Oleg Pantyukhov
Encyclopedia
Colonel Oleg Ivanovich Pantyukhov was the founder of Russian Scouting
.
to a family of a military physician and an anthropologist. From 1892 to 1899 he studied at Tifflis cadet school
. During his studies he became a member of the group named Pushkin club. The group was somehow similar to the modern Boy Scout
s, e.g. every weekend they were having a hiking
trip with camping
in the mountains.
From 1899 to 1901, Pantyukhov studied in Pavlovsk Military School. After graduation he became an officer of the Leib Guard 1st infantry battalion stationed in Tsarskoye Selo
. In 1908 he married Nina Mikhaylovna Dobrovolskaya, who later became one of pioneers of the Guiding
movement in Russia.
In 1910 their son Oleg Olegovich Pantyukhov, who served during World War II as General Eisenhower´s
official Russian interpreter, was born in Pavlovsk.
and decided to try these ideas on Russian soil. He organized the first Russian Scout troop Beaver in Pavlovsk, a town near Tsarskoye Selo
, on 30 April 1909. In the winter of 1910–11 Pantyukhov met Baden-Powell in Saint Petersburg
and then visited Scout organisations in England
, the Netherlands
, Sweden
and Denmark
.
On the return he wrote the first Russian Scouting books "Памятка Юного Разведчика" (Handbook of a Young Scout) and "В гостях у Бой-скаутов" (Visiting Boy Scouts) (both 1912). In 1913 he wrote a book named "Спутник Бойскаута" (a companion of boy scout). Pantyukhov met Nicholas II
and gifted a Scouting badge for Tsarevich Alexei
, who formally became a Scout.
In 1914, Pantyukhov established a society called Russian Scout . The first Russian Scout campfire was lit in the woods of Pavlovsk Park. A Russian Scout song exists to remember this event. Scouting
spread rapidly across Russia and into Siberia
, and by 1916 there were about 50,000 Scouts in Russia.
During World War I
Pantyukhov received a Cross of St. George
, was treated in Crimea
and became the commander of the "Third Moscow
School of Praporshchik
s". During the October Revolution
he was the leader of the cadets who unsuccessfully defended the Kremlin
from Bolshevik
s. In 1919 in Novocherkassk
(controlled at the time by the White Army), Pantyukhov was unanimously elected the Chief Scout of Russia.
after the October Revolution
of 1917, and during the Russian Civil War
from 1918 to 1920, most of the Scoutmasters and many Scouts fought in the ranks of the White Army
and interventionists against the Red Army
. In Soviet Russia the Scouting system started to be replaced by ideologically-altered Scoutlike organizations, such as , that were created since 1918. There was a purge of the Scout leaders, many of whom perished under the Bolsheviks. Those Scouts who did not wish to accept the new Soviet system either left Russia for good, like Pantyukhov and others, or went underground. However, clandestine
Scouting did not last long. On May 19, 1922, all of those newly created organizations were united into the Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union
(it existed until 1990). Since that year, Scouting in the Soviet Union
was banned.
settled, establishing groups in France
, Serbia
, Bulgaria
, Argentina
, Chile
, and Paraguay
. A much larger mass of Russian Scouts moved through Vladivostok
to the east into Manchuria
and south into China
.
Pantyukhov, his wife Nina and their son Oleg Jr. went to Constantinople
.
There were a Russian Scout Bureau in Constantinople and Russian Scout groups were founded in Turkey.
On March 22, 1921 a General Russian Scoutleaders
congress took place in Constantinople under the leadership of Pantyukhov. As a result The Council of Russian Scouts was founded as an umbrella associations for Russian Scout groups working all around the world, that most troops joined.
This Scout association was recognized as a Member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
, in exile, from 1922 to 1945.
As Chief Scout
of this association, which later changed its name to National Organization of Russian Scouts, served the Founder of Russian Scouting Pantyukhov.
His wife Nina and later his son Oleg Jr. were also heavily involved in Russian Scouting in Exile. Oleg Pantyukhov Sr. and Nina were personal friends of Robert Baden-Powell
and Olave Baden-Powell
.
