Leninist Komsomol: the birth of the Komsomol in the USSR. About the work of the Komsomol in the countryside The first year of joining the Komsomol
Komsomol is a mass patriotic organization of Soviet youth. There are no other examples in history of a youth movement that, over the years of its existence, has reached more than 160 million people and could boast of real achievements. The Civil War, five-year labor plans, heroism during the Great Patriotic War, virgin lands, Komsomol shock construction projects - all this is the Komsomol. The birth of the Komsomol is not an act imposed from above, it is the unification of the energy and heat of the hearts of young people who dream of being useful to their Motherland.
Background
The initiator and ideologist of the organizational completion of attempts to create numerous youth groups was V.I. Lenin. And they were created even before the revolution. At first, youth primary groups were formed within the party and united workers and students. It was the students who were the most revolutionary class of that time. During the period of Dual Power (February-October 1917), when history could have turned either towards the bourgeois or towards the socialist system, N.K. Krupskaya and V.I. Lenin developed a program of revolutionary youth associations.
Organizations were created in large cities that became the basis for creating a structure on an all-Russian scale. For example, the SSRM (Union of Socialist Working Youth) in Petrograd, approaching the birthday of the Komsomol.
Congress of Workers' and Peasants' Youth
At the height of the Civil War (1918), the first congress of delegates from scattered youth organizations throughout the country took place in Moscow. 176 people came from everywhere: from territories captured by the White Guards, as well as German army(Ukraine Poland); from the separated Finland and the self-proclaimed Baltic republics, as well as from Japanese-occupied Vladivostok. They were united by the desire to create a new power built on the principles of justice. The opening day of the congress (October 29) will go down in history as the birthday of the Komsomol, which united more than 22 thousand people.
In the adopted charter and program all-Russian organization it was said that it was independent, but acted under the leadership of the Communist Party, which determined its ideological orientation. The main speaker was Lazar Abramovich Shatskin, the author of the program. His name is little known in the country, because within a few years he would be shot for being accused of Trotskyism. Like many other first secretaries of the Central Committee who headed the organization up to
Symbols of RKSM
The lists of delegates to the first congress were not preserved even in the archives. Subsequently, the task arose of identifying membership in an organization called RKSM (Russian Communist Youth Union). Already in 1919, Komsomol tickets appeared. In conditions civil war, during which the Central Committee announced three mobilizations, they were kept and protected at the cost of life. A little later the first icons appeared. Their release, at first in insufficient quantities, was carried out by the Komsomol itself. The birth of the Komsomol was immortalized with four letters RKSM against the background of a flag with a star. Badges were also awarded to the best representatives of the organization.
Since 1922, a new uniform form was approved with the abbreviation KIM, meaning youth. The form would also change in 1947, acquiring its final form only in 1956. It will already be awarded to everyone joining the ranks of the organization along with a Komsomol card.
Komsomol tasks
In 1920, the Civil War was still ongoing, but it became clear that the Red Army was winning. This posed serious tasks for the Bolshevik Party to restore the destroyed economy, create the country’s energy base and create a new society. The state needed competent personnel, so 2.10. 1920 at the next (IIIrd) Komsomol congress V.I. made a speech. Lenin, who defined the mission of the newly created organization: to study communism. It already consisted of 482 thousand people.
In the year the Komsomol was born, it was important to win, but now it was necessary to form the generation that was to live in different social conditions. The military front was to be replaced by a labor front. Grandiose achievements in the pre-war years became possible thanks to the participation of working youth in collectivization, Komsomol construction projects, patronage of general education, the movement of “thousanders” (who fulfilled the plan 1000%) and obtaining higher professional education (rabfak). Many Western analysts believed that the success of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War became possible thanks to the education of a person of a new formation, putting the interests of the country above personal ones, in which the Komsomol succeeded.
