world, these activities were also designed to hammer home the message to the children involved that Socialism had a strong moral side. In 1971 a "solidarity action" took place in which the children collected a million roses for the American Angela Davis's release. In 1973, the World Festival of Youth and Students in Berlin carried the motto "For anti-imperialistic solidarity, peace and friendship". Activities were also a way of indoctrinating the children with socialist ideals: the "Kurs 80" movement in 1978 aimed at familiarising the pioneers with the politics of the Working Class Party (the SED). Pioneer parks and camps At the first nationwide youth meeting in 1950 at the Wuhlheide in East Berlin, a park was opened known as the Pionierrepublik „Ernst Thälmann“ ("Ernst Thälmann Pioneers' Republic"), later changed to "pioneers' park". About 20,000 children stayed there for the meeting. A headquarters for the young pioneers was opened in Berlin at the same time. In 1952 Wilhelm Pieck, then President of East Germany, ceremoniously opened another "pioneers' republic" at Werbellinsee north-east of Berlin. It was based on a Soviet pioneer camp, the Artek. It was considered a privilege to be chosen to go to this camp; every year about 1,000 pioneers were chosen to go there. The site is currently being modernised by an investor from Karlsruhe. During the summer months, children were sent to the summer pioneer camps in East Germany and other socialist parts of the world, such as that in Dresden in 1952. It was on this occasion that the organisation was given the name "Ernst Thälmann". In 1979 the Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Palace was opened. International events The elite of the pioneers were often sent abroad, usually to other Socialist or Communist countries, to foster international relations and emphasize the international nature of socialism to the children. In 1967, a Friendship Train travelled to the Soviet Union carrying FDJ and Pioneer members. In 1972 pioneers sent more than a million "messages of friendship" to the Lenin Pioneers in the Soviet Union, who were celebrating their organisation's 50th anniversary. In 1974, the Salut, Pobyeda action was begun in preparation for the 30th anniversary of the fall of Fascism: the Russian word "Pobyeda" (Победа) means "Victory!". It was the first international pioneer event at which children from Mongolia, North Vietnam and Cuba took part. Collections Young pioneers were also kept occupied by having to collect waste for