GUNS Magazine October 1960 - Jeffersonian

Red German teenager approves handiness of Russ auto carbine(left) while ten year olds work action of RPD gun.By "KURT WEHRNER"As told to Rober.t BrownThese photos were taken illegally in EastGermany and smuggled out to the West forthis exclusive GUNS scoop of weapons trainingfor Young Pioneers. The byline name isa pseudonym and other identifying chamcteristicshave been changed to protect thephoto-journalist who may still be in Germany.WHILE SOME AMERICANS attempt to restrict theirchildren's interest to imitation firearms, the CommunistGovernment of East Germany encourages the eXflctopposite. There, kiddies play with the real McCoy. Theystart pre-military instruction, which includes familiarizationwith firearms, at the age of six, and continue it for thenext 16 years.While traveling through East Germany some time ago,I witnessed such training at first hand. I had stopped inDresden, in the ce~ter of the Russian dominated zoneof Germany, and visited the park of the Young Pioneers.This East German communist organization for youngpeople is modeled after its counterpart in Russia, and afterthe notorious Hitler Youth organization. This particularday the youngsters, aged six through 10, were assembledin the park meeting with members of the "People's Army."The purpose was to bring the kids into closer contactwith their "older comrades," a periodic culmination of thetheme that is continually drilled into them that "The loveof the People's Army is the patriotic duty of every youngsocialist."24 GUNS OCTOBER 1960