directly following the establishment of the geneva convention, the first national societies were founded in belgium, denmark, france, oldenburg, prussia, spain, and württemberg. also in 1864, louis appia and charles van de velde, a captain of the dutch army, became the first independent and neutral delegates to work under the symbol of the red cross in an armed conflict. three years later in 1867, the first international conference of national aid societies for the nursing of the war wounded was convened.