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Young Pioneers 1949-1990 (East Germany)

Junge Pioniere, JP

image by Volker Moerbitz Keith and Jaume Ollé

Young Pioneers / Junge Pioniere
Other JP flag

See also:

Free German Youth (Freie Deutsche Jugend / FDJ, East Germany)
Political Organisations 1949-1990 (East Germany)
East Germany 1949-1990

Young Pioneers / Junge Pioniere

Ruled and organized by the Free German Youth, the Young Pioneers served as the communist youth organization for children age 6 through 14. The organization was divided into two sub-divisions: Young Pioneers (Grades 1 through 4) and Thählmann Pioneers (Grades 5 through 8, named after a leader of the German Communist Party who died in a Nazi concentration camp). Ernst Thälmann (16 April 1886-18 August 1944) was the Communist candidate for president in 1925.
Volker Moerbitz Keith, 24 Jan 2001

Junge Pioniere operated a couple of training ships on coastal waters and on the Baltic Sea, using the flag of their organization as house flag.
Volker Moerbitz Keith, 9 Feb 2001

A blue flag with the Young Pioneers' emblem (the letters JP in blue bordered yellow, above a dark blue vessel bordered yellow with the letters 'SEID BEREIT' [Be Ready], above which a triple stylized flame) in the center. Illustrated in Oliver 1993, p. 58.
Norman Martin, February 1998

A blue flag with JP symbol in center. The flag's color matches the color of the Free German Youth flag, symbolizing the connection between both organizations. The symbol showed the letters JP (for Junge Pioniere) in yellow bordered blue, above a dark blue vessel bordered yellow with the letters SEID BEREIT ("Be Ready"), above which a triple stylized flame, the three points of the flame standing for the three sources of communist education: school, home and the pioneers' organization. The flag was flown at parades and youth meetings, in summer camps and in front of schools.

I did some slight corrections to Jaume Ollé's image. The symbol is slightly tilded to the right, the color of the flag is the same dark blue as in the FDJ flag, symbolizing the JP being part of the FDJ. Source: German Democratic Republic propaganda website (image here).
Volker Moerbitz Keith, 24 Jan 2001

According to Günther 2000, and as mentioned in Volker Keith's text, the lettering 'SEID BEREIT' should be yellow on a blue, not red, background.
Marcus Schmöger, 26 Jan 2001

Other JP flag

image sent by Jörg Karaschewski, 17 Mar 2003

Jörg Karaschewski asks on the German mailing list about an unidentified flag of the former East Germany, blue with the diagonal inscription "Für beste Leistungen beim Lernen" and the attached badge (red with black hammer, gold transporters and book, within gold wreath).
Santiago Dotor, 20 Mar 2003

That is a special flag of the children's organisation of the "Freien Deutschen Jugend" (Free German Youth), the "Junge Pioniere" (Young Pioneers). These flags were granted for excellence to groups of Pioneers in a school, municipality or county. The emblem reminds of the DDR-State arms, combined with the book. The use of these flags was discontinued in the 1970's. Flags used were red with white disk, charged with an image of Ernst Thälmann. Since c. 1974 students at primary schools (classes 1-4) wore blue neck-kerchiefs (as Jungpioniere), at secondary schools (classes 5-8) red neck-kerchiefs (as Thälmann-Pioniere). Before 1974 there were only blue neck-kerchiefs.
The salute was: "Seid bereit! / ?" - Answer: "Immer bereit!"
Jens Pattke, 17 Mar 2003

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