Figure 1.--This 1925 Soviet magazine depicted an early and very committed-looking Young Pioneer. Notice the red kerchief even at this early point. He wears H-bar shorts, not lederhosen, but the style seems a German influence. Also notice the strap shoes. Note the official salute of the boy behind in the poster.

The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917 and the Bolshevicks did not seize control of it untl October. A civil war followed as well as related engagements with neighboring countrieies (Poland and the Baltics) that had been part of Tsarist Russia. The Bolshevick were not in full control of the county until 1922. It was in that year that the first Pioneer units were organized. HBC at this time has not details on chronolgical changes in the Pioneer uniform. There was initially no formal uniform. The children like the boy here simplly wore ared neckerchief with their ordinary clothes. A Russian reader tells us that the children not only wore the red kneckerchief to school and for Pioneer activities, but some children were so proud of their Pioneer kneckerchiefs that they wore it all the time. Russia was a very poor country even before World War I and the Civil War. The coutry was devestated by the early 20s. Only the adoption of market reforms (the New Economic Program) brought life back to the economy. Even o in the 1930s the Soviet Union continued to be a poor country and Stalin;'s return to state socialism and collectivization did not help. There was no definitive Pioneer uniform until 1950. Here the major factor was poverty. Many families could not afford to buy a special outfit for Pioneer activity. Boys wore a great variety of outfits. Boys wore knee-length short pants. Kneepants with buttons at the leg hem were still common. Some of the shorts were also very baggy. Boys wore both long stockings and kneesocks. Knee socks were distributed to some Pioneers. Ankle socks were very rare. Many children went without socks and stockings. Boots were common. I am not sure if there was any formal uniform at all adopted for the Pioneers. There may have been a uniform wore by a few childen or units for show occassions, but it does not appear to have been commonly worn. We believe that red scarves were extensively worn, but are not sure about complete uniforms.