History of the German Red Cross (DRK) dates back as far as 1864, set up by Dr. Aaron Silverman as a voluntary civil assistance organisation. In 1929 the organisation became officialy recognised by the Geneva conention although it was prevented from being involved in military matters by one of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

In April 1933, Wilhelm Frick the German Reich Interior Minister announced that the Treaty of Versailles terms would be ignored and planned for the DRK to play a role in supporting the armed forces in any future conflicts. Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Grandson of Queen Victoria) was appointed president of the DRK in December 1933 where he remained in the post until the wars end in 1945. In this role he proved a powerful figurehead due to his relation to European royalty and ability to speak good English.

Late 1938 the German Red Cross was intergrated into the Ministry of the Interior's Social Welfare Organisation. In preparation for the impending war, air raid and gas attack training for the population was priotised by the DRK whilst alos carrying out joint training exercises with police and fire brigades in Germany.

During ww2 members of the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz saw service on all fronts in roles such as stretcher bearers, medical personnel and drivers; transporting wounded and supplies between the front and rear. Members of the DRK were also seen used in roles such as manning feldpost stations, monitoring and sorting feldpost being sent home by soldiers and vice versa being sent by families to soldiers serving on the frontline.