Figure 1.-- A Soviet TV serial entitled "Nikolay Vavilov" was broadcast in 1990. One scene from the shows shows a a squad of Young Pioneers that participated in the Young Naturalists program (Yunnaty). They are shown participating in the opening ceremonies of the the annual meeting of the USSR Agricultural Sciences Academy (VASHNIL) in 1938. Vavilov was a notable botonist that ran afoul of Stalin.

Surely the Communist countries must have made films about Pioneers. HBC has limited information on this because we have seen few Russian or Eastern European movies. Our Russian areaders have begun to provide some information about Young Pioneer movies. A Russian reader tells us that Young Pioneers were prominatly featured in many Soviet-era films. We have less informatuin about Eastern Europe, Cuba, and Asian Communist (China, North Korea, and Vietnam countries. We hope to One interesting question is why so many films about the Hitler Youth, or at least touching on the Hitler Youth, were made in America and other European countries, while the Communist Young Pioneers were never the subject of movies in non-comunist countries. We do not even know of American films in which Young Pioneers were even mentioned or seen in back ground scenes as is common in films about NAZI Germany where the appearance of HJ boys is almost inevitable. We have found some movies in which Young Pioneers are depicted.

Communist Films

Surely the Communist countries must have made films about Pioneers. HBC has limited information on this because we have seen few Russian or Eastern European movies. Our Russian areaders have begun to provide some information about Young Pioneer movies.

Country Trends

We are assessing both films made in Communist countries and in non-Communist countries. The Young Pioneers had more of an impact on the Soviet Union than any other country. This is because the Communist ruiled longer in Russia than any other country and they had the largest Young Pioneer movement (with the excption of China). A Russian reader tells us that Young Pioneers were prominatly featured in many Soviet-era films. A Russian reader tells us, "Certainly, the Soviet film industry produced a lot of movies about the Young Pioneers. Almost all (99 percent) of pupils older than 9 years old were young pioneers in the USSR. So it is almost impossible to find a movie about Soviet children without depictions of young pioneers. Since The Young Pioneers Organization existed longer than the Hithler Youth, the Pioneer organization and its depictions in films varied greatly over time. The Pioneers are less commonly pictured since the demise of the Soviet Union. We have less informatuin about Eastern Europe, Cuba, and Asian Communist (China, North Korea, and Vietnam) countries. We hope to One interesting question is why so many films about the Hitler Youth, or at least touching on the Hitler Youth, were made in America and other European countries, while the Communist Young Pioneers were never the subject of movies in non-communist countries. We do not even know of American films in which Young Pioneers were even mentioned or seen in back ground scenes as is common in films about NAZI Germany where the appearance of HJ boys is almost inevitable.

Specific Movies

We have found some movies in which Young Pioneers are depicted. Here we include both films made in Communist countries and those made in other countries about Communist countries. As HBC expands we are gradually adding additional films to further our assessment of Young Pioneer films.

Created: 9:03 AM 12/7/2008
Last updated: 9:03 AM 12/7/2008