The Year America Saved " Russia" from Starvation and cannibalism

Litwin

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Sep 3, 2017
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why Putlerists are so ungrateful?
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The Russian famine of 1921–22, also known as Povolzhye famine, was a severe famine in Russia which began in early spring of 1921 and lasted through 1922. This famine killed an estimated 5 million, primarily affecting the Volga and Ural River regions,[1][2][3]

The famine resulted from combined effects of economic disturbance—which had already started during World War I, and continued through the disturbances of the Russian Revolution—and Russian Civil War with its policy of War Communism, especially prodrazvyorstka, exacerbated by rail systems that could not distribute food efficiently.

One of Russia's intermittent droughts in 1921 aggravated the situation to a national catastrophe. Hunger was so severe, it was doubtful that seed-grain would be sown rather than eaten. At one point, relief agencies had to give grain to railroad staff to get their supplies moved."

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The Year America Saved "Russia" from Starvation
William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Programme on the book Ending World Hunger. His writing have been published by the New York Times, Boston Globe, Huffington Post, San Diego Union Tribune, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Des Moines Register, Seattle Times, Cincinnati Enquirer and the Buffalo News.

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Description: Brooklyn NY, Herbert Hoover and Miss Kitty Dalton of the Knights of Columbus inspecting supplies to be sent to starving European children by the European Relief Council. Relief efforts were carried over to Russia when famine struck in 1921. (Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum)


This holiday season there is a gathering storm of famine. El Nino related drought threatens over ten million with food shortages in Ethiopia. Millions of war victims are starving in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen.

These hunger emergencies demand the world’s attention. We can look to history for inspiration and remember America's greatest Christmas gift.

It was 1921 in Russia and an AP journalist had just attended a mass in the town of Volsk. As he was leaving the church, the priest rushed after him. He had a message he wanted the reporter to share with America: Please send food and save us from starvation!

A famine had struck Russia. People were starving to death. The aftermath of World War One, civil war, drought and failed policies left tens of millions of Russians with no food.

Desperate civilians were eating grass or anything they could find. An American officer told of hospital patients crying out for bread. But there was just no food available for anyone.

It's hard to picture this ghastly scenario in our world, especially during the holidays when food is so abundant. But famine happened in Russia in 1921 and America was their only hope for rescue.

When the call for help was first heard, America quickly responded. Led by Herbert Hoover, the American Relief Administration (ARA) started a feeding program for a million Russian children. To get served rice daily was a life-saver for those children.

The ARA had supplies and experience from feeding children in Europe after World War One. But Colonel William Haskell and other ARA officers were witnessing an emergency of epic proportions unfolding in Russia. It became clear that much more aid would be needed.

As Christmas of 1921 was approaching, Hoover urged quick action by Congress to get more food on the way to the famine zone. President Warren Harding was in support.

The President said, “It seems to me we should be indifferent to our own heart promptings, and out of accord with the spirit which acclaims the Christmastide, if we do not give out of our national abundance to lighten this burden of woe upon a people blameless and helpless in famine's peril.”

The food aid package was approved right before Christmas. A New York Times editorial called it "America's Christmas Gift.” Corn, seed grain and milk worth 20 million dollars would bolster the relief in Russia.

Americans worked through the holidays to get the ships on the way to Russia by early January. Millions would be saved by the food. Charities worked throughout Russia to help distribute the aid.

The Russian author Maxim Gorky wrote to Hoover thanking America for saving so many lives with the food shipments.

Gorky wrote, "In all the history of human suffering I know of . . . no accomplishment which in terms of magnitude and generosity can be compared to the relief that you have actually accomplished. . . . Your help will be inscribed in history as a unique, gigantic accomplishment worthy of the greatest glory and will long remain in the memory of millions of Russians . . . whom you saved from death."

Famine is tragically not limited to history. In fact, today in war-torn Syria people are starving to death. The U.S. and Russia are each bombing targets inside Syria, but what the people need most is peace and food.







The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is trying to feed 7 million Syrians who have lost their food supply because of the war. But many Syrians cannot get this help because the violence prevents aid convoys from reaching them.

In South Sudan, Iraq and Yemen war has also caused extreme food shortages. There are more hungry refugees now than anytime since World War II.

The worst drought in 50 years has just struck Ethiopia. There is fear of a famine in 2016. Save the Children just issued a powerful statement saying we must act now to prevent another tragedy in Ethiopia and East Africa. In Central America drought has also ruined food supplies.

For this holiday season no gift from America could be greater than food for the starving people around the world. In fact, the Congress holds the power to send this lifeline to millions.

The Congress should do what preceding generations have done in times of world crisis: increase funding for America’s international food aid programs. Congress could boost the Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole global school lunch programs. Like Congress did with the Russian Famine of 1921, take action to send food to the world's hungry.

Such a powerful action this holiday would save lives and rescue children from deadly malnutrition. American humanitarianism is the strongest instrument for goodwill and peace on earth."
 
Thank you Litwin, Hoover's work is not well known even in the US. Question, which took more lives, the Famine of 1921-22 or the Siege of Leningrad (WWII)?
 
Thank you Litwin, Hoover's work is not well known even in the US. Question, which took more lives, the Famine of 1921-22 or the Siege of Leningrad (WWII)?
1) Famine of 1921-22 killed much more
2) well, it was not any "Siege of Leningrad" , Koba simply dumped Leningrad, USSR didn´t have enough food - recurses for Leningrad

use subtotals, or write to Muscovite historian M. Solonin

maps and text:
Марк Солонин - персональный сайт историка. Две блокады
 

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