Photo: ircomp.ru
Pioneers in the USSR
On May 19, 1922, at the 2nd All-Russian Conference of the Komsomol, a decision was made on the universal creation of pioneer detachments. According to Krupskaya's idea, the children's organization was to be based on the principles of the scout movement. The name "pioneer" in French means "pioneer", and so the participants of the organization were named
19 мая 1922 года на 2-й Всероссийской конференции ВЛКСМ было принято решение о повсеместном создании пионерских отрядов. По замыслу Крупской, детская организация должна была основываться на принципах скаутского движения. Название "pioneer" по-французски означает "первопроходец", и так были названы участники организации
Later, schools began to create outposts and bases that united children regardless of their place of residence. At the end of the 1930s, pioneers began to be attracted to military defense work, circles of young shooters, orderlies, signalmen were organized, and military sports games were also held. During the Great Patriotic War, members of the organization actively helped in hospitals, factories, fields and in the rear.
By 1970, there were more than 118 thousand detachments in the World Pioneer Organization, which united 23 million pioneers. Over the entire period of its work, more than 210 million people have passed through the All-Union Pioneer Organization.
Symbols and rituals in the pioneer organization
The appearance of the pioneers was based on the clothes of the scouts, the difference was only in color. The pioneers did not wear green shirts, but white, as well as red ties with three ends, which symbolized the connection between three generations: communists, Komsomol members and pioneers.
The children's uniform included a cap and a red handkerchief, which was tied to the neck. On the white shirt there were badges of organizations and ranks. Outdoors, for convenience, brown polo shirts were used. Boys wore long or short pants depending on the time of year, and girls wore skirts.
The salute was a universal greeting used by the pioneers. The hand raised slightly above the head symbolized the priority of public interests over personal ones.
The pioneers performed the salute, both in formation and out of formation, in various situations. For example, when performing hymns such as "The International", the anthem of the Soviet Union and the anthems of the Union republics, when responding to the pioneer motto, when indicating "Alignment to the banner!" or "Alignment to the flag!", as well as at the Mausoleum, monuments to V. I. Lenin and monuments to fallen heroes. The salute was also performed when submitting a report, changing the guard at the banner, declaring gratitude before the formation, awarding, receiving a Red banner, a detachment flag or pioneer attributes, as well as when greeting the military and pioneer formation. During the parade or the line, passing by the stands, the pioneers performed the command "Attention!" with an alignment to the right or to the left. The salute was also given during the greeting of the leaders of the pioneer organization and honorary pioneers, while the salute was performed only by the senior leader leading the column, the chairman of the council of the squad, squad leaders, chairmen of the councils of detachments and assistants at the banner.
The Law of Pioneers of the Soviet Union all the pioneers had to know by heart:
Goals of the pioneer organization
Пионер готовится стать комсомольцем.
Пионер равняется на героев борьбы и труда.
Пионер чтит память погибших борцов и готовится стать защитником Отечества.
Пионер — лучший в учебе, труде и спорте.
Пионер — честный и верный товарищ, всегда смело стоящий за правду.
Пионер — товарищ и вожатый октябрят.
Пионер — друг пионерам и детям трудящихся всех стран.
Goals of the pioneer organization
The main goal of the All-Union pioneer organization was to educate children in the spirit of Soviet ideology, including communist principles, patriotism, hard work and collectivism. The pioneers actively participated in various nationally significant events. During the 1920s and 1930s, they fought illiteracy, raised funds for the construction of factories and airplanes, and campaigned for the creation of collective farms. In 1940, the Timur movement appeared in the pioneer organization, inspired by the popular book by A. Gaidar "Timur and his team". Timurov residents helped families of veterans, collected scrap metal and medicinal plants. During the Great Patriotic War, many pioneers joined the ranks of the Red Army and partisan detachments.
In the 1960s, the pioneer organization was given a new impetus by the communal movement, which arose on the initiative of Leningrad teachers, under the leadership of I. P. Ivanov. The center of communalism was the All-Union camp "Orlyonok", opened in 1960 on the Black Sea coast. Teachers-communards sought to return the purity of ideals to the pioneers, to restore democratic principles and a creative approach. However, the experience of the communal movement was not widely spread and developed only in individual detachments, squads and district pioneer headquarters.
