Young Pioneers (Soviet Union)

The Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization,

After the October Revolution of 1917, some Scouts took the Bolsheviks' side, which would later lead to the establishment of ideologically altered Scoutlike organizations, such as ЮК (Юные Коммунисты, or young communists; pronounced as yook) and others.

During the

Those Scouts who did not wish to accept the new Soviet system either left Russia (like Oleg Pantyukhov and others) or went underground.

However, clandestine Scouting on both sides of the war did not last long. The Russian Union of the Communist Youth (RKSM, later known as Komsomol) persistently fought with the remnants of the Scout movement. Between 1918 and 1920, the second, third, and fourth All-Russian Congresses of RKSM decided to eradicate the Scout movement and create an organization of the communist type, that would take Soviet children and young adults under its umbrella. This organization would properly educate young people with communist teachings.^[1]

On behalf of the Soviet Council of People's Commissars, Nadezhda Krupskaya (Vladimir Lenin's wife and the People's Commissar of State for Education) was one of the main contributors to the cause of the Pioneer movement. In 1922, she wrote an essay called "Russian Union of the Communist Youth and boy-Scoutism." However, it was the remaining scoutmasters themselves who supported the Komsomol and the Red Army, like Innokentiy Zhukov and some others around Nikolaj Fatyanov's "Brothers of the fire", who introduced the name "pioneer" to it and convinced the Komsomol to keep the scout motto "Be prepared!" and adapt it to "Always prepared!" as the organizational motto and slogan.^[2]

Just some days before the Komsomol conference the Moscow scoutmasters adopted a "Declaration of the scoutmasters of Moscow concerning the question of the formation of a children's movement in the RSFSR"^[3] on May 13, 1922. Thereby they suggested to use the scouting system as a foundation of the new communist organization for children, and give the "Young pioneers" name to it.

The main contribution of the scoutmasters was the introduction of the new expression system scouting into the discourse on communist children's and young adult organizations. By doing so they avoided the dissolution of the scout organization as it would happen sooner or later to any organization opposed to the Komsomol.

On May 19, 1922, the second All-Russian Komsomol Conference adopted the scoutmasters' suggestions and decided to "work on the question of a children's movement by using the re-organized system of scouting."^[4] During the following years many of the remaining former scoutmasters, who later became the first pioneer leaders in their respective areas, founded pioneer groups and educated future pioneer leaders in these.

May 19, 1922 was later on considered the birthday of the All-Union Pioneer Organization (Всесоюзная пионерская организация, or Vsesoyuznaya pionerskaya organizatsiya) and is marked as the official Pioneer Day. By October 1922 pioneer units nationwide were united to form the Spartak Young Pioneers Organization (SYPO) (Russian: Юные пионеры имени Спартака), which was officially granted the honorific title "V. I. Lenin" by a decision of the Central Committee of Komsomol of January 21, 1924, becoming the Vladimir Lenin Spartak Young Pioneers Organization (VLSYPO). Since March 1926 it bore the name Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization (VLAUPO).

By the middle of 1923, the young organization had 75,000 members with hundreds of mature adult and teen instructors. Among other activities, Young Pioneer units, helped by the

During the

Following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and Boris Yeltsin's banning of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1991, the organization also disbanded.^{[citation needed]} However, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation had a successor organization which utilized the same uniforms and structure as the original pioneers.^{[citation needed]}

Following the

Its main grouping of members until 1942 was the "Young Pioneer detachment," which then typically consisted of children belonging to the same secondary school.^[citation needed]

From 1942 to October 1990 (when the organization was broken up) the "squad" (отряд) was made up of children belonging to the same class within a school, while a school was referred to as a "Young Pioneer druzhina." Larger squads were split into sub-units called zveno (Звено, literally "chain link").

There was also an age-scale structure: children of 10–11 years were called Young Pioneers of the first stage; children of 11–12 years were Young Pioneers of the second stage; young adults of 9–15 years were Young Pioneers of the third stage. Aged 14, Young Pioneers could join the Komsomol, with a recommendation from their Young Pioneer group.

The main governing body was the Central Soviet of the Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union, which worked under the leadership of the main governing body of Komsomol.

Its official newspaper was Pionerskaya Pravda.

The main goals and duties of Young Pioneers and requirements of membership were specified by the Regulations of the Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union; by the Solemn Promise (given by each Young Pioneer joining the organization); by the Rules of the Young Pioneers; and by the Young Pioneer Motto, всегда готов! (vsegda gotov!, "Always Ready!"). There were two major revisions of them: in 1967 and 1986.

