How many Komsomol members were there in the USSR? Dissolved Komsomol members. how the Komsomol collapsed. What did the pioneer uniform look like?

There are no other examples in history of such a powerful youth movement as the Lenin Komsomol. In peacetime and during wars, shoulder to shoulder with the communists, Komsomol members were the first to go into battle, to virgin lands, to construction sites, into space and led the youth. At every historical milestone, the Komsomol promoted from its midst thousands and thousands of young heroes who glorified it with their exploits. Their example of selfless service to the Motherland and people will always be in the memory of current and future generations.

It all started back in the distant revolutionary year of 1917 with the creation of socialist unions of workers, peasants and student youth. But they were all separated. Therefore, already in 1918, on October 29, the First All-Russian Congress of Workers' and Peasants' Youth Unions began its work, gathering 195 delegates from all over Russia and uniting disparate youth organizations into a single monolithic Russian Communist Youth Union. October 29 became the birthday of the Komsomol.

After the congress, general meetings of unions of worker and peasant youth were held in all regions or, as they were called then, provinces.

The chronicle of the heroic deeds of the Komsomol is endless. Six orders burn brightly on his banner. This is national recognition of the Komsomol’s services to the Motherland. Everyone knew the Komsomol heroes: Lyubov Shevtsova, Oleg Koshevoy, Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, Alexander Matrosov, Liza Chaikina... Eternal glory and memory to them!

Komsomol is an organization that shapes a person, his personal qualities. Here the life views of young people were affirmed, and the first experience of social work was acquired here. Komsomol is the foundation that formed the Soviet man. Of course, there was everything in the Komsomol. It was good, and it was not so good. There were bureaucratic moments that irritated young people, but these moments were criticized. However, at its core, it was a wonderful public organization. The Komsomol shaped the worldview in certain coordinates - the Soviet worldview. Komsomol is youth. Komsomol - these are the most wonderful memories! Komsomol is energy, determination, the desire to turn this world upside down and make it better!

Komsomol is my destiny

Performed by: VIA "Gems" 1918-1928
RKSM was an active participant Civil War; he carried out three all-Russian mobilizations to the front. According to incomplete data, the Komsomol sent over 75 thousand of its members to the Red Army in 1918-20. In total, up to 200 thousand Komsomol members took part in the struggle of the Soviet people against the interventionists, White Guards and bandits. Heroically fought the enemies: 19-year-old commander of the 30th division Albert Lapin, future writers Nikolai Ostrovsky and Arkady Gaidar, armored train commander Lyudmila Makievskaya, commissars Alexander Kondratyev and Anatoly Popov, leader of the Far Eastern Komsomol Vitaly Banevur and many others. Komsomol members fought selflessly behind enemy lines. In Odessa, the Komsomol underground numbered over 300 people, in Riga - about 200 people, underground Komsomol groups operated in Ekaterinodar (Krasnodar), Simferopol, Rostov-on-Don, Nikolaev, Tbilisi, etc. Many Komsomol members died brave deaths in battles to defend their gains October revolution. In severe trials, the Komsomol grew stronger and stronger. Despite the enormous sacrifices he made on the fronts, his numbers increased 20 times: in October 1918 - 22,100, in October 1920 - 482,000. In commemoration of military merits on the fronts of the Civil War in the period 1919-20 against the troops of the White Guard generals Kolchak , Denikin, Yudenich, Belopoles and Wrangel, the Komsomol in 1928 was awarded the Order of the Red Banner by a resolution of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR.

Komsomol members of the 20th year

Music: O. Feltsman Words: V. Voinovich
Performed by: V. Troshin 1929-1941
After the Civil War, the Komsomol was faced with the task of preparing workers peasant youth to peaceful, creative activities. In October 1920, the 3rd Congress of the RKSM took place. The leadership for the activities of the Komsomol was Lenin’s speech at the congress on October 2, 1920, “Tasks of youth unions.” Lenin saw the main goal of the Komsomol as “... to help the party build communism and to help the entire young generation create a communist society.” The Komsomol directed all efforts to restore what was destroyed during the war. National economy. Boys and girls took part in the restoration of factories in Petrograd, Moscow, the Urals, mines and factories in Donbass, and the country's railways. In September 1920, the first All-Russian youth subbotnik was held. Komsomol members assisted the Soviet government in the fight against profiteering, sabotage, and banditry. In 1929, the Komsomol carried out the first mobilization of youth for new buildings of the 1st Five-Year Plan. Over 200 thousand Komsomol members came to construction sites with vouchers from their organizations. With the active participation of the Komsomol, the Dnieper Hydroelectric Power Station, the Moscow and Gorky Automobile Plants, the Stalingrad Tractor Plant, the Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Plant, Railway Turksib and others. By the Resolution of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR on January 21, 1931, “for the initiative shown in the matter of shock work and socialist competition, ensuring the successful implementation of the five-year plan for the development of the national economy...” The Komsomol was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

