Providing Health Care for the Children in Smolensk During the Great Patriotic War (to the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War)

This article presents the results of historical and medical study reflecting the state of children health care in Smolensk during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. The article provides scientifically based evaluation of the situation in Smolensk regarding health condition of children remained on the territories occupied by fascist invaders during the Great Patriotic War, and the organization of children’s health care after the liberation of the occupied regions. We have studied government decrees, medical reports, administrative notes, and other documents from the State Archives of Russian Federation, the State Archives of Smolensk Region, as well as collections of documents, works of pediatricians and organizers of children’s health care who were participants and witnesses of the war, publications of post-Soviet period to cover the issue. The study has revealed that medical help to children of Smolensk was not provided during the occupation (August 1941 – September 1943). All pre-war maternal and infant health facilities were destroyed completely. All types of health care were carried out on a fee basis. Children were not provided with proper nutrition, suffered from hunger and diseases. There were only one children’s hospital for the treatment of children with diphtheria. Outpatient admission was performed by one pediatrician in the only one city hospital. Extremely poor supply in the hospital, gross violations of sanitary and epidemiological regime, spread of severe infectious diseases accompanied by chronic starvation left children with little chances on survival. Children were tortured by “doctors-monsters” in several medical institutions in the city, such as: lethal blood collection to treat Hitler’s soldiers and officers. From the end of 1943, in 1944–1945 health authorities carried out enormous work to organize medical care for children in the liberated areas. As a result, there were no significant mass outbreaks of children infections in Smolensk and other regions despite the harsh consequences of the German occupation.