In 1922 Pantyukhov and his family to moved to the United States
,, where large troops of Russian Scouts were established in such California
cities as San Francisco
, Burlingame
, Los Angeles
, etc. Pantyukhov is credited with creation of the first Russian Scout group abroad on March 25, 1920. He worked for the Scouting movement up to his death.
He took part in the 3rd World Scout Jamboree
in 1929.
Oleg Pantyukhov was appointed to the Chief Scout of the Organization of Russian Young Pathfinders in November,1945 and so he was at this time the Chief Scout of both Russian Scouts-in-exile associations. He tried to unite the associations, but it failed and so he resigned as Chief Scout from ORYuR in 1957.
After World War II Pantyukhov went to Nice
, France where he died in 1973.
Russian Association of Scouts/Navigators
The Russian Association of Scouts/Navigators , or RAS/N , is the national Scouting federation of Russia, which became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 2004...
.
Early years
Oleg Pantyukhov was born in KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
to a family of a military physician and an anthropologist. From 1892 to 1899 he studied at Tifflis cadet school
Cadet Corps (Russia)
The Cadet Corps is an admissions-based all boys military academy which prepared boys to become commissioned officers. Boys between the ages of 8 and 15 were enrolled. It was founded in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire in 1731 by Tsarina Anne. The term of education was seven years...
. During his studies he became a member of the group named Pushkin club. The group was somehow similar to the modern Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
s, e.g. every weekend they were having a hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trip with camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
in the mountains.
From 1899 to 1901, Pantyukhov studied in Pavlovsk Military School. After graduation he became an officer of the Leib Guard 1st infantry battalion stationed in Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo is the town containing a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility, located south from the center of St. Petersburg. It is now part of the town of Pushkin and of the World Heritage Site Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.-History:In...
. In 1908 he married Nina Mikhaylovna Dobrovolskaya, who later became one of pioneers of the Guiding
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
movement in Russia.
In 1910 their son Oleg Olegovich Pantyukhov, who served during World War II as General Eisenhower´s
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
official Russian interpreter, was born in Pavlovsk.
Formation of Russian Scouting
In 1908–09 Pantyukhov became acquainted with the works of Baden-PowellRobert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
and decided to try these ideas on Russian soil. He organized the first Russian Scout troop Beaver in Pavlovsk, a town near Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo is the town containing a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility, located south from the center of St. Petersburg. It is now part of the town of Pushkin and of the World Heritage Site Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.-History:In...
, on 30 April 1909. In the winter of 1910–11 Pantyukhov met Baden-Powell in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and then visited Scout organisations in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
On the return he wrote the first Russian Scouting books "Памятка Юного Разведчика" (Handbook of a Young Scout) and "В гостях у Бой-скаутов" (Visiting Boy Scouts) (both 1912). In 1913 he wrote a book named "Спутник Бойскаута" (a companion of boy scout). Pantyukhov met Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
and gifted a Scouting badge for Tsarevich Alexei
Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich of Russia
Alexei Nikolaevich of the House of Romanov, was the Tsesarevich and heir apparent to the throne of the Russian Empire. In English, his title is usually given as Tsarevich, a title that has a separate meaning in Russia. Alexei was the youngest child and only son of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress...
, who formally became a Scout.
In 1914, Pantyukhov established a society called Russian Scout . The first Russian Scout campfire was lit in the woods of Pavlovsk Park. A Russian Scout song exists to remember this event. Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
spread rapidly across Russia and into Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, and by 1916 there were about 50,000 Scouts in Russia.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Pantyukhov received a Cross of St. George
Cross of St. George
thumb|Original Cross of St. George.Ist and 2nd class were in gold.The Cross of St. George ', or simply the George's Cross, was, until 1913, officially known as the Sign of Distinction of the Military Order of St. George....
, was treated in Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
and became the commander of the "Third Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
School of Praporshchik
Praporshchik
Praporshchik is a rank in the Russian military.-Imperial Russia:Praporshchik was originally a name of a junior commissioned officer rank in the military of the Russian Empire equivalent to ensign...
s". During the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
he was the leader of the cadets who unsuccessfully defended the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
from Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
s. In 1919 in Novocherkassk
Novocherkassk
Novocherkassk is a city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Tuzlov River and on the Aksay River. Population: 169,039 ; 170,822 ; 178,000 ; 123,000 ; 81,000 ; 52,000 ....
