Charity Activities of the Kazakh Population during the First World War

Abstract

In the article, the authors study the features of the charitable activities of the Kazakh population during the First World War. The assistance of the Kazakh population was diverse and was expressed both in monetary donations to military hospitals and infirmaries, and in spiritual support for soldiers and their families, in caring for wounded soldiers. Fundraising was mainly carried out during fairs, as well as during a number of cultural events. At the same time, assistance was provided both through government agencies and through various committees and public organizations. In general, the Kazakhs actively collected funds to help the front, while the bulk of cash receipts were voluntary donations. The authors note that the Kazakh periodical press often published information about the assistance provided by the population of Kazakhstan to war participants and war victims. The authors conclude that the intensification of charitable activities of the population of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh intelligentsia in mid-1916 is associated with the processes of mobilizing Kazakhs for rear work in the First World War. Here, the population's assistance was provided through the Foreign Department of Zemgor, which managed to organize the uninterrupted delivery of food, clothing, letters and other correspondence to the front. To send large and heavy loads to the front line, it was only necessary to notify the head of the Foreign Department by telegram in advance. In general, charity played an important role in maintaining the physical and moral strength of the people, and contributed to the strengthening of patriotism and creative upsurge.