Transfusion Medicines During World War II

In some countries during the Second World War (WWII) (1941–1945), blood donation was highly organized; in others, it was very poorly organized. The UK, the USA, and the Soviet Union had the most developed and advanced blood donation systems during WWII, but each faced different challenges in their own way. The blood donation service in the UK organized blood drives on a massive scale at the outbreak of war. There was a great success with blood plasma from the USA, which was successfully transported to the battlefields across the ocean and saved many lives. Notable was the campaign “Plasma for Britain,” where the USA sent plasma to the UK. In addition to plasma, albumin serum was also used. Plasma transfusions helped in treating shock, but blood transfusions were better at treating shock. Blood donors, with blood group O being universal, were still the most desirable for the donation of whole blood. Stored blood, such as in ampoules, was also used. There were a lot of altruistic blood donors of both sexes. In the Soviet Union, most blood donors were women, since most men were on the battlefield. In the Third Reich, only Aryans were allowed to be blood donors.