The birth of the Komsomol: the name of V. I. Lenin
In January 1924, the country was shocked by the news of the death of V.I. Lenin, the leader of the world proletariat and leader of the country. In the summer of the same year, the VI Congress of the RKSM took place, at which the issue of naming the Komsomol after V.I. Lenin was decided. The address spoke of a firm determination to live, fight and work like Lenin. His book “Tasks of Youth Unions” became a reference book for every Komsomol member.
Birthday Lenin Komsomol(12.07) added the letter “L” to the abbreviation of the organization’s name, and over the next two years it was called RLKSM.
Status of an all-Union organization
The date is considered to be December 30, 1922, when four republics became part of the union state: the RSFSR, the Byelorussian SSR, the Ukrainian SSR and the Transcaucasian SFSR. The Komsomol organization received all-Union status in 1926 at the VII Congress. The birthday of the USSR Komsomol is March 11, while the Komsomol of all union republics was preserved. This structure existed until the Komsomol was alive. The birth of the Komsomol in 1918 ended with its self-dissolution in September 1991, which was associated with the collapse of the Union. Despite the emergence of organizations that consider themselves the legal successors of the Komsomol - the Komsomol of the Russian Federation, the RKSM, the RKSM (b), such a mass structure no longer exists in the history of the country. In 1977, its members were 36 million people, almost the entire population of the country from 14 to 28 years old.
We have already talked about what a huge role Komsomol organizations play in the countryside, what responsibility the party assigns to them. A strong, united Komsomol organization enjoys great influence among collective farm youth, and advanced collective farm youth here join the Komsomol. The more advanced youth the primary Komsomol organization unites in its ranks, the greater will be its influence on the entire course of affairs on the collective farm, the more assistance it will be able to provide to the country and the front.
Often Komsomol organizations cannot have a serious influence on collective farm affairs simply because they are small in number. And we still have many such organizations. They usually consist of 35 Komsomol members, while on the collective farm there are dozens of young men and women who honestly work in the artel farm, worthy of being in the ranks of the Komsomol.
This situation can only be explained by the fact that Komsomol members do not show initiative, have poor connections with young people, and do not involve them in their work.
Young people are now the decisive force in collective farms, state farms and MTS. Therefore, involving her in the ranks of the Komsomol, attracting her to active work in the Komsomol is of particular importance.
There are many collective farms with 50 or more Komsomol members. On such collective farms, work is carried out better. This is explained by the fact that the Komsomol organization here constantly works with young people, attracts them to all its endeavors, and captivates them with interesting cultural work. Secretaries and committee members often talk with the best young collective farmers, who have won great respect for their selfless work, about the Komsomol, telling them about the heroic past of the youth union, about the military exploits of Komsomol members on the fronts of the Patriotic War. And progressive youth willingly join the Komsomol.
Experience is very revealing in this regard. Komsomol organization collective farm "New Way" Kostroma region Yaroslavl region, which was mentioned in previous chapters of this book. In a short period of time, the Komsomol organization here grew from 3 to 50 Komsomol members.
How did your friendship with young people begin? At first, Komsomol members created a drama club. Many young collective farmers signed up for it. The performances captivated them. They came to the club every evening. It was always interesting and fun here: a play was being rehearsed, a choir group practice was held, dancing was started to the sounds of an accordion, someone was reading an interesting book out loud in a quiet room. And all this was organized by Komsomol members with the very active participation of non-union youth. Evenings are held here, at which all the youth of the collective farm are present.
Often, after a day of work, Komsomol members went as a group to the city to watch a play or a new movie. They were usually joined by many young people. In winter, ski training was held here, followed by ski trips.
Committee secretary Zina Kashitsyna and other activists often talk with young collective farmers about the hysteria of the Komsomol, introducing them to the charter and program of the Komsomol.
Well-organized cultural work brought Komsomol members closer to non-union youth. Thanks to this work, progressive youth apply to join the Komsomol. So the organization grew stronger and became a great force on the collective farm.
This advanced experience is available to every Komsomol organization of the collective farm.
There are many ways to attract young people into the ranks of the Komsomol. This depends on the desire of the Komsomol members themselves to expand and strengthen their organization, on their initiative and ability to work among young people.
