Soviet tankman's id/paybook (?)

[vady]

can anyone tell me what this little booklet is for? cheers.
hoping the pix load....

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Vady, it is a membership book for the "Komsomol ". The Communist Party's Youth section and the equivilent of the Nazi Hitler Youth.

The pages run through from 1938 to 1946. Each month is listed in turn to show dues had been paid. The awards shown in colour are the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.

He joined up in April 1938.

It is a very nice item.

Cheers, Ade.

[vady]

much obliged ade. so his uniform is for a 'pre-tankman'? I note the tiny tank device on the collar. I assume there's a gazillion of these in circulation...?

[Adrian Stevenson]

His uniform is the 1935 pattern Red Army other ranks. You could be a member of both organisations at once. With the outbreak of war in '41 millions joined up. As you can see from his birth date of 1917 he was 21 at the time of issue of the book.

While millions would have been printed at the time, they are not found all the time today by any means.

Cheers, Ade.

[vady]

again, thanks ade!

[Dimas]

He is a cadet of tank- technical school in Leningrad, the Komsomol Member book issued by Political unit of this school

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, I thought I would bring this old thread back up, as this item has resided in my collection care of David, for the past 4 years now.

I thought a couple more scans might be of interest?

Cheers, Ade.

[Wagriff]

You mean the photo of the guy in the book is that of a 21 year old guy?? Wow...doesn't look like he would even have Needed a tank....