YOUTH AND THE DICTATORS

Evening Star, Issue 23370, 13 September 1939, Page 10

YOUTH AND THE DICTATORS

RIGID CONTROL RUSSIA SETS IKE MODEL Young people in dictator countries, states the ‘ Weekly News Review,’ Washington, are inarched drilled, andl exercised like soldiers. The youth organisations' of Communist Russia supplied the models for Hitler and Mussolini. There are three youth organisations in Russia, all under the rigid control of the Government. Young people between the ages of seven and 10 may belong to the Octobrists; those between the ages of 10 andl 16 may join the Young Pioneers; and those ' between the ages of 15 and 26 may be members of the Komsomol, the most important youth organisation in Russia. Altogther, nearly 14,000,000 young Russians belong to these three organisations. This is not all the youth of Russia, but it includes all those who are in good standing with the Government and who are being trained for future leadership. There are many young Russians who are barred from the organisations because they or their parents are not considered good! Communists or for some other reason set down by the dictatorial Russian Government.

Thus, the young Russian who is_ in good standing begins his youth activities at the age of seven. As an Octobrist he is concerned mainly with recreation and with the idea of becoming a Young Pioneer. His unit or detachment is supervised by a Young Pioneer assigned! to that task, and also by a Komsomol. His games are organised and watched over, and he is constantly reminded that he should be a _ good Communist; and that he should aim to be a Young Pioneer, and later a Komsomol. He is taught that religion is a bad thing and that people living undter capitalistic government are _ badly treated and miserably poor. He is permitted to read only things which are considered “ good ” for him by the party leaders. When the Octobrist joins the Young Pioneers, life becomes more serious for him. Under the direction of a Komsomol, he is encouraged to devote much attention to his studies. He belongs to clubs for the special purpose of studying the history of Communist Russia, chemistry, and other subjects. At the same time his military education begins. He is taught marksmanship, and learns about gas masks, aeroplanes, and parachute jumping. Girls as well as boys engage in these activities, although girls may receive other special training of particular benefit to them. At length, the Young Pioneer becomes a Komsomol. This is next to being a member of the Communist Party, which rules all Russia. The Komsomol leads a very active life. He makes a special study of Communism, he engages in military training, he educates younger people, carries on anti-religious work, andl is expected to be a good example to others. Sports play a considerable part in all these activities, but the business of these Russian organisations is serious. The purpose is to train the young people of Russia to be loyal supporters of Communism. Everything, of course, is done to make membership in these organisations attractive to Russian youth. It is considered a great honour to belong, and the members are given advantages and privileges which are denied to those who do not belong. Naturally, therefore, they want to be members.

Youth organisations in Communist Russia have been the models on which organisations in other dictatorship nations have been based. As much as they say they hate the Communists, Mussolini and Hitler have not hesitated to copy the methods which were first used by the Russians. In Italy, Dictator' Mussolini requires all young Italians to join the organisations which he has established. Training begins at the tender age of six, when the Italian boy joins the Sons of the Wolf. He later enters the Balilla and the Avanguardisti. These organisations all specialise in athletics and military training, particularly the latter. And just as the young Russians are taught to be good Communists, so young Italians are taught to be good Fascists. In Italy, however, more attention is given to boys than to girls. One of the best descriptions of the activities of Italian youth is contained in an article Harper’s Magazine,’ by Ernest Poole." Mr Poole recalls this scene

“ I spent most of my time in the Forum (the large new stadium in Rome) and athletic fields nearby, for in those lovely days of spring students are constantly active there. In squads, in white shirts and shorts, they played Soccer or basketball, drilled with skis and Indian cubs, hurdled, pole-vaulted, threw, the discus, drilled and marched. Even at sports, I noticed, most of them kept their rifles close by. Watching them were nearly always groups of visitors from Rome, while younger boys of all ages, down to the tiny Sons of the Wolf, marched and drilled and exercised. At the end of the afternoon both students and young boys took up their rifles large or small, or their skis and Indian clubs, and marched singing off the field. All round the great Forum their voices were_ heard. The students sang well—all in parts, for they’re drilled to that—lively little marching songs of the Alpini regiments. The small boys did not sing so well, their voices sounded high and shrill, and they looked like such tiny pigmies as they passed the huge marble statues there. All ordered, drilled, and disciplined. Suddenly one such afternoon, in a lovely big green pasture in the Farnese hills above, I saw a young colt who had broken loose and was kicking and tearing- about, mad with the joy of just being young! He was a relief to me.” All German boys and girls become members of the Hitler Youth at the age of 10. There are separate, divisions for boys and girls, and for younger and older members. The Hitler Youth is generally similar to_ the Italian youth organisations. Again, the idea is to train young people in mind and body to become faithful supporters of Hitler and his Nazi party. Military and physical training are provided all along the line. Girls are taught to become adept at household tasks. In Japan, the youth is very active, and a number of organisations have come into being. These are not so rigidly controlled by the Government as are the youth organisations of Russia, Italy, and Germany, but the Government, nevertheless, keeps a sharp eye on them. Young Japanese are not permitted to have “ dangerous ” thoughts, that is, thoughts opposed to those of the militarists who control the Government. In the schools Japanese young people are given.thorough physical training, and, of course, military training. Japanese youth is, in reality, as carefully watched over as is . the youth of other dictatorship nations. He has perhaps a little more freedom, but that is all. ~ . . , . Young people under dictatorships

therefore, are mere'puppets. They are not encouraged or allowed to express themselves. They must play follow the leader. They do not have the opportunity that young people in democracies have to develop their thinking and creative abilities.