Siberian Angel: How the Swedish Sister of Mercy, who did not divide people into "us" and "strangers", saved soldiers during the war

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Elsa Brandstrom dedicated her life to saving people. Even the Civil War in Russia did not stop her. The woman crossed the front line between red and white, realizing that at any moment she could be dealt with. But the sense of duty was stronger than the instinct for self-preservation.

Calling: to save people at any cost

The post of General Consul of Sweden in the Russian Empire at the end of the nineteenth century was held by Edward Brandström. He lived with his family in St. Petersburg, where in 1888 his daughter Elsa was born. But soon Brandstrom was recalled to his homeland, offering to take a post under the Swedish government. The family left the city on the Neva.

As you know, it is impossible to enter the same river twice, but Edward succeeded. Thirteen years later, his life took a sharp turn and brought him back to St. Petersburg. This time he took over as Ambassador to Sweden. Together with him, his wife settled at the court of Nicholas II. Elsa could not come right away, because she studied at a Stockholm college. But as soon as she graduated (this happened in 1908), she came to the city on the Neva.

When the First World War began, Elsa found herself in the thick of things. The woman began to work in the infirmary, where she treated Russian soldiers, since she was a sister of mercy. She soon got a job with the Swedish Red Cross. Now her duties included caring for the wounded Germans and Austrians. They were captured and thus ended up on the territory of the Russian Empire.

By decision of the Russian government, captured foreigners, regardless of their state of health, were massively deported to Siberia. Realizing that there they have practically no chance of survival, Elsa went east. Arriving at one of the hospitals, she was horrified by the conditions in which the Germans and Austrians were kept. There was practically no heating, as well as food and medicine. Brandstrom threw all her strength into saving people. At the same time, she helped the Russians living in nearby villages: either she gave medicine or food. She did not divide people into "us" and "strangers", into "good" and "bad". The woman was just trying to save them from death. For this she was nicknamed the Siberian Angel.

When the First World War ended for Russia, Elsa arrived in St. Petersburg. A shadow has already hung over the country in the form of the October Revolution. The Swede understood that a bloody Civil War was about to begin, but she did not want to leave Russia. She did not change her mind when the fratricidal confrontation between the Reds and Whites nevertheless began. There were no rules in that war, so no one could guarantee the safety of foreigners, even if they represented the international humanitarian movement.

In 1919, Elsa ventured out on a trip to Omsk. Colleagues dissuaded her in every possible way, telling terrible stories about the treachery and cruelty of both sides. But Brandstrom went, because she had a vocation, a vocation to save people.

First, the woman got to Moscow, and from there she went to Omsk. The road was difficult and took about six weeks. People's Commissar Lev Davidovich Trotsky issued the delegation of the Sisters of Mercy with special mandates that were supposed to protect them in the territories captured by the Reds. In fact, these "pieces of paper" were the only document that had at least some significance at that time.

Red commanders were very distrustful of foreign guests, but allowed them to move from city to city. Eventually, the nurses made it to the front line. The women crossed it on sleds and soon found themselves in the lands held by the whites.

The first meeting with the White Guards gave Elsa and her colleagues hope for a successful outcome of their mission. The Russians received them kindly and helped to accommodate. But a few days later the Swedes were met by the Czechs. De jure, they fought on the side of Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak, de facto, they did not obey anyone and acted purely in their own interests. The Czech military, together with some Cossack chieftains, staged the notorious "White Terror" in Siberia at that time, and they did not need extra witnesses (especially the Swedes).

The Sisters of Mercy were arrested and charged with spying for the Reds. The leaders of the Czech detachments said that the women would be shot by the decision of the field court within 24 hours. But then something happened. Either the Czechs were afraid of the publicity and possible consequences, or the leaders of the white movement intervened, but the sisters of mercy were suddenly released. Moreover, they even returned all the money taken during the search. And, in the end, the Swedes got to Omsk and got down to work.

In fact, Elsa and her companions were very lucky. Czechs and Cossacks did not stand on ceremony with anyone. For example, a doctor from Austria was executed in Kazan, although he had all the necessary documents with him. It's not hard to guess that he was accused of espionage. And in the Urals, the Cossacks dealt with Danish missionaries, believing that they were recruited by the Reds.

Heroes who are not remembered

Until 1920, Elsa traveled to Siberian cities and opened the Red Cross missions there. And almost everywhere she was greeted coldly and tried in every possible way to ruin her life. Krasnoyarsk was no exception. The woman worked in a prisoner of war camp, opened a hospital where people sick with typhus were sent. There was an acute shortage of medicines, so many died. The Whites, who then owned the city, did not provide any assistance. On the contrary, the local governments did everything to get Elsa out of there as soon as possible. And seeing that nothing was helping, the whites ordered her to leave, threatening her with arrest and execution. But Brandstrom went against the grain and stayed. She did not leave Krasnoyarsk even when the Reds captured it.

But in 1920, the sister of mercy left Russia. No, she did it not because of threats, but because her father was seriously ill and required leaving. Soon Elsa wrote a book called "Among the prisoners of war in Russia and Siberia 1914-1920." In it, she frankly spoke about all the horrors that she had to endure. The book found a response among readers, the whole world learned about the Swedish sister of mercy and she became a hero.

By that time, Brendstrom had settled in Germany and spent the money she earned for the book on the construction of sanatoriums and orphanages in Dresden and Leipzig. Then she went to the United States. Overseas, the Swede lectured and talked about her difficult work in Siberia. In total, Elsa visited more than sixty cities and managed to raise about one hundred thousand dollars. With this money, she founded another orphanage in Germany.

The thirties were approaching. It was not calm in Germany. When the Nazis came to power, Elsa was under attack, because she was married to a German Jew, Heinrich Ulih. And the husband actively expressed his dissatisfaction with the new government. Ultimately, in protest, he resigned a high post in the structure of the Ministry of Education. Hitler knew who Ulich's wife was and even wanted to meet her, but Elsa ignored the invitation.

A conflict with the authorities could lead to sad consequences, so Ulich and Brandstrom left Germany in 1934. They moved to the United States and took up charity work. Elsa, for example, began to help refugees from Germany and Austria, dissatisfied with Hitler's policies.

When World War II broke out, Brandstrom did her best to help German children. And when Germany was defeated, Elsa organized material support for people who found themselves without money and without work. In 1948, she wanted to tour the country, but she didn't make it in time. In March, the Siberian angel was gone. She saved the lives of thousands of people, but she failed to save herself, bone cancer was stronger.

After his death, Brandstrom was quickly forgotten. There was no such person who could continue her work. But the memory of the heroic woman has not died. Streets and schools in some German and Austrian cities bear her name. In addition, in Germany, the fourth of March is officially considered the Day of Remembrance of the Great Woman. But in the history of Russia, Elsa's trace was lost.