A congress was held on 10 and 11 November 1945, where seven locally based youth outfits merged.
The organisation took part in the armed struggle for independence during the Indonesian National Revolution.
Pesindo units were engaged in intense street fighting during the Battle of Surabaya.
In 1950 the organisation established its ties to the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and changed its name to "Pemuda Rakyat".
According to the American CIA, the People's Youth claimed membership of 1,250,000 in 1962, with that strength being principally in Java.