Who can become a member of the Komsomol?
The Komsomol Charter answers this question as follows: “Advanced, proven, loyal youth from among workers, peasants and office employees are accepted as members of the Komsomol.”
The age for joining the Komsomol is set from 14 to 26 years.
Who can be considered the leading man of the collective farm village? Someone who works honestly, selflessly in the fields, who makes every effort to give the front more agricultural products, who sets an example of exemplary fulfillment of his duty to his homeland.
The secretary of the primary organization, Komsomol activists must tell a young man or girl who wants to join and is worthy of being accepted into the Komsomol about the heroic past of the Komsomol, about how young people bearing the high rank of members of the Leninist Komsomol participated in the socialist construction of our country, how they Now they are defending the gains of October with arms in hand. The materials published in the first two chapters of this book will help the Komsomol member to conduct such conversations.
A person joining the Komsomol must be introduced to the Komsomol charter and program, and then help him find recommenders and fill out a form.
Each person joining the Komsomol submits recommendations from two Komsomol members with one year of experience or one party member. The correctness of the information specified in the application form and the recommendations are checked by the Komsomol committee or the secretary of the organization before discussing the issue of admission. Then the issue of admission is considered at a meeting of the committee of the primary organization, and then at a general meeting of Komsomol members. The decision on admission to the Komsomol comes into force after its approval by the bureau of the district or city committee of the Komsomol. The Komsomol length of service of a member is calculated from the date of the decision of the general meeting to admit him to the ranks of the Komsomol.
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 an example for pioneer movement served in scouting. 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 famous figures, such as 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 children's association“scouting in form and communist in content.” Later, the idea of creating a children's communist movement was put forward. 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!” It was similar to tradition scout movement, but has been partially changed. 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 Great Victory Day; children, along with adults, experienced all the hardships and horrors of wartime.
In the fifties, certain processes took place in the pioneer organization that entailed a change in its active position and a loss of independence in decision-making; its work became more and more 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 in the country, public and political life. 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 palaces of the pioneers came under the control of the municipalities and began to be called “Houses children's creativity", and 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.
Natasha was 14 years old when, from June 21 to 22, she traveled by train with many peers to Grodno for a youth rally, where she, along with others, was to be accepted into the Komsomol. She was still wearing a pioneer tie, a pioneer camp-festive uniform with all its accessories - white clean socks, which were pulled over thin tights, because it could be cold on the road, under a thin field-tailored jacket there was a white shirt, which was crowned with a red tie and a brown school skirt with piquant frills.
At the beginning of five in the morning, something unimaginable began: explosions all around, an air raid on the train, where half of it was bombed, screams, horror. It was about 50 km to Grodno. We remained in a stop, somewhere in a field near the highway, which lay parallel to the railway tracks.
The survivors, including Natasha, gripped with fear, looked in alarm through the windows of the carriages from which they did not leave, as on the western side, after the silence that followed, the noise grew. A few minutes later, tanks and cars in which they were sitting began to drive past on the highway. German soldiers. Seeing all this, involuntarily, for a moment, the memory of the day before yesterday flashed in the mind of the pioneer, where she stood on watch at the monument to the hero of the Civil War at the ceremonial line in the same clothes. She stood proudly, knowing that not a single enemy would get into her homeland and that she herself would always be under the protection of such heroes, at whose obelisks she then stood.
But the enemy broke through. A huge mechanized column, raising dust, crawled to the east and did not pay any attention to them. It seemed like there was no end to it, but finally it dried up and everyone took a breath. The sun had already fully come into its own.
