The Swedish Red Cross had traditionally provided aid to soldiers and prisoners of war, but the aftermath of World War I demanded that relief be extended to countless suffering civilians as well. In early 1920 the situation in Europe was extremely harsh, especially in the countries of the former Central Powers, where the Allied blockade, enforced until 1919, had resulted in horrific conditions. Hardest hit were the children, yet strong nationalistic currents in Europe made it politically impossible for many countries to provide relief to these civilians. As a neutral state, Sweden was not hampered by such arguments, but even so, the task was difficult. Fortunately, the Swedish Red Cross had royal and government connections – its president, Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland, was a brother of the king – and generated significant international goodwill that also helped to counter the country’s image problem due to its neutrality. Canteens were set up; clothes, medicine, and other necessities were provided. In late 1919 alone, 300 tons of grain were collected from Swedish farmers in response to an appeal by the Red Cross to relieve conditions at Vienna.
Två hungrande städer vid Donau – the two cities are Vienna and Budapest – was undoubtedly made to increase awareness of this situation, as well as to demonstrate the presence of Swedish aid in these countries. The film focuses on the children, and the work of the Red Cross alongside the Swedish branch of Save the Children (Rädda Barnen), founded by Ellen Palmstierna together with Elin Wägner (whose 1908 novel Norrtullsligan [The Norrtull Gang] was adapted for the screen in 1923 and shown at the Giornate in 1999) and Gerda Marcus; the latter two are glimpsed here. This is not an easy film to watch: there are extended scenes of severely malnourished children with rickets, and others with amputated limbs. In addition to providing urgent medical attention, Save the Children began transporting youngsters to Sweden in May 1919 for short stays ranging from six weeks to four years, where they were placed with foster families. It is estimated that 23,000 children went through this programme until the last transport in 1922; an article in the 10 October 1926 issue of the New York Times movingly reports on a reunion in Austria between 400 Swedish foster-parents and the children they welcomed into their homes just after the War. Whatever relief the Swedish Red Cross managed to provide, it was only a fraction of what was needed. Many in these countries, in particular the children, succumbed to starvation and untreated illnesses.

Ann Nehlin, Jay Weissberg