Any stories of youths as secret police informers?

[dannyevilcat]

Lately I've been desperate to read recounts of how children in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany ratted out their parents and friends to the police, but I'm having a terrible time of it. I only know of one specific case:

Pavlik Morozov (1918-1932)
Pioneer martyr. According to the legend that every Soviet child was taught, Pavlik was a good Communist boy, a Pioneer, who always did what the Party told. When his father, a "kulak" peasant, did not want to join a collective farm, Pavlik patriotically denounced him to the Cheka, who promptly arrested and shot him. Other kulaks later killed Pavlik in revenge. This story taught Soviet children that it was their patriotic duty to squeal on their parents to the secret police. Recent evidence has cast doubt on the several aspects of the Pavlik Morozov legend.

Does anyone else know of any particular instances? I'm also curious to know of any stories of father-son meeting after the prison sentence is over and the child has grown up.

 

[Rodgers]

Hmm, I have a mild version of this from East Germany in the late eighties. I met an exchange student who's best friend's parents worked for the Stasi (or so she later found out).

Her and the "friend" were watching western TV and the usual consumer goodies were being shown in the ad-break. She said something fairly bland such as "wouldn't it be great if we lived in the West - we could have all that cool stuff".

The next day she was brought up in front of her head teacher and threatened with expulsion and the police etc if she didn't watch what she said in future. She was 13 years old at the time, as was her friend.

I know it's not child v parent but child v best friend is the best I can offer.

 

[Sodak]

I know I've read accounts of Jeugdsturm children ratting their parents out, but can't remember where...

It is really pathetic that gov'ts will brainstorm youth so that they place a higher value on the state than on their own families. Truly a sign of a society on a downward spiral.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Originally posted by Sodak
It is really pathetic that gov'ts will brainstorm youth so that they place a higher value on the state than on their own families. Truly a sign of a society on a downward spiral.

That really is a matter of opinion...Some may see it as a good sign...

 

[Vrylakas]

Dannyevilcat wrote:

Pavlik Morozov (1918-1932)
Pioneer martyr. According to the legend that every Soviet child was taught, Pavlik was a good Communist boy, a Pioneer, who always did what the Party told. When his father, a "kulak" peasant, did not want to join a collective farm, Pavlik patriotically denounced him to the Cheka, who promptly arrested and shot him. Other kulaks later killed Pavlik in revenge. This story taught Soviet children that it was their patriotic duty to squeal on their parents to the secret police. Recent evidence has cast doubt on the several aspects of the Pavlik Morozov legend.

Ah, the Morozov legend. We had to learn about that little SOB. In a region where families are seen as the ultimate form of loyalty, this little brat was not looked upon with favor. When most Eastern Europeans were taught about this kid, there was little doubt that they envisioned themselves as a part of the lynching crowd that eventually got to him. Interesting enough, "Moroz" means "frozen" or "frost" in Russian ("mroz" in Polish), a fitting name for such a cold act.

Poland in the 1980s was like all the Soviet states rife with SB agents but I think because of the strength of Solidarnosc (even in the 80s) it was particularly difficult for the communists to recruit agents. As a student in Hungary I had some students pointed out as vamszer, an informant, and they were duly avoided. I recall around the time of the Gulf War some Moslem student friends pointing out to me the Iraqi agents among their student contingent.