Far Eastern song

Music: B. Shikhov Lyrics: A. Pomorsky 1929
Performed by: Big Choir VRiT. Execution 1970 1941-1945
The Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 was a severe test for the entire Soviet people and their young generation. The Komsomol and all Soviet youth, at the call of the Communist Party, came out to fight the Nazi invaders. Already in the first year of the war, about 2 million Komsomol members joined the ranks of the Red Army. Komsomol members, boys and girls showed unprecedented courage, bravery, and heroism, defending Brest, Liepaja, Odessa, Sevastopol, Smolensk, Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Stalingrad, and other cities and regions of the country from the enemy. The Komsomol organization of Moscow and the region alone sent over 300 thousand people to the front in the first 5 months of the war; 90% of the members of the Leningrad Komsomol organization fought against the Nazi invaders on the outskirts of the city of Lenin. Young partisans and underground fighters from Belarus, the occupied regions of the RSFSR, Ukraine, and the Baltic states acted fearlessly behind enemy lines. The partisan detachments consisted of 30-45% Komsomol members. Unparalleled heroism was shown by members of underground Komsomol organizations - “Young Guard” (Krasnodon), “Partisan Spark” (Nikolaev region), Lyudinovskaya underground Komsomol group, etc. In 1941-45, about 12 million young men and women joined the Komsomol. Of 7 thousand Heroes Soviet Union under the age of 30, 3.5 thousand are Komsomol members (60 of them are twice Heroes of the Soviet Union), 3.5 million Komsomol members have been awarded orders and medals. The names of Komsomol members who fell in the fight against the fascist invaders: Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, Alexander Chekalin, Lisa Chaikina, Alexander Matrosov, Viktor Talalikhin and many others - became a symbol of courage, courage, and heroism. For outstanding services to the Motherland during the Great Years Patriotic War and for the great work in education Soviet youth In the spirit of selfless devotion to the socialist Fatherland, the Komsomol was awarded the Order of Lenin by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on June 14, 1945.

Komsomolskaya
("Goodbye, mom, don't worry, don't be sad,
wish us a good journey")

Music: V. Solovyov-Sedoy Lyrics: A. Galich 1947
Performed by: KrAPPSA, solo. O. Razumovsky Performed in 1950. 1945-1948
The Komsomol invested enormous work in restoring the national economy destroyed by the Nazi invaders, in the construction of Minsk, Smolensk, Stalingrad, in the restoration of Leningrad, Kharkov, Kursk, Voronezh, Sevastopol, Odessa, Rostov-on-Don and many other cities, in the revival of industry and cities of Donbass, Dneproges, collective farms, state farms and MTS. In 1948 alone, 6,200 rural power plants were built and put into operation by youth. The Komsomol showed great concern for the placement of children and adolescents left without parents, for the expansion of the network of orphanages and vocational schools, and for the construction of schools. In 1948, the Komsomol celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. On October 28, 1948, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR awarded the Komsomol the second Order of Lenin.

Komsomol members
(An unforgettable song of the wonderful Stalin era.)

Music: A. Ostrovsky Lyrics: L. Oshanin
Performed by: I. D. Shmelev, Choir and Orc. p/u V.N. Knushevitsky Execution 1948
1948-1956
The Komsomol took an active part in the implementation of measures developed by the party to raise Agriculture. Thousands of young specialists, workers and employees, and high school graduates were sent to state farms, collective farms, and MTS. In 1954-55, over 350 thousand young people went on Komsomol vouchers to develop the virgin lands of Kazakhstan, Altai, and Siberia. Their work was a real feat. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for Active participation in communist construction and especially for the development of virgin lands of the Komsomol on November 5, 1956 he was awarded the third Order of Lenin.

