Swiss Red Cross Founding: From Solferino to Geneva

In 1859, a Swiss businessman named Henry Dunant witnessed the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, where tens of thousands of wounded soldiers were left to die. His harrowing experience led him to write 'A Memory of Solferino' and propose an international relief organization. This episode traces how Dunant's vision, with the help of Geneva's Public Welfare Society and lawyer Gustave Moynier, resulted in the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1863 and the first Geneva Convention in 1864. We explore the political and humanitarian context, the opposition Dunant faced, and how a small neutral country became the birthplace of modern humanitarian law. The episode also examines the role of Swiss federal politics, the influence of General Dufour, and the legacy of the Red Cross in Switzerland's self-image as a humanitarian neutral state. #HenryDunant #RedCross #Solferino #GenevaConvention #HumanitarianLaw #GustaveMoynier #GuillaumeHenriDufour #Switzerland #Neutrality #19thCentury #IHL #BattleOfSolferino #PublicWelfareSociety #Geneva #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #SwissHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo