‘We will make them fit for communism’ – that's what Bolshevik leaders thought when they created the youth organisation Komsomol 90 years ago. Back in the days of the Soviet Union, October 29 was an official holiday for its members.

Happy Birthday, Komsomol!

Old film footage shows the activities of Komsomol, portraying it as an organisation dedicated to fun, team spirit and community work. Some are helping in a civic recycling scheme, others are learning patriotic skills to help a country at war.

Many old members remember Komsomol fondly.

“I have the best memories of Komsomol. It raised us, developed all the best qualities in us – honesty, dignity, hard work, team spirit – all very important things, so necessary in life,” says Viktor Stukalin, a Komsomol and Communist Party veteran.

But it wasn’t just about fun and games. It was also a political tool; schooling young people in Communist Party values. Those who emerged as leaders in the Komsomol often took leadership roles in adult life, whether in government, industry or the KGB.

Even when the Komsomol disbanded after the break-up of the Soviet Union many of its budding talents used their experience to join the new political and economic elites. Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Boris Berezovsky, two of Russia’s earliest oligarchs, are just a couple of examples.

Now a billionaire and Duma deputy, Aleksandr Lebedev was also a Komsomol star. He has just announced he will form a new political party with ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

There are many more – indeed it would be difficult to find any Russian over the age of 35 who was not a member. Some now work for modern youth groups that adhere to Komsomol values.