History
In 1859, Swiss businessman Jean Henry Dunant saw a terrible sight - the field after a big battle. In one day about 40,000 soldiers died or were left wounded on the battlefield. There was nobody to help them.
Dunant forgot about a business meeting he had planned with the French emperor Napoleon III. He stayed around to care for the wounded. He also organised people to help injured soldiers, even if they were enemy troops.
The beginning
Dunant wanted to do more to help wounded soldiers. He wrote a book about his experience and sent copies to important people in Europe. He suggested an organisation should be formed that would help injured soldiers, no matter which side they belonged to.
In 1863, the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded was founded. It became the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.