Figure 1.--This image appeared in Life during 1941, almost certainly after the German invasion. We suspect this was a file photo that the magazine had on hand. It is not the kind of image that the Soviet Union would have released while engaged in its aggressions (1939-41). Hollywood never had to shift gear having never made anti-Soviet films. Thus it was probably taken some time during the 1930s. Notice in particular the Civil War-era Red Army caps with the big red star--the budenovka.

This image appeared in Life during 1941, almost certainly after the German invasion. We suspect this was a file photo that the magazine had on hand. It is not the kind of image that the Soviet Union would have released while engaged in its aggressions (1939-41). Hollywood never had to shift gear having never made anti-Soviet films. Thus it was probably taken some time during the 1930s. It shows three school boys, probably about 7-8 years old, playing Red Army soldiers. It must have been at school, because they had Red Army uniforms. For some reasoms the uniforms have elasticized wrists. The boys would not have had standardized uniforms and rifles if they were at home. Notice in particular the Civil War-era Red Army caps with the big red star. They were called budenovkas. I must say at that age I would have loved to have put on army uniforms, been given rifles and allowed to build a fort with the class furniture. I don't recall any of that kind of activity in school. We were hard at work on our multiplication tables. I am not sure how common such activities were in Soviet schools. We do not know if this was common or if the boys were simply chosen to pose for a photograph. We wonder if regulsrr schools had uniforms and equipment for a whole class. You know they loved the whole experience. Imaginative teachers now use games and role playing to involve younger children. This was not common when I was in school. Another important point is that too often brcause teachers in primary school are mostly women, often class room activities appeal more to the girls than boys. Activities like this would have really interested most boys. Apparently the uniforms were just the caps and slippover jumper. You can see that the rest was their normal short pants, long stiokings, and high-top shoes.

Created: 1:58 AM 2/1/2011
Last updated: 1:58 AM 2/1/2011