The authorities did not think the war would last long. As a result, solidarity networks for the poor first formed informally based on the model of 19th-century charities at the initiative of private philanthropists and sponsors. The social elite often involved the same individuals as the political elite, and charities began to surface in every one of the twenty administrative divisions or arrondissements. Here, we offer a small sampling of the many charities, with various purposes and recipients, that connected the areas of the capital and appealed to Parisians’ generosity.
Recognition of subscription to the Devoir social pour la reconstitution des foyers détruits par la guerre [charity helping rebuild homes destroyed during the war]
An example of a charity, such as L'Armoire Lorraine [The Lorraine Wardrobe], whose goal was to supply refugees returning to their destroyed homes the basic necessities--linens, dishes, furniture and tools…
Diploma
