Russian Medical Women in Colonial Africa

Medicine has been an integral part of the imperial project throughout the colonial history of Africa. From the very beginning of colonial expansion, the success of virtually all European endeavors was determined by the capabilities of medicine: disease became the most serious threat to white settlers. Even today, Africa, particularly its tropical regions, is considered one of the most problematic regions on the planet in terms of health threats and the organization of healthcare. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the situation was simply catastrophic. Leading colonial powers were forced to establish medical services in their overseas territories. This was primarily necessary to ensure the combat readiness of colonial troops and the health of the colonial administration and other Europeans, and secondly, to prevent widespread illness and excessive mortality among the local population, the main source of income from the exploitation of their overseas possessions. Both the British and French authorities achieved significant success in this area, although limited resources meant prioritizing care for European settlers. Due to a severe shortage of medical personnel, the colonial administration began recruiting Russian émigré doctors. This article examines the gender aspects of the émigré medical corps, as well as the professional activities and social adaptation of several Russian female doctors, paramedics, and nurses who worked in various regions of colonial Africa in the first half of the 20th century

Colonialism · Economic shortage · Health care · African history and culture studies · German Colonialism and Identity Studies · Soviet and Russian History