On the road friends!

Music: Anatoly Lepin Lyrics: Alexey Fatyanov 1959
Performed by: actor Leonid Kharitonov and others. Performed in 1959. 1956-1991
The scope of the Komsomol’s activities in solving national economic problems, in particular in the development of the riches of Siberia, has expanded significantly. Far East and the Far North, in the redistribution of the country's labor resources. All-Union detachments numbering more than 70 thousand people were formed, over 500 thousand young people were sent to new buildings. With the active participation of young people, about 1,500 important facilities were built and put into operation, including the largest in the world - the Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station, the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant, the Baikal-Amur Mainline named after the Lenin Komsomol, the Druzhba oil pipeline, etc. The Komsomol patronized 100 impact construction projects , including the development of the unique oil and gas resources of the Tyumen and Tomsk regions. Student construction teams have become a tradition for Komsomol members of universities. Millions of students took part in labor semesters. At the initiative of the Komsomol, the construction of youth residential complexes became widespread. Youth residential complexes have been built in 156 cities and regions of the country. The Komsomol is the initiator of all-Union campaigns to places of revolutionary, military and labor glory, in which millions of boys and girls participate. The children's and youth competitions “Golden Puck”, “Leather Ball”, “Olympic Spring”, “Neptune” and the all-Union military sports game “Zarnitsa”, held by the Komsomol Central Committee, became truly widespread. The Komsomol and Soviet youth organizations collaborated with international, regional, national and local youth organizations in 129 countries. On July 5, 1956, the Committee of Youth Organizations of the USSR was created, and on May 10, 1958, the Bureau of International Youth Tourism “Sputnik” was created. Over four years, more than 22 million young people traveled around the country via Sputnik, and 1.7 million people traveled abroad. In 1968, for outstanding services and the great contribution of Komsomol members to the formation and strengthening of Soviet power, courage and heroism shown in battles with the enemies of the socialist Fatherland, active participation in the construction of socialism, for fruitful work on political education younger generations, in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Komsomol, was awarded the Order of the October Revolution.

Komsomol tradition

Music: O. Feltsman Words: I. Shaferan
Performed by: Vladislav Lynkovsky Performed in 1968.

The All-Union Pioneer Organization was formed on May 19, 1922. It was then, at the All-Russian Komsomol Conference, that a decision was made to create a mass children's organization in the USSR, led by the Komsomol Central Committee. Later, May 19 began to be considered Pioneer Day. An organized and ceremonial celebration of this event was held every year. At first, the pioneer organization bore the name “Spartak”, and then, after the death of the country’s leader, the official name was changed to the All-Union Pioneer Organization named after Lenin. Many years have passed since then. they stopped accepting people as pioneers, few people remember.

Initially, scouting served as an example for the pioneer movement. In 1917, there were children's scout associations in the country, covering up to 50 thousand people. Scouts carried out a lot of public work to help street children. Soon this movement split into several directions, the basic principles of which differed significantly. Scout troops were led by famous figures such as the publisher and traveler, editor of the magazine “Around the World” V.A. Popov, famous self-taught sculptor and teacher I.N. Zhukov and others. The idea of ​​creating yuk-scouts (young communists - scouts) was proposed by Vera Bonch-Bruevich, an active party member and writer. But in 1919, at the congress of the RKSM, all scout troops were disbanded.

N.K. At the end of 1921, Krupskaya several times read the report “On Boy Scoutism,” where she called on the Komsomol to create a children’s association “scouting in form and communist in content.” Later, the idea was put forward to create a children's communist movement. I.N. Zhukov put forward a proposal to call the future organization pioneer. The symbols chosen were the following: a red tie, a white blouse, the motto “Be prepared!” and the answer is “Always ready!” This was similar to the traditions of the Scout movement, but was partially modified. Also, the goal of the children's pioneer movement was to fight for the freedom of oppressed peoples around the world. In the future, the pioneers had to help adults in the fight against anti-Soviet elements, according to the civic duty of every progressive person, a builder of a communist society.

