Blood transfusion and popular mobilization in the rear-guard: the Agrupació de Donadors de Sang de Catalunya (1937-1939)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/asclepio.2022.04Keywords:
blood Transfusion, Blood Donation, Press, Spanish Civil War, BarcelonaAbstract
During the Spanish Civil War, the authorities on both sides encouraged civilians to donate blood in order to refer it from the rear-guard to the frontline. Voluntary work was motivated in two main ways: on the one hand, by appealing to the solidarity of the population with the combatants; and, on the other hand, by offering donors certain rewards, as well as distinctive symbols (bracelets and insignia) of social recognition and personal protection.
Founded in Barcelona throughout summer in 1937, the Agrupació de Donadors de Sang de Catalunya (Grouping of Blood Donors of Catalonia) had nearly 30,000 people registered who were disposed to donate their blood to cover primarily the necessities of the surgical services of the Spanish Republican Army. This organisation did not respond to a hierarchical and centralised organisational model, but was formed by various groups based in Barcelona and other Catalan cities. Despite being such a large organization, hardly any traces remain in the collective memory.
This article aims to analyse the origins and trajectory of the Agrupació de Donadors de Sang using as the main source the news that appeared in Barcelona’s press. Moreover, the role of the Red Cross on the development of the aforesaid organisation has also been analysed.
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Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Grant numbers TRANSHUMED-HIS PID2019-104581GB-I00