In the 3rd grade of school, children were allowed to join the Young Pioneer Organization, which was done in batches, as a solemn ceremony, often in a Pioneers Palace. Only the best students were allowed into the first batch, slightly less advanced and well-behaved were allowed into the second batch, several weeks later. The most ill-behaved or low-performing students were given time to 'catch up' and could be allowed to join only in the 4th grade, a year after the first batch of their classmates.

In line with the Soviet doctrine of

The main symbols of Young Pioneers were the red banner, flag, Young Pioneer's red neck scarf and the organizational badge. Attributes: the

The uniform was one of many things that identified Pioneers with each other and the people. The uniform, part of the school uniform worn at school, included the red neckerchief and the organizational and rank badges on the white shirt with long or short pants for boys and long or short skirts for girls, with optional side caps as headdress. Full dress uniforms, used in occasions, were light blue or white with red side caps, the red neckerchief and the badges, with crimson sashes for color bearers and the color escorts. When on outdoor duties brown polo shirts with pants or skirts depending on gender were used, with an optional side cap. Sea service uniforms used sailor caps and blue and white shirts (with telnyashkas) and pants or skirts depending on the gender, with a brown belt. Instructors and mature adult leaders wore the same uniforms and the caps in every occasion and in all meetings. In its early years the Pioneers wore campaign hats in major events.

On the day a child joined the Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization, they would have to recite the following Solemn Promise in front of a group of other Pioneers (1986 revision is presented below). After reciting, the new member had the Pioneer's scarlet neckerchief tied by an older Pioneer, and thus, becoming a full-fledged member of the organization.

I, (last name, first name), joining the ranks of the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization, in the presence of my comrades solemnly promise: to passionately love and cherish my Motherland, to live as the great Lenin bade us to, as the Communist Party teaches us to, as require the laws of the Pioneers of the Soviet Union. (Я, (фамилия, имя), вступая в ряды Всесоюзной пионерской организации имени Владимира Ильича Ленина, перед лицом своих товарищей торжественно обещаю: горячо любить и беречь свою Родину, жить, как завещал великий Ленин, как учит Коммунистическая партия, как требуют Законы пионеров Советского Союза)

The motto of the Young Pioneers of the Soviet Union consisted of two parts, the summons and the answer or response (1986 revision is presented below).

1. Summons - Pioneer, to fight for the cause of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, be prepared! (Пионер, к борьбе за дело Коммунистической партии Советского Союза будь готов!).
2. Response - Always prepared! (Всегда готов!).

This, like other rituals and customs of the organization, reflected its origin in the Scouts movement (their motto is "Be Prepared").

The latest revision of the official Rules of the Young Pioneers of the Soviet Union was in 1986, it is presented below. The Rules often appeared on many children's items, such as school notebooks.

• Pioneer is a young builder of communism, labors for the welfare of the Motherland, prepares to become its defender.
• Pioneer is an active fighter for peace, a friend to Young Pioneers and workers' children of all countries.
• Pioneer follows the communists' example, prepares to become a Komsomol member, leads the Little Octobrists.
• Pioneer upholds the organization's honour, strengthens its authority by deeds and actions.
• Pioneer is a reliable comrade, respects the elders, looks after younger people, always acts according to conscience.
• Pioneer has a right to elect and be elected to Young Pioneer self-government institutions, to discuss the functioning of the Young Pioneer organization on Young Pioneer gatherings, meetings, gatherings of Soviets of Young Pioneer detachments and Young Pioneer groups, in the press; to criticize shortcomings; to submit a proposal to any Soviet of the Young Pioneer organization, including the Central Soviet of the V. I. Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization; to ask for a recommendation of the Soviet of Young Pioneer group to join the
  VLKSM
  when on the right age to join.

Young Pioneer songs were usually sung at various Young Pioneer meetings, in Young Pioneer camps, and at schools. One of the earliest and the most popular song was the Young Pioneer March. It was written in 1922 by Aleksandr Zharov [ru] (music by Sergei Dyoshkin) and was sometimes called The Anthem of Young Pioneers. There were a great many other songs, here are some very popular ones:

• Accepting you into Young Pioneers (music by Aleksandra Pakhmutova, lyrics by N.Dobronravov)
• Song about the first Young Pioneer detachment (A.Dolukhanian, S.Runge)
• Our land (
  Dmitry Kabalevsky
  , A.Prishelets)
• Gaidar is marching first (Aleksandra Pakhmutova, N.Dobronravov)
• The eaglet (V.Bely, Ya. Shvedov)
• Rise up in bonfires, thee blue nights (S. Kaidan-Deshkin, A. Zharov)
• Whirlwinds of Danger (Whirlwinds of danger are raging around us) - (W. Święcicki, translated by G. Kryzhanovsky)
• The little joyful drummer (L. Schwarz, Bulat Okudzhava)
• March of Young Pioneer groups (N.Gubarkov, G. Khodosov)
• May there always be sunshine
  (A.Ostrovsky, L.Oshanin)
• That's Me and You (Y. Chichkov)

