Abstract: The subject of this research is the interrelation of the diverse classes of youth with Komsomol, which strived to eliminate the religious moods in the Soviet society. Attention is focused on the examination of the atheistic influence of Komsomol upon youth on the brink of the 1950’s – 1960’s, a period that became crucial in the relations between the church and the state, as well as upbringing of the new generations, which according to the Soviet authorities were destined to live in the era of Communism. One of the main plots of this article is dedicated to the analysis of the activity of Komsomol aimed at separation of the religion from the folk traditions, and their adaptiveness to the tasks of propaganda of the Communist ideology, as well as the Soviet style lifestyle. Komsomol is being viewed as a sociocultural phenomenon of the XX century. In study of the atheistic influence upon the youth, the authors based themselves on the fact that atheism is one of the forms of the freethought with regards to religion, and a rather characteristic element of the spiritual and ethical life. It is demonstrated that atheistic work in Komsomol was primarily aimed not at the struggle against the religious views, but at the consolidation of the atheistic outlook among the members of Komsomol themselves. However, the attempts to completely overcome the religious influence within Komsomol have failed. The Komsomol was leading the youth away from religion not as much by its antireligious work, as much as by its successful cultural-public work, and organization of groups of diverse interests.  The broader was impact of the new Soviet culture, the narrower became the influence of the religious culture upon the society.

Abstract: This article makes an attempt to determine from the current perspective the reason why particularly in the late 1950’s we can observe a growing interest of the Komsomol leadership towards the upbringing of the youth based on revolutionary traditions, as well as define its specificities and in which way such experience can be didactic. Special attention is given to the establishment of military-patriotic upbringing as one of the priority directions in the activity of Komsomol, and propaganda of the advanced practices in unity with respect to the revolutionary past. The work of the Komsomol is assessed primarily from the government and general human positions. Komsomol is being views as the original Soviet “department of youth affairs”, interlink between the government and the youth. It is demonstrated that in the 1950’s Komsomol has established a new approach: to revive the memory of the past of fathers, mothers, and brothers was the foremost responsibility of each initial Komsomol organization, as well as each district or municipal committee of Komsomol. The author believes that the principle of unity of educating the youth based on the traditions of the past, heroic spirit of the present, and ideals of the future in many aspects remains relevant even today. At the same time, it is highlighted that turning to the past, we should focus not on the destructive, but constructive traditions.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the policy and public work of Komsomol and manifestations of the cults of V. I. Lenin and I. V. Stalin during its implementation in the 1950’s. The author examines their influence upon the political culture of the Soviet youth. Special attention is given to the manifestations of cult in literature and visual art. At the same time, the author took into consideration the specificity of the youth consciousness justified by the age, as well as by the status of youth as a social group. It is highlighted that as a rule, young men and women stood out in their lack of life goals, indecisiveness of social orientations, and incompleteness of the process of formation of their own ideology. The Komsomol is being viewed as a sociocultural phenomenon. It is demonstrated that in fight against cult of personality, Komsomol (as well as the government) was not consistent. Not denying the direction of disenchantment of the personality cult itself, in the late 1950’s, Komsomol more often expressed intolerance towards the supporters of a radical rejection from the cult political behavior. Unlike the previous years, Lenin’s cult did not serve as an instrument of strengthening the cult of Stalin, but rather contributed into the strengthening of the Komsomol political leadership, as well as added “sacredness” to the political regime.