The “Ready for Labour and Defense” badge was awarded for meeting the standards for physical training within the framework of the USSR state program of the same name.
In the late 1920s, there has been an intense restructuring of the entire cultural, economic and social life in the country. The advanced development of heavy industry was proclaimed and the urban population grew at a rapid rate. In agriculture, a course was taken towards the creation of collective farms (kolkhoz), resources were transferred from the countryside to the city and a cultural revolution was declared, which was designed to create a new ideological foundation of society and give birth to the Man of the future. The ideal person, according to this image, possessed only positive features. They were either a worker or a peasant, had a secondary education and were ideologically savvy and loyal to the Soviet government. It was emphasized that this person had to also be physically fit. The Komsomol Organization pushed this agenda and took the role of a faithful guide to active boys and girls. Officially, it was the Komsomol that initiated the creation of the All-Union “Ready for Work and Defense” (GTO) sports standards in 1930.
The standards and requirements for the GTO badge were approved in March 1931, its promotion was entrusted to the Society for the Assistance of Defense, Aviation and Chemical Construction (Osoaviakhim). To get the desired badge, it was necessary to pass several challenges. These included not only traditional running, various jumping disciplines and pull-ups but also lifting and carrying an ammo container, swimming 100 meters in swimwear or 50 meters clothed without shoes; and rowing. The final test for northern regions included skiing and for southern regions — horseback riding. Both were to be done wearing a gas mask. In addition to that, there was a test in one of the following military disciplines: tactical shooting, machine-gun fire, chemical, sapper-camouflage, communications and sanitation. Theoretical knowledge of physical education and sports was also part of the test. At work and other establishments, it was necessary to be a shock worker and to perform social work. In 1932, the badge of the GTO 2nd Class was introduced, where ski jumping (for men), fencing, diving and overcoming a military camp were added.
During the pre-war period, the number of people who passed the standards for the “Ready for Labour and Defense” badge, 1st Class exceeded six million, and of the 2nd Class — more than a hundred thousand.
