They still exist: The Pioneer Youth

A Belarussian veteran of WW II ties a red scarf on a new member of the communist youth movement 'Pioneers' during a ceremony in central Minsk, 11 may 2007. 

The Pioneers movement is the first step for the young in becoming Communist party members and its roots stem back to the Soviet era.

Shirt of the East-German Thälmann Pioneers with blue neckerchief, but after 1973 the Thälmann Pioneers switched to a red neckerchief like those worn by their Pioneer colleagues in the Soviet Union.