Activities of Rural Komsomol Members in 1920s to Overcome “Remnants of Past”

Abstract

This article analyzes the realities of the Komsomol’s struggle against cultural backwardness in the village during the 1920s. Connecting surrounding deficiencies with the “remnants of the past,” the Komsomol stood out for its radicalism, lack of foresight in actions, and disregard for rural specifics. However, this should not overshadow the positive results of the transformations of the youth union that can still be appreciated today. The authors attempt to identify these results by objectively studying the influence of the Komsomol and the Pioneers on the peasantry. The problem is approached from the perspective of “generational” history. Examining peasants’ attitudes towards the results of the “revolution in everyday life,” the authors primarily focus on the reaction of representatives of the “revolutionary breakthrough generation” (mostly born in the 1890s) to youth innovations. Although peasants often negatively assessed the achievements of the Komsomol due to their natural conservatism, which objectively had positive consequences, a gradual increase in peasants’ sympathies towards the Komsomol’s “revolution in everyday life” is evident overall. The slight age difference between the “revolutionary breakthrough generation” and the “children of the revolution” (Komsomol members of that time) contributed to attracting peasants from the “revolutionary overturn generation” to events organized by the Komsomol.