Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1939-1961 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
14 reels
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Created (or rather re-activated) in 1942 by the Comité international de la Croix-Rouge, the Commission des prisonniers, internés et civils (Commission PIC) was mandated to deal with all questions relating to the treatment of POWs and civilian internees (which included victims of racial persecution and political detainees). It was incumbent upon the PIC to pass on all necessary instructions to those around the world tasked by the CICR to deal with POWs and internees. The PIC acted in the name of the CICR with respect to the practical execution of the latter's directives. It also had to take initiatives in numerous cases where conventional arrangements either no longer existed or had become inooperatve. During the Second World War the PIC worked closely in collaboration with the Division d'assistance spéciale (DAS) to provide material and moral assistance to victims of racial persecution not protected by the Geneva Convention.
In effect up to 1942-1943, questions relating to the persecution of Europe's Jews as well as hostages and political detainees had been dealt with by a variety of different agencies. From 1942 the PIC was charged with the principal questions relating to victims of racial and political persecution. Its activities continued up to the immediate post war period where it became involved with repatriation of deportees.
In addition the Service des colis aux camps de concentration (Service CCC) was created in 1943 and integrated into the DAS in 1944. This organisation worked specifically towards providing assistance for Jews and other civilians in Nazi concentration camps.
Repository
Archival history
The series G59 conmprises dossiers produced by different commissions of the secretary general of the International Committee of the Red Cross all of which were transferred to the central archives of CICR.
GB 1556 WL MF 2 1939-1961 Collection level (fonds) 14 reels Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (International Committee of the Red Cross)
Created (or rather re-activated) in 1942 by the Comité international de la Croix-Rouge, the Commission des prisonniers, internés et civils (Commission PIC) was mandated to deal with all questions relating to the treatment of POWs and civilian internees (which included victims of racial persecution and political detainees). It was incumbent upon the PIC to pass on all necessary instructions to those around the world tasked by the CICR to deal with POWs and internees. The PIC acted in the name of the CICR with respect to the practical execution of the latter's directives. It also had to take initiatives in numerous cases where conventional arrangements either no longer existed or had become inooperatve. During the Second World War the PIC worked closely in collaboration with the Division d'assistance spéciale (DAS) to provide material and moral assistance to victims of racial persecution not protected by the Geneva Convention.
In effect up to 1942-1943, questions relating to the persecution of Europe's Jews as well as hostages and political detainees had been dealt with by a variety of different agencies. From 1942 the PIC was charged with the principal questions relating to victims of racial and political persecution. Its activities continued up to the immediate post war period where it became involved with repatriation of deportees.
In addition the Service des colis aux camps de concentration (Service CCC) was created in 1943 and integrated into the DAS in 1944. This organisation worked specifically towards providing assistance for Jews and other civilians in Nazi concentration camps.
The series G59 conmprises dossiers produced by different commissions of the secretary general of the International Committee of the Red Cross all of which were transferred to the central archives of CICR.
Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (International Committee of the Red Cross)
Archives du Comité international de la Croix-Rouge collection, 1939-1961, comprises files, reports and correspondence on the following subject areas: Jews (various dossiers); relief and questions of principle; camps; appeals; emigration; High Commissioner for Refugees; Jewish organisations; deportations; projects; investigations; case files; visits to camps and ghettos; special mission in Iraq.
The original order has, where possible, been retained. The 13 sub-series are arranged geographically (assistance to Jews in different countries); thematically (emigration, finance questions, means of transport); and by correspondent (Red Cross, government agencies, organisations).
Open
Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.
French, German, English and Italian
Microfilm
Additional findind aids are located within Wiener Library reading room.
Comité international de la Croix-Rouge, Geneva
Entry compiled by Howard Falksohn.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
January 2008 Wars (events) Comité international de la Croix-Rouge Concentration camps Emigration Humanitarian law International conflicts Iraq Jews Middle East Migrants Migration Racial discrimination Racial segregation Refugees Religious groups War War crimes World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945)
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (International Committee of the Red Cross)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Archives du Comité international de la Croix-Rouge collection, 1939-1961, comprises files, reports and correspondence on the following subject areas: Jews (various dossiers); relief and questions of principle; camps; appeals; emigration; High Commissioner for Refugees; Jewish organisations; deportations; projects; investigations; case files; visits to camps and ghettos; special mission in Iraq.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The original order has, where possible, been retained. The 13 sub-series are arranged geographically (assistance to Jews in different countries); thematically (emigration, finance questions, means of transport); and by correspondent (Red Cross, government agencies, organisations).
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
French, German, English and Italian
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Additional findind aids are located within Wiener Library reading room.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Humanitarian law » War crimes » Concentration camps
- Migration » Emigration
- Humanitarian law
- International conflicts
- Religious groups » Jews
- Migrants
- Migration
- Interethnic relations » Ethnic discrimination » Racial segregation
- Migrants » Refugees
- Religious groups
- International conflicts » War
- Humanitarian law » War crimes
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English