Berlin (1945): Soviet Red Army Soldiers on the Steps of the Reichstag! (7.6.2023)

The Young Communist League allowed for male and female members aged between 14-28 years old. Those deemed psychologically and physically able (and ready to fight) were allowed into the Soviet Red Army. Most were ‘adults’ – but on occasion (and only in specific circumstances) – a very ‘young’ individual was allowed to be recruited! Such individuals usually inhabited ‘behind the lines’ activities involving keeping-up morale in hard times! In the foreground is an example of this process in the form of the 14-year-old son of the Regiment – Zhora Artemenkov (Жора Артеменков)!

USSR: All-Union VI Lenin Pioneer Organisation! (19.5.2022)

Therefore, most Bolsheviks (including Lenin) possessed a dim view of the Scouting Movement – declaring it thoroughly bourgeoise and decadent in nature – and seeing it as a serious encumbrance to building a Socialist State! Furthermore, even at this time, paedophilia had raised its ugly head in the Scout Movement in Russia, (following the tradition developed throughout Western Europe), which saw older men in authority sexually abusing the young boys entrusted into their care. This reflected the tradition of child abuse prevalent throughout the Protestant and Catholic Churches in the West – which was well represented throughout the priesthood of the Russian Orthodox Church! Although the children of the rich were sometimes targeted – the establishment figures preferred to also to target the children of the peasantry knowing that their parents could do nothing about it!