By the beginning of the forties, the structure of the All-Union pioneer organization was completely formed in accordance with the already proven school principle. Each class was a detachment, and the school was a pioneer squad. Military-patriotic work was carried out in children's groups, circles of signalmen, orderlies, and young riflemen were formed.

Before the start of the Great Patriotic War, the “Timur movement,” named after the hero of A. Gaidar’s children’s book “Timur and His Team,” spread. Timurites actively collected scrap metal, dried medicinal herbs, provided all possible assistance to the elderly and sick people, and looked after the children. It is difficult to overestimate everything that the pioneers did at this time, not only for individual citizens, but for the entire country.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, many children and teenagers instantly matured. Grief and overwhelming trials fell like a heavy burden on their shoulders. The pioneers were members of partisan detachments, whose sudden raids on fascist positions caused them significant losses. Some of them were awarded the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union", the highest award of the state, namely:

The pioneers served in the Red Army and were given the unofficial title “Son of the Regiment.” They were intelligence officers, signalmen, and underground workers. Most of them replaced their fathers and older brothers who had gone to the front, worked at machines and in the fields, looked after the wounded in hospitals, and performed concerts for them. Not all of them managed to live to see the Day Great Victory, children, along with adults, experienced all the hardships and horrors of wartime.

In the fifties, certain processes took place in the pioneer organization that led to changes active position and loss of independence in decision-making, her work became increasingly formal. In the 1960s, Leningrad teachers led by I.P. Ivanov on the basis of the new all-Union camp "Orlyonok", which was opened on Black Sea coast, tried to develop in children creativity along with past ideals. But the communard movement, which these activists tried to give rise to, was unable to go beyond the borders of a small region and remained in the arsenal of individual detachments and pioneer squads.

Until what year were there pioneers in the USSR?

With the beginning of perestroika, social and political life in the country sharply intensified. In the second half of the eighties of the last century, the leaders of the children's organization tried to change its goals and methods of working with schoolchildren. Due to the fact that propaganda was carried out about the need to exclude pioneers from ideological work, children's organizations of various directions appeared.

At the tenth rally of pioneers, which took place in Artek, on October 1, 1990, the delegates decided to transform the All-Union Pioneer Organization into the association “Union of Pioneer Organizations - Federation of Children's Organizations”, the abbreviated name SPO - FDO. But the Komsomol Central Committee did not approve this decision.

On September 27 - 28, 1991, at the XXII Extraordinary Congress of the Komsomol, the termination of the organization’s activities and its dissolution was announced. Together with the Komsomol, the All-Union Pioneer Organization named after Lenin was automatically disbanded. The building of the Central Council in Moscow was partially transferred to the use of SPO - FDO. The pioneer palaces became subordinate to the municipalities and became known as “Houses of Children's Creativity,” and the pioneer camps became tourist centers and boarding houses.

Based on this historical data, we can say with certainty what year the pioneers were in. It was in September that the pioneer organization ceased its work. Now we can accurately answer in what year they stopped accepting people as pioneers. And a little later, on December 26, 1991, the Council of Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR announced the adoption of a declaration that spoke of the cessation of the existence of the USSR.

On October 29, 1918, at the First All-Russian Congress of Unions of Workers' and Peasants' Youth, the Russian Communist Youth Union (RCYU) was created.

1. Among the delegates to the congress at which the decision was made to create a communist youth union, in addition to the Bolsheviks and sympathizers, were 45 non-party delegates, one left Socialist Revolutionary and one anarchist.

3. In October 1918, 22,100 members joined the RKSM. By 1920, the number of members of the organization reached 482 thousand people. The number of members of the organization reached its maximum in the early 1980s, when it simultaneously included over 40 million people. In total, over 200 million people in our country became members of the Komsomol.

Delegates of the First All-Russian Congress of Workers' and Peasants' Youth Unions, at which a socio-political organization was created, later named the All-Union Leninist Communist Youth Union (VLKSM). October 1918. Photo: RIA Novosti / Ivan Shagin

4. After the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924, the RKSM was renamed RKLSM - this is how the Komsomol became “Leninist”. The organization received its final name in 1926, in connection with the formation of the USSR - Komsomol (All-Union Leninist Communist Youth Union).