These colours, in gold fringe, were in red with the organizational badge and motto in the obverse and in the reverse the name of the school detachment (elementary or secondary) or area authority (village/selsoviet, town/city, district/autonomous district, oblast/autonomous republic/autonomous oblast and republican) of the VLAUPO in gold lettering.

The Young Pioneers who excelled in academic study, work, sports or social activity were elected to the self-governing institutions, were sent as delegates to the Young Pioneers gatherings (including All-Union ones). The most notable were recognized in the organization's Book of Honor. During World War II, many Young Pioneers fought against Nazis in partisan detachments and/or Party underground units, which existed near their homes on territories occupied by Nazi Germany and their allies, while Pioneers in areas away from enemy lines helped in the home front efforts. Nearly 30,000 of them were awarded various orders and medals; four Young Pioneers became Heroes of the Soviet Union. One of the famous young pioneer All-Union camps was "Artek" located in Crimea opened in the 1930s. The camp was located on the top of the mountain "A-yu-dahg" which means "Bear's Mountain". Only the best students were selected to go there based on their grades and leadership. Young communists from other countries were welcome as well.

In the 1935

The 1964 satirical comedy film Welcome, or No Trespassing, directed by Elem Klimov, takes place in a Young Pioneer camp.

The 1972 stop motion animated film

Cheburashka

features a group of Young Pioneers, and the titular character and his friend, Crocodile Gena decide to become Pioneers themselves.

Gallery

• 
  A group of young pioneers in Alma-ata, 1964
• 
  Young pioneers, 1987, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
• 
  Pioneers greeting participants of Young Communist League Congress, 1974
• 
  Pioneer Camp, 1989, Black Sea, Russia, USSR
• 
  Communist Party of the Russian Federation Young Pioneers at the Red Square in Moscow, 2010
• 
  An example of a Pioneers Palace, also known as palaces of children and youth creativity in Russia. City of Togliatti
• 
  Dmitry Borshch (center) saluting while a part of the group, 1985

See also

• Ready for Labour and Defence of the USSR
• Solemn Promise, Motto and Rules of Young Pioneers
• Young Pioneer camp
• Young Pioneer Palace
• Komsomol
• League of Militant Atheists
• Little Octobrist
• Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation (East German equivalent)
• Pioneer Organization of the Socialist Youth Union (Czechoslovak equivalent)
• Union of Pioneers of Yugoslavia
• Young Pioneers of China

Notes

1. ^ Russian: Всесоюзная пионерская организация имени В. И. Ленина, romanized: Vsesoyuznaya pionerskaya organizatsiya imeni V. I. Lenina, IPA: [fsʲɪsɐjˈuznəjə pʲɪɐnʲˈerskəjə ɐrɡənʲɪˈzatsɨjə ˈimʲɪnʲɪ vɛ i lʲˈenʲɪnə] ^ⓘ, lit. 'The All-Union Pioneer Organization named after V. I. Lenin'

References

1. ISBN 0-300-08480-3
2. ISBN 978-3-86573-356-6
3. ^ (in Russian) RGASPI Moscow, f.M-1, op.23, d.98, l.29
4. ^ (in Russian) VLKSM v rezolucijakh ego s'ezdov i konferencij, p. 98
5. ^ "Young Pioneers: Russian Children Sign Up On Red Square". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
6. ^ ^{a b} Dolgov, Anna. "Russia to Get 21st-Century Version of Kids' Pioneers Organization". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
7. ^ "К 100-летию пионерии в России создают детскую организацию. В нее могут включить 18 млн детей". BBC. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
8. ISBN 978-1136502552
   .
9. ^ "Snaring a fresh audience using a cautionary tale" by Elissa Blake, The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 August 2013
10. ISBN 978-0-19-975348-2
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pioneers Organization.

• (in Russian) Chronology of the organization
• Schools Hit Books For New Methods, an article about the situation with youth organizations in post-Soviet Russia (archived)
• (in Russian) Photos, symbols, songs and personal experience by a former Young Pioneer
• Young Pioneers – This site has information about the Pioneer movement in the Soviet Union as well as in other Communist countries