But then the noise of engines was heard again. This time the soldiers were somehow different from those who had advanced earlier. These have already stopped. In some places they forcefully expelled everyone from the carriages. They beat some people with rifle butts, and they shot several people, including children. They lined everyone up at the slope. The officer walked along the line and assessed everyone with his eyes. He walked past Natasha, but then suddenly returned and, taking her roughly by the shoulder, led her far to the side. The same thing happened to several other girls. They were all taken to the bus, except for Natasha, the officer put her in his car. He gave some orders and negotiated with some other officer for a long time. It looked like they were even arguing. But this first one returned and fell heavily into Natasha’s back seat and said something to the driver. He turned around and went to reverse side. When they drove a certain distance, similar shots barely reached Natasha’s ears, but they were not single, but like volleys.
We drove for quite a long time, about four hours at a decent speed. At first everything around was smoking, then the picture changed. Along the road there were some inscriptions in Polish and German. Finally they turned into the depths of the forest. All this time the officer was silent, as if he were a mummy. Distracted anxiety reigned in the girl's head. They drove along the forest road for about 20 more km and finally entered some gates. The officer got out of the car and said to Natasha in broken Russian:
-Come out! Don't be afraid. This is your temporary camp.
The word “camp” sounded to the girl’s ear with a certain hope, because she was the original one and was going to the camp for a rally. They walked past the barracks, where people appeared in certain clothes. There was more sadness on the faces of these people than joy. They looked at the girl with a doomed expression.
Natasha obediently walked forward. She was given nothing else at this time. They followed the back streets and entered the room. Here the officer ordered her to sit at a distance in front of the table and, taking something on the form, began to ask:
-What is your name?-
“Natasha,” the schoolgirl answered quietly.
-How old are you, Natasha? - the officer asked politely.
-It's fourteen now-
-Where were you going? - the German asked unnaturally tenderly.
-I was going to a youth rally-
-For a youth rally? - the interrogator asked sympathetically and softly. - What is a rally and what do they do there? - the interlocutor added in the voice of a storyteller.
“There are a lot of young people there,” Natasha perked up slightly, “and there I was supposed to be accepted into the Komsomol.” I'm still a pioneer now.
“Pioneer...?” the German asked somehow strangely, and his gaze slid towards the girl’s knees, which were shyly pressed close to each other.
“Ah, I heard!” the German said with peculiar softness. - Pioneers are friendly guys! You are taught not to lie, to help the elderly, to sing, to dance and to love your homeland……..
“Yes,” Natasha answered with sympathy, but somewhat modestly. A glimmer of a smile appeared on her face.
“You are a very good girl,” the officer flatteringly praised. “But I didn’t have time to join the Komsomol,” he continued. Then he added, “Are Komsomol members even better than pioneers?”
“Yes, of course,” Natasha perked up even more. - They are much more worthy and stronger.....
-Yes Yes Yes! Stronger! - the German confirmed. - I know. Komsomol members are honest, like you, pure in body and heart, like you. You deserve to be a Komsomol member…….
Natasha was slightly embarrassed by the praise and felt that everything would be fine. Then suddenly she asked:
-Isn’t this a war?
The German smiled cordially, thought a little and answered:
-No, of course, this is not a war. These are big exercises between Germany and the Great Stalin. We agreed to make them so that everyone would believe that this is really so. But everything is not real. Everything, as your pioneers say, is all make-believe.
The officer suddenly looked sloppy and said:
-Oh, I let it slip to you... I told you the whole secret. Now how can we honorably accept you into the Komsomol if you already know everything? But the idea was that supposedly the enemy gave you a test, even on pain of death, but you survived, did not betray the Komsomol, which you will have to join with dignity...
Natasha's eyes sparkled:
-So you are going to accept me into the Komsomol here now!? - she said joyfully.
-Yes, comrade pioneer! - the officer said affirmatively. - Now and right here! But since I’ve already told you a little secret, then let’s, despite this, let’s take this more seriously and formally go through with you all the conditions for worthy admission into the Komsomol, where you will supposedly withstand the tests and courageously accept the title A STRONG and HONEST KOMSOMOLE MEMBER. Then I will personally telegraph Comrade Stalin himself about your high patriotism.....
Natasha again saw an image of herself, where she stands with honor at the obelisk.
