CHAPTER 9

During the summer of 1928, the year when I completed Form 6, a left-wing "self-education" group was organized by Isaak Brod, who was then still in high-school. (Isaak Brod is the father of Ivar Brod, the husband of Bronya Shiff, who had studied with my daughter Tusia in medical school). Hanze Slovin joined that group (which was an underground group, of course) and she suggested that I should join it too. I refused to do it then because I did not want to be a "left-winger" and I did not want to be "recruited".

During that very summer Ava Likhter, the son of Mother's old friend, came to visit us and he, together with Benno, used to have long discussions with Father about politics, these discussions lasting well into the night. During that time I used to sleep on a folding bed in the dining room and I used to listen to their discussions. For some reason my sympathies were on Ava Likhter's and Benno's side, while they were definitely "leftists", Communists.

In the second year of high-school Hanze became "disillusioned" and stopped participating in any such group activities, while I found myself joining the Vinchevsky Club that convened somewhere in Riga's Old City. The club named after the progressive American writer, was a cover for Communist club with a drama club of its own (where I once played a boy selling newspapers), a group for political studies and a group for economic studies. I joined the latter. I had a notebook where I carefully wrote down the basics of political economics. Kolya Ginzburg (who later died on the front lines during the war) was a wonderful teacher. I could appreciate this only later, when I started studying political economics seriously and when I recalled his excellent explanations.

There were all sorts of lectures at the club, we also learned songs and there were all sorts of youngsters who became my friends. (Leibeleh Futlik also came to the club.) Often enough the police came to the club, made lists of all those present and conducted searches. Following my inquiry at the Latvian State Archives I recently received a reply with the following data that was based on the records of the Secret Police (of bourgeois Latvia): "…Since the year 1930 was a member of the Vinchevsky-named Cultural Society." "According to the police records of 13th April 1930, 16th October 1930 and 21st of November 1930, a Jewish cultural society was active on the premises of the Vinchevsky Club."… They knew nothing about this at my school (and those who did kept silent.)

This was the first period of my "political activity" and it was a passive one. I was still learning about this new world, was getting exposed to new ideas and they got a very strong hold on me. By then I already knew who our enemies were (apart from the bourgeoisie and its organizations, of course): they were the Social-Democrats and the Social Zionists who were deceiving the youth and taught them ideas hostile towards the true revolutionary theory. All this became clear to me quite quickly, especially because this more or less coincided with Benno's arrest. Benno was for me a considerable authority, especially after the debates I had listened to at home.

My "active" work in "politics" started in the summer of 1931. We did not move anywhere during that summer and one day I was invited with some friends to a club called "Dabas Draugu Biedriba" ("Nature Friendship Society" in Latvian). It was, in fact, a Communist club. I was invited there in order to start working with children. It became known that I had worked as a "governess" during the previous summer and that I loved children and knew how to deal with them. It transpired that there were many children who came to the club with the adults coming there and the children were left very much on their own. Someone was already working with the older children, while the younger ones, from the age of 7 and up, were roaming around aimlessly. This is how I became "one of the first Young Pioneers' leaders", as I am now being introduced in schools when I come to meet the school kids there.

All these children groups were unofficially called "Pioneer groups". The "Dabas Draugu Biedriba" club was at No. 25 Rytsarskaya St. (later called Krasnoarmeiskaya St.) and the house still stands there. For me this was the first opportunity to apply my abilities to a "real task". I became very much involved in my work with the children, inventing games, singing songs with them and telling them all sorts of important things. However, the police got there too and lists of those present at the meetings were drawn up as well. Therefore, the following record was made in the police files: "Since 1930 (L.Eidus) was a member of the Vinchevsky Club and since 1931 - a member of the "Nature Friendship Society". Both societies were closed down by court order as organizations engaged in Communist activity."

I do not remember how the Vinchevsky Club was closed, but I happened to be present during the closure of the Nature Friendship Society. There was an extensive police search at the club and all the placards were torn off the walls. When we came to the club the next day we saw a large lock on the door and a long metal bar as well. Both I and the other Pioneer leaders were very disappointed that there will be no more meetings at the club, but it transpired that the fate of the Young Pioneers became a matter of concern for the underground Komsomol (the Communist Party youth movement) members. One day I received instructions to come to the Blaumanis memorial at the Bastion Hill in one of Riga's parks. About four other Pioneer leaders once active in the Nature Friendship Society club also appeared there and then…Boya Berkovich arrived! By that time he was already known as "The Black One" and he was given orders to organize underground Pioneer activity groups in a certain regions, where the Komsomol was also active. We were told to select the best and the brightest of our former Pioneers, find homes where meetings could be held and hold such meetings regularly. We, the leaders, were to meet regularly with a Komsomol member to receive instructions, to give reports and to exchange experience with each other.

