Union of Polish Youth
Encyclopedia
Związek Młodzieży Polskiej (Union or Association of Polish Youth, abbr. ZMP) was a Polish communist youth organization, existing from 1948 to 1956. It was subordinated to Polish Workers' Party
(later the Polish United Workers' Party
) and acted as a tool of political indoctrination towards the youth.
It was formed from the Association of Fighting Youth (Związek Walki Młodych) and several other organizations.
For several years it supervised Polish scouting. Membership in it was often obligatory (officially or unofficially) for various purposes, such as being able to attend the universities. Membership was refused to those who were deemed "unsuitable" - due to non-worker/peasant family background, or their ties with the pro-West World War II-era Polish forces or resistance.
Its membership grew from almost 0.5 million in 1948, to over 1 million in 1951 and over 2 million in 1955.
The uniform of a ZMP member consisted of a green shirt and red tie.
The organization was disbanded in 1957 in the liberalization following Gomułka's thaw. It was replaced primarily by the Union of Socialist Youth (Związek Młodzieży Socjalistycznej).
Polish Workers' Party
The Polish Workers' Party was a communist party in Poland from 1942 to 1948. It was founded as a reconstitution of the Communist Party of Poland, and merged with the Polish Socialist Party in 1948 to form the Polish United Workers' Party.-History:...
(later the Polish United Workers' Party
Polish United Workers' Party
The Polish United Workers' Party was the Communist party which governed the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. Ideologically it was based on the theories of Marxism-Leninism.- The Party's Program and Goals :...
) and acted as a tool of political indoctrination towards the youth.
It was formed from the Association of Fighting Youth (Związek Walki Młodych) and several other organizations.
For several years it supervised Polish scouting. Membership in it was often obligatory (officially or unofficially) for various purposes, such as being able to attend the universities. Membership was refused to those who were deemed "unsuitable" - due to non-worker/peasant family background, or their ties with the pro-West World War II-era Polish forces or resistance.
Its membership grew from almost 0.5 million in 1948, to over 1 million in 1951 and over 2 million in 1955.
The uniform of a ZMP member consisted of a green shirt and red tie.
The organization was disbanded in 1957 in the liberalization following Gomułka's thaw. It was replaced primarily by the Union of Socialist Youth (Związek Młodzieży Socjalistycznej).