The German stood up. Natasha, in her purity, was unable to pay attention to the fact that the officer’s trouser leg bulged out greatly in the area of the fly. He took a couple of candies from the table and, untwisting their candy wrappers, handed them to the teenager.
“Here, have some sweetener and refresh yourself before the exam,” he told her and, when she had already begun to swallow the first candy, he somehow strangely, with his large palm, almost completely clasped her thin delicate neck, with two index fingers he pressed on her trachea, which was dancing as she swallowed, felt her pulse, and then embarrassedly let go, with the direct look of her slightly perplexed eyes.
You have the strong neck of a Komsomol member! - he said almost solemnly, and then a little more moderately, - And we will break them...!
“What should I break?” without suspecting anything, Natasha asked with slight misunderstanding.
“To break our enemies,” the German clarified. Then he said, “Sit here for a while, I’ll go do something.” Here's some more candy for you, don't be shy, eat it. Here's some lemonade, drink it. There is no cake. Swallow everything, then we will give all the plumbing a major preventive maintenance, clamp all the pipes, clean some places………
Natasha's eyes responded with a lack of understanding of the topic. He caught it and said: “I’m just kidding, don’t be embarrassed.” Tomorrow you will go home. We’ll telegraph your mom to meet you……..
The German returned an hour later. During this time, he thoroughly prepared everything for “joining the Komsomol” and agreed with his superiors that he still had somewhat unresolved matters in the Polish rear, where he might return to the proposal that his work would still continue for some time here in camp, in the light of the ideas and plans of the Reich. He still couldn’t tell himself exactly what he should actually do next, move forward eastward, towards great deeds and victories, or stay here. He was brought back here, unexpectedly for himself, by the impulse of suddenly taking over the life of a juicy schoolgirl. He had never personally hanged anyone before. He stupidly shot all sorts of goons, as it seemed to him, and he did it with a sense of duty. But, here she is. Maybe she reminded him of someone? Maybe yes. Probably my first unrequited love. She then owned it completely, but it was not in demand. He suffered for a long time. I was ready to throw myself at her feet. He hated her and at the same time loved her dearly. As time went. But what could he do? He often tore her clothes in his thoughts and tore her legs apart. Lust, instead of love, took possession of him more and more. And finally, one day an impulse came to hang her passionately. But the law, society, opinions, etc. All these foundations. He could only hang her in his fantasies, where she remained at the same school age at which he first fell in love with her and fell madly in love.
But then came the war, and he met it. Let her name be Natasha, it makes no difference. After all, she looks so much like her and is dressed the same way. This is the only chance. Yes, he has practically never hanged women, especially girls. But this is war! There are no longer laws, prosecutors, investigations, society and its opinions, morality. And most importantly, the Fuhrer said - kill everyone!!! I will be responsible for this!!!
Yes! - the officer repeated to himself. - The Fuhrer said so! And he, and not I, will be answerable to GOD for this.
He couldn't think any further. He was already burning with passion. The member was literally torn through the riding breeches. The smell of the first wet dreams could already be heard.
She sat in the same place and looked at him confidentially. It was clear that she was even a little bored. For her there was no war, there was only the thought of how cunningly and wisely the authorities arranged for her and all the other peers to be admitted to the Komsomol. She was already looking forward to bragging about it to her boys.
He approached her. Now, despite the fact that he convinced himself to decide on this, at the same time he became embarrassed by her. After all, SHE was in front of him! But feelings and thoughts feverishly began to change. Either the dirty Slavs, then suddenly SHE again. For a moment he was overcome with panic that he was about to miss her. He carefully lifted her from the chair by the shoulders and said in a slightly trembling voice, “Helga, it’s time……….”
After the victory October revolution Red children's organizations, groups and associations arose in various cities. May 19, 1922 2nd All-Russian Conference The Komsomol decided to create pioneer units everywhere.
