Social charity of children during the First World War

We examine the activities of state, public and charitable organizations aimed at providing assistance to children of lower ranks, called for mobilization and underage refugees. We conduct a brief analysis of the evolution of assistance to children in the Russian Empire from the moment of the adoption of the Charter on Universal Military Service in 1874 to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, during which, along with institutions that had established themselves earlier, organizations that owe their the appearance of military events began to provide assistance to children. The main directions of assistance to minors during the studied period are considered: the issuance of permanent benefits and lump sum payments, the creation of permanent shelters and seasonal nurseries, the organization of primary and labor education. We provide data on social support for orphans during the First World War of 1914–1918 both at the all-Russian and at the governorate level, which makes it possible to assess the options and possibilities of rendering assistance to such troubled children. The results of the study of the stated scientific problem made it possible to identify and evaluate not only the possibilities of a welfare state in the Russian Empire of early 20th century, but also bright pages of zemstvo support, charitable initiatives of provincial patrons, social service of various representatives of urban and rural societies. Military everyday life, like a litmus test, outlined the most typical manifestations of social support for orphans in imperial Russia of early 20th century, as well as elements of civil initiative and social self-organization of various representatives of the country’s population. The ethno-confessional possibilities of social support for soldiers’ children are clarified, as well as the organization of the work of agricultural shelters, nurseries and other social organizations and structures.