(controlled at the time by the White Army), Pantyukhov was unanimously elected the Chief Scout of Russia.
Disbandment and banning of Russian Scouting
With the advent of communismCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
after the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
of 1917, and during the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
from 1918 to 1920, most of the Scoutmasters and many Scouts fought in the ranks of the White Army
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
and interventionists against the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. In Soviet Russia the Scouting system started to be replaced by ideologically-altered Scoutlike organizations, such as , that were created since 1918. There was a purge of the Scout leaders, many of whom perished under the Bolsheviks. Those Scouts who did not wish to accept the new Soviet system either left Russia for good, like Pantyukhov and others, or went underground. However, clandestine
Clandestine operation
A clandestine operation is an intelligence or military operation carried out in such a way that the operation goes unnoticed.The United States Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms defines "clandestine operation" as "An operation sponsored or conducted by governmental...
Scouting did not last long. On May 19, 1922, all of those newly created organizations were united into the Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union
Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union
The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union, also Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer...
(it existed until 1990). Since that year, Scouting in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
was banned.
Russian Scouting in exile
The organization Русский Скаут then went into exile, and continued in many countries where fleeing White Russian émigrésWhite Emigre
A white émigré was a Russian who emigrated from Russia in the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, and who was in opposition to the contemporary Russian political climate....
settled, establishing groups in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. A much larger mass of Russian Scouts moved through Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
to the east into Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
and south into China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Pantyukhov, his wife Nina and their son Oleg Jr. went to Constantinople
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
.
There were a Russian Scout Bureau in Constantinople and Russian Scout groups were founded in Turkey.
On March 22, 1921 a General Russian Scoutleaders
Scout Leader
A Scout Leader or Scouter generally refers to the trained adult leader of a Scout unit. The terms used vary from country to country, over time, and with the type of unit.-Roles:...
congress took place in Constantinople under the leadership of Pantyukhov. As a result The Council of Russian Scouts was founded as an umbrella associations for Russian Scout groups working all around the world, that most troops joined.
This Scout association was recognized as a Member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
, in exile, from 1922 to 1945.
As Chief Scout
Chief Scout
The Chief Scout is the uniformed head of a Scouting organisation:*For the Chief Scout of the World see: Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell*For the head of The Scout Association see: Chief Scout...
of this association, which later changed its name to National Organization of Russian Scouts, served the Founder of Russian Scouting Pantyukhov.
His wife Nina and later his son Oleg Jr. were also heavily involved in Russian Scouting in Exile. Oleg Pantyukhov Sr. and Nina were personal friends of Robert Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
and Olave Baden-Powell
Olave Baden-Powell
Olave St Clair Baden-Powell, Baroness Baden-Powell, GBE was born Olave St Clair Soames in Chesterfield, England...
.
In 1922 Pantyukhov and his family to moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
,, where large troops of Russian Scouts were established in such California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
cities as San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, Burlingame
Burlingame, California
Burlingame is a city in San Mateo County, California. It is located on the San Francisco Peninsula and has a significant shoreline on San Francisco Bay. The city is named after diplomat Anson Burlingame. It is renowned for its many surviving examples of Victorian architecture, its affluence, and...
, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, etc. Pantyukhov is credited with creation of the first Russian Scout group abroad on March 25, 1920. He worked for the Scouting movement up to his death.
He took part in the 3rd World Scout Jamboree
3rd World Scout Jamboree
The 3rd World Scout Jamboree was held in 1929 at Arrowe Park in Upton, Merseyside, United Kingdom. As it was commemorating the 21st birthday of Scouting for Boys and the Scouting movement, it is also known as the Coming of Age Jamboree...
in 1929.
Oleg Pantyukhov was appointed to the Chief Scout of the Organization of Russian Young Pathfinders in November,1945 and so he was at this time the Chief Scout of both Russian Scouts-in-exile associations. He tried to unite the associations, but it failed and so he resigned as Chief Scout from ORYuR in 1957.
Later life
His wife Nina died in New York on January 12, 1944.After World War II Pantyukhov went to Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, France where he died in 1973.