Putin's youth army: Russian strongman sets up Soviet-style pioneer scheme for schoolchildren but faces web claim it's echo of HITLER
The pioneers of Vladimir Putin's new Young Army take their salute in an initiative with strong echoes of Russia's past during the Cold War.
The first 104 schoolchildren joined the revived Soviet military-patriotic movement 'Yunarmiya' - or Young Army - in the city of Yaroslavl, the first cadets on a scheme that will be rolled out across the country in September.
Web critics drew parallels to the Hitler Youth and feared a rise in militarization under Putin, but Russian defence officials insisted it is about raising a generation of children ready to build a bright future for themselves and their country.
he oath of male and female 'yun-armists' (young soldiers) reads: 'I swear to aim for victories in studies and sports, to live a healthy lifestyle, to make myself prepared for the service and labour for the sake of the Motherland, to cherish the memory of the heroes who fought for freedom and independence of our Motherland, to be a patriot and a dignified citizen of Russia.'
The first-ever woman in space, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, 79, was on hand at an 'initiation ceremony' to welcome to new 'conscripts'.
'I hope that studies and practical training will give you a chance to join the Russian Army later and to become the true defenders of our Motherland,' she told the children, with some recruits said to be as young as ten.
The complicated international situation demands attention and training, she explained, alluding to perceived Western threats to Russia.
'I congratulate you. I want to hope that our joint work will produce new sportsmen and new heroes. I wish each of you becomes the decent officer of the Russian Army.'
Officially the new set-up is known as the Voluntary Society of Support for the Army, Air Force and Navy, known as DOSAAF.
General-colonel Alexander Kolmakov said that reviving an old tradition of children and youth organisations can lead to the 'growing of a generation of citizens who treat the history with care, who are kind and responsive, ready to build a bright future for themselves and for their country'.
His phrase 'svetloe buduschee' or 'bright future' was widely used in Soviet times to describe the expected great future of the USSR when Communism finally won the day.
'The Yunarmiya movement, created upon the initiative of the Russian Defence Ministry and supported by the President of Russian Federation, will unite all organisations and bodies that train the citizens before they join the army.
'And DOSAAF will allow members of the new movement to use its facilities for training.'
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