In 1989, at the 10th meeting of pioneers, it was decided to transform the All—Union Pioneer Organization named after V. I. Lenin into the Union of Pioneer Organizations (Federation of Children's Organizations) - SPO (FDO). In the early 1990s, the SPO (FDO), as a single all-Union organization, collapsed, and many different children's organizations appeared in its place.
Movement of the first
The Movement of the First is an all-Russian socio-state movement created on July 14, 2022 at the initiative of the Russian leadership, for the education, organization of leisure for teenagers, and the formation of a worldview "based on traditional Russian spiritual and moral values." Branches of the movement have opened in every municipality of Russia, and primary cells of the movement can be created in every school.
The bill on the creation of the movement was submitted to the State Duma on the day of the 100th anniversary of the Soviet pioneer organization. They are accepted into the organization from 6 to 18 years old, it will be possible to stay in it until graduation from school or college, and adults (including adult students) can become mentors of the movement and organize events.
The Organization is under the direct supervision of the President of Russia, who exercises direct control over all three permanent governing bodies: the Supervisory Board, the coordinating Council and the Management Board. The Supervisory Board of the movement is headed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the chairmanship of the movement is headed by Grigory Gurov.
According to some data, at the beginning of autumn 2023, more than a million people joined 30 thousand cells of the organization throughout Russia, including in the new regions of the Russian Federation. The new movement includes the "Russian Movement of Schoolchildren" and other large children's associations. The military-patriotic movement "Yunarmiya" also formally became part of the new organization.
Visual concept
The logo of the "Movement of the First" was a symbol presented in the form of the number "1" and the word "First".
This symbol expresses unity, initiative, the desire to be together, activity, responsibility, leadership and mutual assistance. It symbolizes creative ideas, new knowledge and perspectives.
The unique visual concept includes three key meanings:
- The image looks minimalistic.
- The symbol "red tie" is a symbol of the continuity of generations and a large-scale domestic children's movement.
- The number "1" has the meaning of real children, their desire to be the first in everything, which they confirmed in their Declaration adopted at the 1st Congress of the Movement. This figure symbolizes unity, common values, common mission and unity of the community of the "Firsts" in the country.
The new visual concept symbolizes constant movement and striving for progress and development.
Goals of the movement
The main values of the "Movement of the First" are life and dignity, patriotism and friendship.
The main values of the "Movement of the First" are life and dignity, patriotism and friendship.
- Promoting public policy in the interests of children and youth
- Assistance in the upbringing of children, their professional orientation and leisure activities
- Creating equal opportunities for the comprehensive development and self-realization of children and youth.
- Preparing children and young people for a full life in society, including the formation of their worldview based on traditional Russian spiritual and moral values
The activities of the participants are guided by adult mentors, such as teachers, parents and activists.
By participating in the projects and initiatives of the "Movement of the First", children get the opportunity to complete internships and courses, meet with artists, attend cultural events, consult with experts and much more.
At the moment, members of the movement can take part in initiatives in the following areas:
- education and knowledge;
- science and technology;
- work, profession and your business;
- culture and art;
- volunteering and volunteering;
- patriotism and historical memory;
- sport
"They have chosen very good and right things as goals, missions, tasks of the children's movement. Honestly, I am no longer suitable for the children's movement by age, but according to my beliefs and values, I am ready to sign under each of them, because the mission they formulated is to be with Russia, to be a person, to be together. And this work is a team effort. It is very important for them to be on the move. This means not only in the organization — in constant development and in constant motion, but also to be the first"
— Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration
The "first" new pioneers?
Pioneria, which played a significant role in the past, gave an understanding of consistency within the framework of a public state organization. The "Movement of the First" retains this consistency. The main task of the RDDM is to be close to young people and children, taking into account their interests and priorities.
The main difference from pioneer is that the "Movement of the First" builds infrastructure in such a way that the initiative comes from the children themselves. The Russian movement of children and Youth was created by the initiative of the children themselves, while the pioneer arose on the initiative of the state.
However, the most important thing is that both RDDM and pioneria have similar values. The modern values of the RDDM, such as "Life and dignity", "Patriotism", "Goodness and Justice", as well as the slogans "To be with Russia", "To be a man", "To be together", "To be on the Move", "To be the first", fully correspond to the ideology of pioneer.