5. The Komsomol, according to its program, was considered an independent organization working under the leadership of the Communist Party. In turn, the Komsomol also led the activities of another organization created for children and teenagers - the All-Union Pioneer Organization named after V.I. Lenin.

6. In the late Soviet period, the Komsomol took a clear place in the ideological hierarchy of the Soviet Union. It consisted of Soviet boys and girls aged 14 to 28 years, who had previously been in the ranks of the Octobrists (from 7 to 9 years old) and Pioneers (from 9 to 14 years old). It was assumed that after 28 years a Komsomol member could join the party. In reality, however, less than half of the former Komsomol members joined the ranks of the Communist Party.

Painting by P. P. Belousov “Lenin among the delegates of the Third Congress of the RKSM.” Photo: www.russianlook.com

7. From 1918 to the early 1990s, the Komsomol was led by 15 leaders in the positions of chairmen, first and general secretaries of the Central Committee. Moreover, of the six first leaders of the Komsomol, five died during the “Great Terror” of 1937-1938, and another spent about 15 years in prison.

8. During its existence, the Komsomol as an organization was awarded six orders, with all awards occurring in the period from 1928 to 1968. The Komsomol has three Orders of Lenin (for the 30th anniversary of the organization, for military merits in the Great Patriotic War and for the development of virgin lands), the Order of the Red Banner (for military merits in the Civil War and the fight against interventionists), and the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (for shock labor during the years of the first five-year plan) and the Order of the October Revolution (on the 50th anniversary of the organization).

9. In the Soviet Union, the Komsomol was engaged in the redistribution of labor resources within the country. For this purpose, the so-called “Komsomol voucher” distribution was used - on the basis of a document issued by a local Komsomol organization, the young man was sent to work in sparsely populated and hard-to-reach areas of the country where there was a shortage of personnel. The Komsomol voucher was used not only to send young people to other regions, but also to send them to other industries - for example, a voucher from the Komsomol to a flight school, to serve in the army or the police.

10. An integral part of the activities of the Komsomol were the so-called “Komsomol shock construction projects” - the construction of important industrial facilities, the patronage of which was entrusted to the Komsomol. In terms of importance, Komsomol shock construction projects were divided into several categories, the highest of which was the All-Union shock Komsomol construction site. The most famous such construction project was the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM). Tens of thousands of people worked on this largest infrastructure project of the late Soviet Union on Komsomol vouchers from 1974 to 1984.

Penultimate, XXI Congress of the Komsomol. First Secretary of the Komsomol Central Committee Viktor Mironenko leaves the podium after his self-recusal, 1990. Photo: RIA Novosti / Ptitsyn

11. The All-Union Leninist Communist Youth League (VLKSM) was dissolved at the XXII Extraordinary Congress of the organization in September 1991, which was convened immediately after the so-called “August putsch”. The then leaders of the Komsomol came to the conclusion that the organization had exhausted its political role.

The Komsomol organization, celebrating its 90th anniversary on October 29, ended its existence almost 20 years ago, but its anniversary is celebrated on a grand scale throughout the country.

The All-Union Leninist Communist Youth Union (VLKSM) is a youth socio-political organization created at the 1st All-Russian Congress of Unions of Workers' and Peasants' Youth on October 29 - November 4, 1918.

The congress united disparate youth unions into an all-Russian organization with a single center, working under the leadership of the Russian Communist Party. At the congress, the basic principles of the program and the charter of the Russian Communist Youth Union (RCYU) were adopted. The theses approved by the congress stated: “The Union sets itself the goal of spreading the ideas of communism and involving worker and peasant youth in the active construction of Soviet Russia.”

In July 1924, RKSM was named after V.I. Lenin and it became known as the Russian Leninist Communist Youth Union (RLKSM). In connection with the formation of the USSR (1922), the Komsomol in March 1926 was renamed the All-Union Leninist Communist Youth Union (VLKSM).

From the Komsomol Charter: “The Komsomol is an amateur public organization that unites in its ranks the broad masses of advanced Soviet youth. Komsomol is an active assistant and reserve of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. True to Lenin’s precepts, the Komsomol helps the party educate youth in the spirit of communism, involve them in the practical construction of a new society, and prepare the generation comprehensively developed people who will live, work and manage public affairs under communism. The Komsomol works under the leadership of the Communist Party and is an active implementer of party directives in all areas of communist construction.”

