2nd issue.
The Commission for Improving the Lives of Children under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK). Established by a VTsIK decree of February 10, 1921, on the initiative of the Cheka Chairman 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 leadership in protecting children’s life and health, assistance to institutions responsible for these matters, and oversight of the implementation of resolutions of directive bodies on issues of child protection and provision of all necessities. The Commission’s funds were formed through special collections, lotteries, voluntary donations, etc.
On September 25, 1938, by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, the Commission was abolished in connection with the dissolution of the VTsIK, as well as the overcoming of mass child homelessness.
MEMORANDUM from the Chairman of the VTsIK Children’s Commission 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 houses 79 children aged 8 to 16, and 5 of them have been arrested by NKVD bodies 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.” The other children were gradually drawn into this group, and as an oath not to betray this organization, the entrant 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 the stable (he was saved). As punishment for other children, nails were driven into their heads. The children tore portraits of the Party leaders off the walls. On June 11, NKVD bodies took 5 pupils of this home, and following that, on August 30, educator Safronov was arrested; together with the children, he participated in this group.
In the orphanage, the political and moral condition of part of the children still 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, states.
Organizing this orphanage exclusively for children of repressed parents was carried out erroneously, if 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 on 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
State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF). Fond 5207. Inventory 3. File 42. Sheet 41.