Following the establishment of the Soviet regime in Latvia I wrote a lot about my work with the Pioneer groups and I also related my experience during numerous meetings with school-children. As soon as some Pioneer "jubilee" came I got phone calls from schools and kids came to invite me to festive Pioneer assemblies. I usually agreed to come and tell them about those distant years.

It so happened that I am the only member of our original underground Pioneer leaders' group who had been active from our very first meeting until the removal of the bourgeois government in Latvia. Some of the others turned to Komsomol activities or some other party work, others had left the movement altogether. There were, of course, other Pioneer leaders who joined our activities, but I was the only one who had participated in them from 1931 to 1940, not having missed a single meeting during those 9 years. During this period I graduated from high-school, got married, gave birth to Iren and graduated from university, all the while regularly meeting my Pioneers.

Before continuing my memoirs I would like to present here some of my published material about the clandestine Pioneers' activities. I think that my first account of these activities was published in Latvian in 1948 and then in Russian in 1950. It was signed by a pen-name I used at that time: L.Vitinya. The period of my illegal activities with the Pioneers was a most significant period in my life. It gave my life at the time both content and a meaningful purpose. …

The following story was published in Russian in the book "The Path of the Young Communars" in 1950.

PIONEERS IN THE UNDERGROUND

It was the beginning of September 1931. Several young boys and girls aged about 16 or 17 sat on a bench near one of Riga' canals and quietly discussed something. It seemed that they were just enjoying the fresh air, but the subject of their discussion was rather unusual.

"Work with the children should continue" - said one of the young boys who seemed somewhat older than the others. "You know the members of your groups very well and you can decide by yourselves which of them would be suitable to participate in the groups' underground activities. The work will now be different from what it was in the past. Each group should contain no more than 4 to 8 children. You shall have to find the place where the activities can be held. We shall all discuss the methods of working with the kids. Come here again in a week's time, at the same hour. We shall discuss future work. The Pioneers will work under the guidance of the underground Komsomol organization. Make sure to talk to the children about conspiracy matters. No child under the age of 10 should be accepted."

The faces of the other youngsters were both attentive and serious.

Only a week before this meeting the police in Riga raided left-wing cultural organizations and destroyed what was there. Later the organizations were ordered to close down. Yet these organizations conducted activities not only for adults, but also for youth and children. For many years young men and women conducted group activities for the youngest attendants of these clubs. Children were divided into groups according to their age and education level and the group meetings were entertaining and joyful. There were gymnastic groups and singing lessons, drama classes and meetings for listening to stories about a country that was unfamiliar but close to everyone's heart, the Soviet Union. The children cut out pictures from magazines that showed the situation of the workers in Latvia and abroad, collected pictures about life in the Soviet Union and used them for making placards and amateur newspapers that decorated the walls of the club.

It was not always possible to work in peace and quiet. The police often raided these workers' clubs, searched the premises, tore the placards down, threw around the furniture and usually, before leaving the place, took away one or more of the people present as "suspicious". Every year these raids grew fiercer and more frequent.

Finally, after one of such visits in August 1931 the police closed down these clubs and sealed their doors. The rulers of "democratic" Latvia closed down all the left-wing cultural organizations: the bourgeoisie decided that free meetings of the workers were dangerous and declared them forbidden. This is why a group of young boys and girls met in September 1931 on the banks of the canal to discuss matters connected with underground activities for children.

* * *

A small wooden house at the end of Lachplesha St. in Riga. Five o'clock in the afternoon. The wooden gate creaked and a schoolboy came into the yard. He knew the way well: turn left and then take the narrow staircase upstairs. The other six were waiting for him in a small room: children attending different schools, every one of them known by a special nickname. Their leader is known as Irena. No-one asked what her real name was.

The flat belongs to Daile's family. Daile's father is a craftsman, he works in the next room making bags, purses and school bags. He knows what the real purpose of these meetings is: both he and his wife are connected with the underground.

What would happen if an unwanted guest or a neighbor would come in? Such a possibility had been foreseen: there are textbooks and notebooks on the large table and the kids are supposed to be studying. Irena is an older student who helps them with their homework.

