Geneva Convention Treaty
On 22 August 1864 was signed the very first treaty of the Geneva Convention, by which several powers in Europe agreed on rules of international law for the protection of the victims of armed conflicts. Between 1864 and 1949, the treaty was revised and improved.
In the core of this agreement lies the protection of civilians providing aid to the wounded and sick soldiers ; the immunity from capture and destruction of all establishments such as hospitals, ambulances, etc. ; the recognition of the Red Cross symbol. The Geneva Convention was indeed instigated by the Red Cross Organisation.
In light of this information, read my post about the Liberation of Paris in August 1944…