Cold War (USSR) VLKSM Komsomol, Leninist Credit Badge/Pin

This VLKSM Lenin badge/pin was provided to youth for their knowledge & subsequent recitation of communist political literacy during the Lenin test, conceived and first held as one of the events honoring the centenary of Vladimir Lenin (April 22, 1970). The VLKSM, the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League, usually referred to as Komsomol was a political youth organization in the Soviet Union. Sometimes described as the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), it was officially independent of the CPSU. The Lenin test was a regular event in the Komsomol, held with the aim of testing political literacy & increasing political activity of youth. The test consisted of knowledge of the Komsomol charter, international politics, structure of government in the country, primary tasks of the Komsomol, academic performance, & much more. The practice of accepting the Lenin credit ceased after the beginning of perestroika, the comprehensive reform of Soviet society & changes to the economic and political structure of the USSR initiated by General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985. The badge translation reads (top to bottom): VLKSM LENINIST Credit ---------------------------------------- Cold War (USSR) VLKSM Komsomol Leninist Credit Badge/Pin $14.50 (Firm) - Authentic Issue Provided to youth for their knowledge & subsequent recitation of communist political literacy during the Lenin test ----------------------------------------