The seven youngsters listened attentively to Irena's "lesson". Today she told them about Karl Marx. This name was never mentioned in any of their school textbooks and they never heard his name mentioned anywhere. Now Irena explained to them the reason for this: the ruling classes, all those who own the large factories, the land, the shops, etc., were afraid that the young people will learn about Karl Marx and his teachings. His teachings showed that the social regime under which the working classes of Latvia, Germany, France, England, America and other countries have been living was unjust. Karl Marx said that the workers should unite and fight their oppressors to win their freedom. This has already been achieved in one country: there were no more capitalists in the Soviet Union. The workers have installed their own rule there. Nothing at all has been told about this country in Latvian schools - those in power are afraid that its example would inspire the Latvian people to fight.

The children eagerly listened to every word and memorized it all. Then they sang softly, so that the singing could not be heard outside, some songs: the "Warshavyanka", "Our Fighting Song" and others. They have also learned to sing the "International", the anthem of the international workers' movement.

The children brought with them some money, small sums that they could afford to bring: 5,10, 20 'santimes' (the coins that made up the Latt, he Latvian currency). The money was being collected for sending parcels to political prisoners.

Thus, in each of such groups the children learned more about their surroundings, they learned the truth about the Soviet Union, became familiar with the history of the Revolution and the lives of Lenin and Stalin. An ardent desire to become fighters for the revolutionary cause grew in their hearts.

* * *

The classes were interesting. The group leaders met once a week to ensure that this would be so. Every one of them tried to invent something that would make the meeting more fascinating, something that would suit the children's age. Someone suggested that a "Blue Blouse" type of a show should be staged. "The Blue Blouse" was a show consisting of group declamations accompanied by movement, marching, songs, etc. This was a popular kind of a theatric show then. Someone translated into Latvian the Soviet songs he heard on the radio. Someone else organized interesting outings: to Mezhapark in winter, to go on sleds, and to Ilgutziems and the beach - in summer.

Over the years the groups' membership had changed: the older youngsters became members of the underground Komsomol groups with younger children taking their place. Five to eight Pioneer groups were active in each of Riga's districts, each of them numbering five to ten children. Only children who could be trusted were accepted as members. It often happened that all the children of a certain family were at a certain age members of such groups.

It should be noted that all the former Pioneers upheld their convictions acquired during early adolescence. During the nine years of their existence the underground Pioneer collectives brought up many honest and loyal young men and women who proved themselves to be courageous fighters for the revolutionary cause both during the underground revolutionary activities and their activities as legal Komsomol members, both on the front lines during World War II and their activities with the partisans and, after the victory, in their activities as builders of socialism. Many of them became members of the Communist Party.

It never happened during these nine years that a member of the Pioneers had denounced his comrades or revealed his secret at school. There were cases, of course, when someone had wavered and, fearing the consequences, left these activities altogether, but there was not a single case when a child had revealed to anyone what he knew about the Pioneer activities.

The headmistress of one of Riga's schools noticed that a certain group of children did not participate in the school activities during which President Ulmanis had been praised and that they also tried to evade joining the "mazpulks" (a state sponsored children organization). After a long period of having followed the children's behavior the headmistress decided to question them. She invited one of them to her office, then another one and a third one and then all of the "suspects" together and tried in all sorts of ways to make them admit whether they had belonged to some secret organization or that they had been reading banned literature. However, no-one admitted anything.

The children have been told by then how the "Okhranka", the secret police, questions political prisoners and they were aware of what a single careless word could lead to. None of them wanted to become a traitor to the workers' cause. The "enterprising" headmistress did not find out anything. The Pioneers discussed the matter at their next group meeting.

* * *

The Pioneers' groups always reacted actively to any important event in public life. For example, the heroic expedition of Papanin, a Soviet scientist, and his fellow researches to the Arctic Circle and their long stay on the drifting iceberg aroused enormous interest. The teachers at school never mentioned anything about it as they did not wish to inform the children about the heroic deeds of the Soviet people, but the children managed to learn about the details of the expedition by themselves. Those who had radios at home listened carefully to programs from Moscow and related them to their friends. Sometimes all the members of a Pioneer group got together and listened to Soviet radio programs about Papanin's expedition. Other children collected the meager press reports about the expedition, prepared geographical maps tracing its route, prepared special albums about it and even staged special evening performances devoted to the expedition's exploits.

In 1936, during the Fascist intervention in Spain, the Pioneers could not remain indifferent towards the developments of events there. It goes without saying that they collected money for sending parcels to the Spanish fighters and tried to follow any report about what was going on in Spain.

