Union of Polish Youth

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This is an article about a the post-WWII Polish communist youth organization. Not to be confused with the pre-WWI Union of Polish Youth "Zet".

Związek Młodzieży Polskiej (Union or Association of Polish Youth, abbr. ZMP) was a Polish communist youth organization, existing from 1948 to 1956. It was subordinated to Polish Workers' Party (later the Polish United Workers' Party) and acted as a tool of political indoctrination towards the youth.

It was formed from the Association of Fighting Youth (Związek Młodzieży Walczącej) and several other organizations.

For several years it supervised Polish scouting. Membership in it was often obligatory (officially or unofficially) for various purposes, such as being able to attend the universities. Membership was refused to those who were deemed "unsuitable" - due to non-worker/peasant family background, or their ties with the pro-West WWII-era Polish forces or resistance.

It membership has grown from close to 0,5m in 1948, to over 1m in 1951 and over 2m in 1955.

Uniform of ZMP member was composed of green shirt and red tie.

The organization was disbanded in 1957 in the liberalization following the Gomułka's thaw. It was replaced primarily by the Union of Socialist Youth (Związek Młodzieży Socjalistycznej).