Boasting a membership numbering in the hundreds of thousands, Komsomol played an important role, often helping the Soviet leadership to mobilize manpower for important construction and infrastructure projects.
The organization was officially abolished in September 1991, with its leadership decreeing that the organization should be transformed into a federation of independent youth groups.
© Sputnik / David Sholomovich / Go to the mediabankThe participants of a Soviet Youth Day rally in Moscow. 1959
The participants of a Soviet Youth Day rally in Moscow. 1959
A gym teachers parade in Ashgabat. 1939
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankKomsomol members travel to take part in the construction of Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works. 1930
Komsomol members travel to take part in the construction of Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works. 1930
© Sputnik / Ivan Shagin / Go to the mediabankKomsomol members take part in International Workers' Day rally at Red Square in Moscow. 1924
Komsomol members take part in International Workers' Day rally at Red Square in Moscow. 1924
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankKomsomol member arrive at a shipbuilding plant construction site at Komsomolsk-on-Amur. May 10, 1937
Komsomol member arrive at a shipbuilding plant construction site at Komsomolsk-on-Amur. May 10, 1937
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankKomsomol members take part in a International Workers' Day parade in Leningrad. 1930s
Komsomol members take part in a International Workers' Day parade in Leningrad. 1930s
© Sputnik / Vladimir Grebnev / Go to the mediabankKomsomol members head out to take part in the Virgin Lands Campaign. 1954
Komsomol members head out to take part in the Virgin Lands Campaign. 1954
© Sputnik / Mark Redkin / Go to the mediabankKomsomol volunteers head to take part in construction projects in Norilsk. Summer 1956.
Komsomol volunteers head to take part in construction projects in Norilsk. Summer 1956.
© Sputnik / Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankKomsomol volunteers head to take part in construction projects in Norilsk. Summer 1956.
Komsomol volunteers head to take part in construction projects in Norilsk. Summer 1956.
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankKomsomol members construct defensive positions near Moscow. July 1941.
Komsomol members construct defensive positions near Moscow. July 1941.
© Sputnik / Edward Kotlyakov / Go to the mediabankKomsomol members taking part in the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline hold a rally at Tyndinsky village (currently known as the town of Tynda). 1974
Komsomol members taking part in the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline hold a rally at Tyndinsky village (currently known as the town of Tynda). 1974
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankA group of Komsomol members prior to their departure to the Moscow Coal Basin. 1930
A group of Komsomol members prior to their departure to the Moscow Coal Basin. 1930
© Sputnik / Boris Kavashkin / Go to the mediabankA construction crew comprised of students of the Moscow Engineering and Construction Institute. 1974
A construction crew comprised of students of the Moscow Engineering and Construction Institute. 1974
© Sputnik / Vladimir Vyatkin / Go to the mediabankStudents of the Moscow State University taking part in a construction project hold a sports fest. 1976
Students of the Moscow State University taking part in a construction project hold a sports fest. 1976
Soviet youth at Red Square in Moscow. 1963
© Sputnik / Vladimir Vyatkin / Go to the mediabankA student from Charles University in Prague takes part in a construction project in USSR alongside the students from Moscow State University. 1976
A student from Charles University in Prague takes part in a construction project in USSR alongside the students from Moscow State University. 1976
© Sputnik / Anatoly Skurikhin / Go to the mediabankKomsomol members help build houses at Yuri Gagarin State Farm in Kazakhstan. 1961
Komsomol members help build houses at Yuri Gagarin State Farm in Kazakhstan. 1961
© Sputnik / Edward Kotlyakov / Go to the mediabankKomsomol members take part in a rally prior to heading out to take part in the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline.
Komsomol members take part in a rally prior to heading out to take part in the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline.
© Sputnik / Tikhomirov / Go to the mediabankA construction crew comprised of students of the Moscow Aviation Technological Institute. 1968
A construction crew comprised of students of the Moscow Aviation Technological Institute. 1968
© Sputnik / Max Alpert / Go to the mediabankA Komsomol member plays guitar during a lunch break. 1959
A Komsomol member plays guitar during a lunch break. 1959
A group of Soviet students in Moscow. 1963