On December 3, Research Fellow Seth Bernstein gave a lecture called ‘The Komsomol and the Militarization of Soviet Youth on the Eve of the Second World War’

The report covered an analysis of the concept of ‘militarization’ and of how militarization in general affected the history of the Komsomol and military sports education in the Soviet Union during the second half of the 1930s and early 1940s.

The report covered an analysis of the concept of ‘militarization’ and of how militarization in general affected the history of the Komsomol and military sports education in the Soviet Union during the second half of the 1930s and early 1940s.

In addition, Bernstein acquainted listeners with the development of basic programmes to militarize Soviet youth, which were organized in anticipation of the impending war. As an example, he also showed a plan developed by Komsomol leaders to organize and structure Soviet youth that was very similar to a German plan also discussed as part of the presentation.

During the discussion, participants asked questions about the social composition of the Komsomol: Was there only urban youth? What was the gender ratio of members? How effective was the militarization held on the eve of the German invasion, especially in the framework of the mobilization that was beginning in the USSR? One of the most contentious issues concerned the extent to which enrollment in the army was voluntary.