven-month war, manipulated the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – the lead organization of the Red Cross in times of war, helped by the surprising political naïveté of its board. During this war the ICRC redefined its role in a debate, which is fascinating not least because of its relevance to current events, about the nature of humanitarian action. The organization decided to concern itself exclusively with matters falling under the Geneva Conventions and to give priority to bringing relief over expressing protest. It was a decision that should have far-reaching consequences, particularly for the period of World War II and the fate of Jews in Nazi concentration camps.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number URL Status Notes Barcode
eBook eBook Biblioteca "Angelicum" Pont. Univ. S.Tommaso d'Aquino Nuvola online online - DeGruyter (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Online access Not for loan (Accesso limitato) Accesso per gli utenti autorizzati / Access for authorized users (dgr)9781782388722

Frontmatter -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- List of Tables -- Foreword -- Preface -- Map -- Introduction -- 1. Switzerland, the ICRC and the Red Cross Movement at the Time of the Italo-Ethiopian War -- 2. An African Solferino: the Emergency Medical Relief Operation in Ethiopia -- 3. Red Cross Work Challenged: the Respect of the Emblem -- 4. The Heart of the Matter: Ensuring the Protection of the Emblem -- 5. Prisoners of War: Propaganda Prevails over Reality -- 6. ‘Rain that Kills’: the ICRC and Fascist Italy’s Chemical Warfare -- Summary and Conclusion -- Appendices -- Bibliography -- Index

restricted access online access with authorization star

http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_16ec

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have highlighted again the precarious situation aid agencies find themselves in, caught as they are between the firing lines of the hostile parties, as they are trying to alleviate the plight of the civilian populations. This book offers an illuminating case study from a previous conflict, the Italo-Ethiopian war of 1935-36, and of the humanitarian operation of the Red Cross during this period. Based on fresh material from Red Cross and Italian military archives, the author examines highly controversial subjects such as the Italian bombings of Red Cross field hospitals, the treatment of Prisoners of War by the two belligerents; and the effects of Fascist Italy’s massive use of poison gas against the Ethiopians. He shows how Mussolini and his ruthless regime, throughout the seven-month war, manipulated the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – the lead organization of the Red Cross in times of war, helped by the surprising political naïveté of its board. During this war the ICRC redefined its role in a debate, which is fascinating not least because of its relevance to current events, about the nature of humanitarian action. The organization decided to concern itself exclusively with matters falling under the Geneva Conventions and to give priority to bringing relief over expressing protest. It was a decision that should have far-reaching consequences, particularly for the period of World War II and the fate of Jews in Nazi concentration camps.

Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.

In English.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 25. Jun 2024)