A History of Service: The American Red Cross During World War I

When the United States officially entered the Great War on April 6, 1917, it had been raging in Europe since the summer of 1914. Bound by its government charter to support the U.S. military, the Red Cross was championed by President Woodrow Wilson as he called upon the American people to back the organization in its support of thousands of young men heading to the battlefields of Europe.

Since the start of the war, the Red Cross had been providing relief to worn-torn European countries first with doctors, nurses, and medical supplies on the SS Red Cross or Mercy Ship and later with hospital garments, surgical bandages, and refugee clothing, sent to sister Red Cross societies, and produced by women recruited through The Women’s Bureau of the Red Cross. The Production Corps started in 1916 as a result of these early relief efforts.

With the U.S. entry into the war, the Production Corps services expanded and encompassed the active U.S. military. Other services that developed during the war effort included hospital service, camp, canteen, motor corps, and home service. But, the Production Corps was ultimately the most popular. It didn’t require any special training and tasks were accomplished quickly.

American Red Cross historical poster with the message: American Red Cross- Our Boys Need Sox-Knit Your Bit

Paris, France. Preparing American Red Cross surgical dressings at their workrooms at 60 rue St. Didier, Paris.

September 10, 1917. Washington, DC. ARC 400 Instructions for Knitting Sweaters, Mufflers, Helmets, Socks, Wristlets, Wash-cloths, Bottle-covers, Page 4 of 12

An unidentified group of Red Cross workers inspect boxes destined for Christmas overseas shipment for troops during the First World War. Uniforms then consisted of a white coverall apron, peaked coif worn low on forehead. ©American Red Cross

January 1919. Paris, France. This American Red Cross reconditioning department has been in operation for some time at Rue St. Didier in Paris. A great number of women are employed here, going over and renovating articles that have been damaged in transit. Examples include cases of supplies from America that become waterlogged and unfit for use. It is here that such items are cleaned and re-sewn, such as the mattress covers being re-sewn on the left side of this photo.

American Red Cross historical poster with the message: You can help – American Red Cross Beginning with America’s entry into World War I, the American Red Cross launched a massive campaign to have the home front knit wool articles for the armed forces on campaign in Europe. As soon as the call went out, thousands of Americans began knitting the required socks, sweaters, mufflers, helmets and wristlets based on detailed instruction booklets and patterns that had been approved by the armed forces.

The Army and Navy regularly requested thousands of surgical dressings and what were referred to as “comfort” items for their men. Comfort items included hand-knitted socks, sweaters, soap and razors. Between 1917 and 1919, over 8 million chapter women along with many Junior Red Cross members produced over 370 million relief articles for the Allied armed forces and civilians in Europe.

During the post-war period, the Production Corps continued its work as a peacetime operation. Volunteers made thousands of comfort items and surgical dressings for hospitalized service men and veterans, as well as for soldiers at remote military outposts or Navy stations. The role of the Production Corps was formalized in 1920, and it became one of the nine units in which volunteers could serve.

Today, the Red Cross still has Production Rooms in service, which carry out similar services for active duty military members, veterans and disaster victims.

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