In the first years of Soviet power, pioneers helped street children and fought against illiteracy, collected books and set up libraries, studied in technical circles, cared for animals, went on geological hikes, nature study expeditions, collected medicinal plants. The pioneers worked on collective farms, in the fields, guarded crops and collective farm property, wrote letters to newspapers or to the relevant authorities about violations that they noticed around them.
"AiF" recalls how in Soviet time Octoberists, pioneers and those who could become Komsomol members were accepted.
From what class were you accepted into October?
Schoolchildren in grades 1–3 became Octobrists, united on a voluntary basis into groups under the school’s pioneer squad. The groups were led by counselors from among the school's pioneers or Komsomol members. In these groups, children prepared to join the All-Union Pioneer Organization named after V.I. Lenin.
Upon joining the ranks of the Octobrists, children were given a badge - a five-pointed star with a child's portrait of Lenin. The symbol was the red October flag.
In honor of the victory of the October Revolution, since 1923, schoolchildren were called “Octobers.” The Octobrists were united into stars (analogous to the pioneer unit) - October 5 and also the “sickle” and “hammer” - the leader of the star and his assistant. In an asterisk, an October child could occupy one of the positions - commander, florist, orderly, librarian or sportsman.
In the last decades of Soviet power, all students were accepted in October primary school, usually already in first grade.
Who were accepted as pioneers?
The pioneer organization accepted schoolchildren aged 9 to 14 years. Formally, admission was carried out on a voluntary basis. The selection of candidates was made by open voting at a meeting of the pioneer detachment (usually corresponding to the class) or at the highest - at the school level - pioneer body: the Council of the squad.
A student joining a pioneer organization gave the solemn promise of a pioneer at the pioneer assembly Soviet Union(The text of the promise could be seen on the back cover of school notebooks in the 1980s). A communist, Komsomol member or senior pioneer presented the newcomer with a red pioneer tie and a pioneer badge. The pioneer tie was a symbol of belonging to the pioneer organization, a part of its banner. The three ends of the tie symbolized the unbreakable connection of three generations: communists, Komsomol members and pioneers; the pioneer was obliged to take care of his tie and protect it.
The pioneers' greeting was a salute - a hand raised just above the head demonstrated that the pioneer put public interests above personal ones. "Be ready!" - the leader called on the pioneers and heard in response: “Always ready!”
As a rule, pioneers were accepted into a solemn atmosphere during communist holidays in memorable historical and revolutionary places, for example on April 22 near the monument to V.I. Lenin.
Punishments were applied to members of the organization who violated the Laws of the Pioneers of the Soviet Union: discussion at a meeting of the unit, detachment, or squad council; comment; exception warning; as a last resort - exclusion from the pioneer organization. They could be expelled from the pioneers for unsatisfactory behavior and hooliganism.
Collecting scrap metal and waste paper and other types of socially useful work, helping elementary school students, participating in military sports “Zarnitsa”, classes in clubs and, of course, excellent studies - this is what the pioneer’s everyday life was filled with.
How did you become a Komsomol member?
They became Komsomol members at the age of 14. The reception was carried out individually. To apply, you needed a recommendation from a communist or two Komsomol members with at least 10 months of experience. After this, the application could be accepted for consideration by the school Komsomol organization, or it could not be accepted if the submitter was not considered a worthy figure.
Those whose application was accepted were scheduled for an interview with the Komsomol committee (council of Komsomol members) and a representative of the district committee. To pass the interview, you had to memorize the Komsomol charter, the names of the key leaders of the Komsomol and the party, important dates and the main thing is to answer the question: “Why do you want to become a Komsomol member?”
Any of the committee members could ask a tricky question during the trial stage. If the candidate successfully passed the interview, he was given a Komsomol card, which documented the payment of dues. Schoolchildren and students paid 2 kopecks. per month, working - one percent of salary.
They could be expelled from the Komsomol for sloppiness, going to church, for non-payment of membership dues, or for family troubles. Expulsion from the organization threatened the lack of good prospects and career in the future. Former Komsomol member did not have the right to join the party, go abroad, and in some cases he was threatened with dismissal from his job.