According to the Komsomol Charter, boys and girls aged 14 to 28 were accepted into the Komsomol. Primary organizations of the Komsomol were created at enterprises, collective farms, state farms, educational institutions, institutions, units Soviet army and the fleet. The highest governing body of the Komsomol is the All-Union Congress; directed all the work of the Union between congresses Central Committee Komsomol, which elects the Bureau and Secretariat.

The history of the Komsomol was inextricably linked with the history of the USSR. Komsomol members were active participants in the Civil War of 1918-1920 in the ranks of the Red Army. In commemoration of military merits, the Komsomol in 1928 was awarded the order Red Banner.

For his initiative in socialist competition, the Komsomol was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor in 1931.

For outstanding services to the Motherland at the front and in the rear during the Great Patriotic War, 3.5 thousand Komsomol members were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, 3.5 million Komsomol members were awarded orders and medals; The Komsomol was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1945.

For the work that the Komsomol put into restoring the national economy destroyed by the Nazi invaders, the Komsomol was awarded the second Order of Lenin in 1948.

For his active participation in the development of virgin and fallow lands, the Komsomol was awarded the third Order of Lenin in 1956.

In 1968, in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Lenin Komsomol, the Komsomol was awarded the Order of the October Revolution.

Over the entire history of the Komsomol, more than 200 million people passed through its ranks.

In September 1991, the XXII Extraordinary Congress of the Komsomol considered the political role of the Komsomol as a federation of communist youth unions to be exhausted and announced the self-dissolution of the organization.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

Today we invite you to consider interesting topic, directly related to the history of our country. Namely, the pioneer movement in the USSR. Of course, in a short article we are unlikely to be able to cover all aspects of this large-scale phenomenon. But we will try to give the modern young reader an idea of ​​the basic principles of the existence of a pioneer organization. What was the pioneer movement like? At what age were you accepted as a pioneer? What were they doing?

People aged “forty and older” know very well the answers to these questions - in what class they were accepted into pioneers, how pioneer training camps and meetings were held, what the peers of current schoolchildren did during extracurricular hours. And for representatives of the younger generation below - a small “educational education”.

During the Soviet era, everyone knew the All-Union Pioneer Organization, which bore the name of V.I. Lenin - it could not have been otherwise. This mass children's movement was one of the communist organizations that existed in the USSR. The pioneer organization was formed by the decision of the All-Russian Komsomol Conference in 1922 (May 19). Since then, this day has been celebrated as Pioneer Day.

Initially, the organization was named after Spartak. In 1924, she received the name of Lenin - after his death. The pioneers traced their origins to the scout movement, but a number of aspects significantly distinguished these formations. The pioneering organization had the character of universal state coverage with a clearly expressed goal - the ideological education of children as devotees communist party citizens. Organizationally, the pioneer movement was integral part structure of the Komsomol and was controlled centrally. “Pioneers” in countries of Western culture (in the USA and England) were called reconnaissance soldiers, pioneers who explored new lands.

A little history

The scout movement in Russia at the time of the 1917 revolution was quite developed and consisted of a network of children's organizations. The total number of scouts was about 50,000 people. During the Civil War, scouts assisted in searching for street children, formed children's militia units, and provided social assistance. The motives of scout ideology were based on the postulates of play, work and mutual assistance.

The Bolsheviks decided to combine the principles of the scout movement with communist ideology. Komsomol members, in turn, considered scoutism a bourgeois phenomenon, far from communist ideas. Already in 1919, the congress of the RKSM adopted a resolution to disband scout troops.

At the same time, the need to create our own communist organization children's direction. The idea was formulated by N.K. Krupskaya, who suggested that the Komsomol use scouting methods to create a new children's organization. Initially, this idea was received with extreme caution, but with the adoption of a positive decision in 1921, the search for suitable organizational forms began. The new movement was called "pioneers", which was also borrowed from scouting practice. At what age were you accepted as a pioneer in those years? Initially, it was decided to take the scout movement as the basis for the created Komsomol organization, but subsequently decided to unite younger children in a similar format.

