The Ernst Thälmann Pioneer organization, consisting of the Thälmann Pioneers (ages 6-10) and the Young Pioneers (ages 10-14), was an organization for East German schoolchildren. From the 1960s and 1970s until the end of the GDR, nearly all schoolchildren joined one of the two groups. The organization, based roughly on the concept of the Boy Scouts, was named after the former leader of the Communist Party of Germany, Ernst Thälmann, who was executed at Buchenwald concentration camp. It was founded on 13 December 1948 and disbanded in 1989 in the course of German reunification. Its aim was to teach schoolchildren socialist ideology and prepare them for the Freie Deutsche Jugend (FDJ), the organization for young people aged 14-25. The children spent afternoons and summer holidays together in camps. The pioneers' slogan was “Für Frieden und Sozialismus seid bereit – Immer bereit / For peace and socialism be ready – Always ready”. This was usually shortened to “Be ready – Always ready”. This slogan was recited at the raising of the flag. Usually the pioneer leader said: “Be ready!” and the pioneers answered “Always ready”, placing their right hand near their forehead with the thumb down and the fingers facing sky-wards. The pioneers' uniform consisted of white shirts and blouses worn with blue trousers or skirts. Often the only uniform item worn was the most important sign of the future socialist – the triangular necktie. Thälmann pioneers wore a red necktie, Young Pioneers a blue one.When the wall came down I was eight years old. I remember that in conversations with children my age some complained about German reunification because they were close to going from the red necktie to the blue one. In my infantile curiosity I asked them all about the pioneers and with glowing eyes they told me stories that sounded like fairy tales. Nowadays when I am strolling through Berlin flea markets I have to smile when I see Thälmann Pioneer memorabilia, remembering my innocent, childish perception back then.
