Surgeon Grow

An American in the Russian Fighting

Abstract

This article examines the wartime experiences of Dr. Malcolm Grow, an American surgeon in the Russian Imperial Army during World War I. Stoff contextualizes Grow’s narrative within the broader historiographical neglect of Russia’s Great War. Grow’s account offers a rare frontline perspective, challenging traditional distinctions between combatant and non-combatant roles. While his memoir emphasizes military events, it also critiques the inadequacies of Russian wartime medical services. Stoff argues that Grow’s experiences illuminate the complexities of Russia’s total war and contribute to a deeper understanding of its human and institutional dimensions during the conflict