Other symbolism

The symbols of the new children's movement were a slightly modified version of the scout ones. Instead of a green tie, a red one appeared, and a white (rather than green) blouse was also approved. The scout motto “Be Prepared!” remained unchanged. and the answer is “Always ready!” We inherited from scouting the organization of children in the form of groups, gatherings around the fire, playful forms of working with students, and the institute of counselors.

During 1922, many pioneer detachments arose in a number of villages and cities. The age at which people were accepted into pioneers and other formal aspects in those years were not yet strictly regulated. At the congress of the RKSM, it was decided to unite the scattered pioneer detachments into a children's organization of a communist orientation. The movement received its last official name - the All-Union Pioneer Organization named after V.I. Lenin - in March 1926.

About the structure of the pioneer organization

Initially, such organizations were created by RKSM cells in villages, institutions and enterprises. In 1923, their formation ceased to depend on place of residence and moved to schools. They were called “bases” and “outposts”. In fact, communist control was established over the school. Since 1929, the pioneer organization began to rebuild, focusing on school principles. The detachments corresponded to classes, the squads corresponded to schools. The age at which people were accepted as pioneers became uniform in the USSR in those years.

The scale of the organization acquired such a scale that a couple of years later they were talking with condemnation about attempts to extinguish the pioneer movement by merging it with the school system. In addition, there has been a tendency to transfer educational functions from the school to the pioneer movement. The school determined in which class they were accepted as pioneers, established a system of rewards and punishments, etc. But the process nevertheless continued.

Being a centralized link in the communist system, the All-Union Pioneer Movement in the USSR united organizations different levels- republican, regional, regional, district, city, district. The formal basis for organizing a squad at a school or children's educational institution was the presence of three pioneers. If the squad consisted of more than 20 people, it was divided into pioneer detachments.

The groups existing at pioneer camps or orphanages were of different ages. If the detachment consisted of 15 or more people, it was divided into links, at the head of each of which a leader was appointed. In fact, each detachment united students of a particular class, and the squad united students of a particular school.

About the senior pioneers

Changes affected the organization's structure in 1982 with the introduction of the concept of "senior pioneers". In what class were these guys accepted as pioneers? The senior pioneers usually included students in the seventh and eighth grades. They were a kind of intermediate link between pioneers and Komsomol members and wore badges that combined elements of both. In theory, older pioneers were instructed to continue wearing a red tie, but many tried their best to switch to a new uniform.

Who led the organization

The direct leadership of the All-Union Pioneer Organization was entrusted to the Komsomol - Komsomol members. Those, in turn, were controlled by the bodies of the CPSU. Any council of a pioneer organization worked under the leadership of the Komsomol committee. Reports from the councils of the pioneer organization were heard at conferences and congresses of the Komsomol. The leadership of the pioneer organization at all levels was also approved by plenums of Komsomol committees.

Methodological and organizational work with pioneer personnel was organized on the basis of numerous Houses and Palaces of Pioneers, as well as other non-school institutions. Personnel for work in these institutions, in the person of senior counselors, were “supplied” from Komsomol committees, which were involved in their selection, education and advanced training. The leadership of circles, sections, clubs and candidates for the positions of squad leaders were selected in a centralized manner.

If we talk about the so-called pioneer self-government, then supreme body The collective unit (detachment, unit, squad) served as a pioneer gathering. At the gathering of the detachment, schoolchildren were accepted into the pioneers, and the worthy ones were recommended to the ranks of the Komsomol. Assessed the activities of the detachment and planned upcoming work in general (as well as the contribution of each pioneer to the common cause) on the council of the squad. The composition of the detachment was selected by the detachment assembly, the link member was selected by the unit assembly. Each of the councils, in turn, elected its own chairman.

In pioneer organizations at a higher level (All-Union, Republican, regional, territorial, etc.), a pioneer rally, held once every few years, served as a form of self-government. The most active and active elite of the pioneer organization gathered in city headquarters, created under the councils of the pioneer organization at the district or city level.

In what class were you accepted as a pioneer?

Any representative of the older generation will give you the answer to this question. The age when they were accepted into pioneers ranged from 9 to 14 years. A nine- to ten-year-old child was most often a third grader. Here is the answer to the question: “In what class were they previously accepted as pioneers?”

