2nd issue. Olive-green. Imperforate.
The Commission for the Improvement of Children’s Lives under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK). Established by a resolution of the VTsIK of February 10, 1921, on the initiative of the Chairman of the Cheka, F. E. Dzerzhinsky (Chairman of the VTsIK Children’s Commission in 1921–1923), in connection with the sharp rise in child homelessness that occurred as a result of the Civil War of 1917–1922. Its tasks included overall supervision of the protection of children’s life and health, assistance to institutions responsible for these matters, and monitoring the implementation of resolutions of directive bodies on issues of child protection and ensuring that children were provided with everything necessary. The Commission’s funds were formed from special collections, lotteries, voluntary donations, etc.
On September 25, 1938, by a resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, the Commission was dissolved in connection with the abolition of the VTsIK, as well as with the overcoming of mass child homelessness.
MEMORANDUM
From the Chairman of the VTsIK DTK N. A. Semashko to the NKVD of the USSR
28/IX 1938
SECRET
No. 61/S
In August of that year, during an inspection of orphanages in Altai Krai, we uncovered an extremely unsatisfactory condition of Orphanage No. 7 in the city of Biysk.
This orphanage was organized specifically for children of repressed parents. It contains 79 children aged 8 to 16, and 5 of them have been arrested by the NKVD and are in prison.
From the very first days of the orphanage’s existence, a group formed among the children that set itself the goal of “continuing the work of their parents.” Other children were gradually drawn into this group, and as an oath not to betray this organization, the person joining was required to drink a dose of manure liquid and eat half a glass of sand. The children tried to hang Kolya Menshikova, who did not take this oath, in a stable (he was saved). As punishment, nails were driven into the heads of other children. The children tore portraits of Party leaders off the walls. On June 11, NKVD bodies took 5 pupils from this home, and following that, on August 30, the educator Safronov was arrested; together with the children, he participated in this group.
In the orphanage, the political and moral condition of some of the children continues to remain hostile, anti-Soviet. It is impossible to hang portraits of the leaders in the home, because the children will tear them down—this is what the head of the orphanage, Comrade Ledolevich, declares.
The organization of this orphanage exclusively for children of repressed parents was carried out erroneously, not to say in a wrecking manner.
Reporting this, the Children’s Commission of the RSFSR asks that measures be taken for the immediate reorganization of this orphanage and that the Departments of Public Education be instructed regarding the inadmissibility of organizing orphanages exclusively for children of repressed parents.
Chairman of the Children’s Commission under the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR
N. Semashko
GARF. F. 5207. Op. 3. D. 42. L. 41.