They thought it was not enough to listen to the radio reports about the events in Spain, events that touched the hearts of all honest men. The children were ardent in their desire to become better acquainted with the heroic struggle of the Spanish people. Three or four Pioneer groups decided to stage together a special evening devoted to the Spanish fighters.

The children made a map of Spain from plywood and marked on it the positions held by the Republicans. They wrote poems dedicated to the fighters, learned Spanish songs that were broadcast in Russian by the Soviet radio and translated them into Latvian. They cut out portraits of Spanish fighters that they found in foreign magazines and put them into albums.

One of such evenings dedicated to the Civil War in Spain took place in a private apartment in Yumaras St. It was all presented in such a way that an observer would conclude that Lea, the daughter of the man occupying the apartment, was celebrating her birthday. All he could see were nicely dressed children and a table with refreshments. Maybe he would also hear a popular song being sung by the children. The little exhibition about the heroic deeds of the Spanish people would have disappeared immediately in the shelves under the table. However, no-one bothered the children and the evening organized by them went off very nicely.

Before festivals marking events connected with the revolution the Pioneers often asked to be included in "practical work": distributing leaflets and hanging out red flags. However, the Komsomol could never allow that: such activities were too dangerous as the children could find themselves in the hands of the police. Yet sometimes the Pioneers "invented" similar activities and requested authorization to carry them out. Once, on the eve of the 7th of November, the date marking the beginning of the October Revolution, they wrote in nice print letters small placards (they were the size of a notebook page) that read: "Long Live the Soviet Union!" and wanted to paste them to walls inside residential houses. On another occasion, also on the eve of the anniversary of the Revolution, each Pioneer made a few dozens of small red stars and on the appropriate date the children, trying to remain unnoticed, threw them around in the streets. One year, on the 1st of May, the Day of Workers' Solidarity, some Pioneers let out pigeons from a building's attic. Red ribbons were attached to the pigeons' feet and the ribbons bore a gold-colored inscription: "Long Live the 1st of May - the Day of all the Workers around the World!"

* * *

In April and May 1940 the Pioneer groups met less frequently and their members became even more cautious. The police grew vicious. Numerous members of the Komsomol underground were arrested. Great events were getting close. Despite the fact that the police grew especially "active", reports bearing new hopes and joyful messages were passed on from person to person. Finally, during the historic days of June 1940 the radio reported that Soviet troops had entered Lithuania. After that, on 17th of June, the last battle took place near the Riga municipality building and the railway station. Songs of freedom sounded in Riga, Soviet tanks and rejoicing Latvian people filled the streets. The fact that it became possible to say openly words like "Pioneer", "Communist" or "red banner" seemed like a miracle. The Pioneers went around in groups in the streets and parks singing loudly "Wide Is My Country" (a popular Soviet song).

It was soon widely reported that a general assembly of all the town's Pioneers will be convened. The children did not have to hide anymore, gathering in private apartments; they gathered in the large hall of one of Riga's schools. For the first time ever they all came together: both those who had been members for only 3 or 4 years and those who had been Pioneers 9 years ago. There were exciting speeches and jubilant promises to go on serving the cause of the working classes!

"Comrades!" - declared the representative of the regional Komsomol committee. - "For many years you acted illegally, helping the adults in their struggle for freedom. As a sign of gratitude for your courage and loyalty to the cause of the workers' struggle we decided that you all will be first to wear the red necktie of the Young Pioneers in our Republic. Each of you will have to register with the regional Komsomol Committee and in autumn we shall establish Pioneer organizations in every school, same as they have done in the whole of the Soviet Union."

Loud applause and exclamations like "Long Live Soviet Power!", "Long Live the great Stalin!" followed his statement. The meeting ended with everyone singing the "International".

The singing rang loud and clear in the streets. There were tears in the eyes of many of those present, but no-one was ashamed of these tears. Old hopes had become a reality - the Pioneers became legal.

* * *

The following are some pictures of Pioneers' assemblies where I had been invited to tell them about my experience of the first generation of Pioneer leaders and members of the Komsomol underground in our republic.

In one of the summer camps at the seaside in 1965.

Pioneers' assembly in Sigulda in 1967.

A festive Pioneers' assembly held at the No. 12 High-school in Riga marking the 100th birthday of V.I.Lenin. It took place on the 2nd of October 1970.

I will now come back from the 1970's to the year 1931, to my 3rd year of high-school. My life at school had acquired a somewhat strange duality: I loved my class, did well in my studies and had many friends. At the same time I had a parallel existence: my underground activities, meetings with young people who did not go to my school, my friendships with them. I find it hard to say where the connections were stronger.

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