Formally, this action was carried out on a voluntary basis. It was carried out individually in the form of an open vote, held at a meeting of the squad or pioneer detachment. The atmosphere of the event when they were accepted into pioneers was always presented in the USSR in a very pompous manner.

A schoolchild who joined the organization read out a solemn promise to his senior comrades (Komsomol members, communists or other pioneers) on the line. He was given and tied a red tie. Most often, the procedure for admission to pioneers was carried out in a solemn atmosphere and coincided with communist holidays.

Often it was held in some memorable historical and revolutionary place. For example, there was a widespread practice of recruiting pioneers near the Lenin monument on April 22. First of all, the admission of excellent and good students was carried out.

A little ideology

Anyone who joined the ranks of this children's organization was required to know the laws of the pioneers by heart. These postulates taught children to emulate communists, prepare to join the ranks of the Komsomol, study well and actively work for the good of the Motherland, prepare to defend it from enemies, fight for peace and build communism in everything globe. The pioneer was instructed to value the honor of the organization, be a reliable comrade, respect elders and take care of children, and act in accordance with the concepts of duty and honor.

The rights of a pioneer were proclaimed to be the opportunity to participate in the election of pioneer self-government bodies, discuss the work of the organization at meetings and in the press, criticize shortcomings and make proposals at any level, and ask for recommendations for the procedure for joining the Komsomol.

About pioneer camps

For the most part, pioneers spent their school holidays in pioneer camps. Their number in the USSR was enormous - about 40,000 summer and year-round summer and year-round pioneer camps. About 10 million children were sent there on vacation every year. The most famous of them is the All-Union Pioneer Camp international status"Artek". The second most prestigious place was occupied by the All-Russian level camp "Orlyonok", located in the Krasnodar Territory.

The pioneer organization, of course, had its own motto and anthem, ideologically “tied” to the declared goal - educating young fighters for the ideas of the Communist Party. The “March of Young Pioneers,” written back in 1922, was performed as the organization’s anthem. Other attributes of pioneer symbols were the red triangular tie known to any Soviet person and the pioneer badge of the approved form. Other elements of the organization's attributes are the squad banner, squad flags, drums and bugles. None of the solemn pioneer rituals could take place without them.

Each squad had its own pioneer room, in which all these attributes were to be stored. The squad council also met there. Most often, such a room was decorated with a counter of a ritual nature and a Lenin corner. In each class, the pioneers were instructed to publish and hang handwritten detachment and squad wall newspapers.

What did the pioneer uniform look like?

On weekdays they wore regular school uniform along with pioneer symbols in the form of a badge and a red tie. For special occasions, a dress uniform was provided, consisting of red caps in combination with the same ties and badges, uniform white shirts with gilded buttons and emblems on the sleeves (for both boys and girls), blue trousers for boys or the same colors of girls' skirts. In the banner group, the dress uniform was complemented by a red ribbon worn over the shoulder, as well as white gloves.

In the Soviet Union, pioneer magazines and newspapers were published, in addition, a lot of other children's literature. Representatives of the older generation remember very well such publications as “Pionerskaya Pravda” (the main newspaper of the organization), magazines “Koster”, “Pioneer”, etc. Pioneer broadcasts were broadcast on radio and television every day, even in cinemas they played documentary magazines before the start of the film .

About the life of children in those years when they were accepted into pioneers

Many wonderful children's films created during the Soviet period were dedicated to children pioneer age and showed the life of schoolchildren in pioneer camps and detachments. Undoubtedly, these films, despite their ideological “impregnation,” contributed to truly high-quality education of children and adolescents in the USSR. In addition, filmed by true masters of their craft, they were genuine works of cinematic art and it was no coincidence that they were loved by millions of viewers - both children and adults.

The Palaces of Pioneers that existed in each city were repurposed after the dissolution of the Pioneer organization in DDT (Children's Art House) in 1991. The children who visited them in those years were busy collecting scrap metal and waste paper, took part in the military sports game "Zarnitsa", as well as in competitions of football and hockey yard teams organized at the all-Union level. There was even a simplified version of the volleyball game - pioneerball ( team game with a soccer ball).

Voluntary youth fire brigades were organized. The pioneers were involved in all kinds of patrols monitoring the protection of forest and water resources, or as young assistant traffic inspectors on the roads. In addition, many children were engaged in sports sections and circles of various types.