Cautious or zealous? The ICRC’s humanitarian action in Montenegro (1875–1876)

The first ever field mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) took place in Montenegro in the winter of 1875–76. Although the expedition was little documented by what was then a new organization, a rediscovered trove of private archives has shed light on how it was carried out. Three delegates were sent to Montenegro with the aim of supporting the creation of a new relief society, aiding wounded soldiers and spreading awareness of the original Geneva Convention of 1864. Although the delegates were forced to adjust their ambitions, the Montenegro mission marked an important milestone in the burgeoning International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and sparked debate over the recognition of new National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies by their sister Societies. This article outlines the ICRC’s first experience in the field and examines the mission’s legacy.