A political commissar is an officer appointed by a government to oversee a unit of the military. They are used by the government (usually after a revolution) to assure the loyalty of previously appointed officers and troops to the new regime.

They were first used after French Revolution. The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on...

Red Army

The term "political commissar" does not actually exist in the Russian language. The correct term is "military commissar" (военный комиссар).

While the institution of military commissars came to be associated with the Soviet period, in reality military commissars were introduced in the Russian Army by the Provisional Government in 1917. After the October Revolution, the institution of military commissars was adopted by the newly formed Red Army, where it lasted (with interruptions) until 1942. Soviet redirects here. ... The Russian Provisional Government was formed in Petrograd after the deterioration of the Russian Empire and the abdication of the Tsars. ... For other uses, see October Revolution (disambiguation). ... Red Army flag The Workers and Peasants Red Army (Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия, Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya; RKKA or usually simply the Red Army) were the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918 and that, in 1922, became the army of the Soviet Union. ...

It is important to understand the distinction between two different types of military commissars, who are related to each other in name only. The first type is not a political officer, but a territorial representative of the military authorities, responsible for registering males eligible for military service as well as organizing their conscription in a given territory. Such officer is commonly called "voenkom" (военком) in Russian, which is an abbreviation for "voennyi komissar" (военный комиссар), translated simply as "military commissar".

However, the institution of military commissars actually refers to the second type of military commissars -- the political officers. It is also important to understand that while all commissars in the Red Army were political officers, not all political officers were commissars. A commissar is a political officer whose position is equal to that of the commander of a given military unit and has the authority to countermand the orders of the commander. During the periods when political officers were completely subordinated to regular commanders, the institution of military commissars did not exist in the Red Army. Red Army flag The Workers and Peasants Red Army (Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия, Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya; RKKA or usually simply the Red Army) were the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918 and that, in 1922, became the army of the Soviet Union. ... Red Army flag The Workers and Peasants Red Army (Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия, Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya; RKKA or usually simply the Red Army) were the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918 and that, in 1922, became the army of the Soviet Union. ...

The position of military commissar was introduced in all units and formations from company (or equivalent) to division level, including naval vessels as well. Revolutionary Military Councils (RVS) were established at army and front (as well as fleet and flotilla) level, which consisted of at least three members -- the commander and two political workers assigned to him, but could be bigger as well. The political workers were referred to as "members of the RVS", rather than "commissars", even though they were a part of the institution of military commissars. A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic or Revvoyensoviet (Революционный Военный Совет, Реввоенсовет) was the supreme military authority... The armed forces of a state are its government sponsored defense and fighting forces and organizations. ... A Front (фронт) was a major military organization in the Soviet Army, roughly equivalent to an army or army group in British or American military terminology. ... A rare occurance of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ... A flotilla (from Spanish, meaning a flota of small ships, and this from French flotte), or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. ...

In 1919, the title of "politruk" (политрук -- political leader) was assigned to military commissars at company (or equivalent) level. While politruks were also a part of the institution of military commissars, they were not referred to as "commissars". A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ...

Starting in 1925, the course toward "edinonachalie" (единоначалие) (roughly translated, means "single command") was set and the institution of military commissars was gradually abolished. Edinonachalie was introduced in two ways -- either the commander joined the Communist Party and also became the political officer, or the position of "pompolit" (помполит) (assistant commander for political work) was created under him. The pompolit was subordinated to the military commander and had no authority over him. In 1924, RVS's were renamed into Military Councils (political officers at that level became known as ChVS, short for Chlen Voennogo Soveta -- Member of the Military Council), and in 1934 they were completely abolished. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Russian: Коммунисти́ческая Па́ртия Сове́тского Сою́за = КПСС) was the name used by the successors of the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party from 1952 to 1991, but the wording Communist Party was present in the partys name since 1918 when the Bolsheviks became the Russian...

On 10 May 1937 the institution of military commissars was once again restored. Military Councils were created as well. This was connected with the purges that started in the armed forces. In August 1940 the position of military commissars was once again abolished. Military Councils remained and continued functioning throughout the war and after. Below army level the same system of "edinonachalie" was restored. In July 1941, following the defeats suffered by the Red Army in the beginning of the Great Patriotic War commissars appeared once again, as a move of desperation. As the war continued, it became apparent that they weren't helping, and the institution of military commissars was finally and for the last time abolished in October of 1942. Instead of the position of "pompolit", the position of "zampolit" (deputy commander for political work) was created from company (or equivalent) to regiment (or equivalent) level. Military Councils remained, but the final authority once again rested with the commander of the formation. The armed forces of a state are its government sponsored defense and fighting forces and organizations. ... Red Army flag The Workers and Peasants Red Army (Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия, Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya; RKKA or usually simply the Red Army) were the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918 and that, in 1922, became the army of the Soviet Union. ... The Eastern Front1 was the theatre of combat between Nazi Germany and its allies against the Soviet Union during World War II. It was somewhat separate from the other theatres of the war, not only geographically, but also for its scale and ferocity. ... A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ... British regiment A regiment is a military unit, consisting of a variable number of battalions - commanded by a colonel. ...

In 1943, the position of political officers at company or equivalent level was eliminated, to be restored only after the end of the Great Patriotic War. A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ... The Eastern Front1 was the theatre of combat between Nazi Germany and its allies against the Soviet Union during World War II. It was somewhat separate from the other theatres of the war, not only geographically, but also for its scale and ferocity. ...

To summarize, while political officers existed in the Red (and later the Soviet Army) throughout its history, commissars existed only during the periods of 1918-1928, 1937-1940, and 1941-42. Red Army flag The Workers and Peasants Red Army (Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия, Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya; RKKA or usually simply the Red Army) were the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918 and that, in 1922, became the army of the Soviet Union. ... This article is about the armed forces of the Soviet Union. ...

Source: The Soviet Military Encyclopedia

Military of China

The position of political commissar has also existed and still exists in the People's Liberation Army of China. Usually, the political commissar is a uniformed military officer, although this position has been used to give civilian party officials some experience with the military. The political commissar was head of a party cell within the military; however, military membership in the party has been restricted to the lower ranks since the 1980s. Today the political commissar is largely responsible for administrative tasks such as civilian relations, counseling and sometimes serves as second-in-command. This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A covert cell structure is a method for organizing undercover or unconventional fighters against a large and well-established organization. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ...

Fiction

In the Discworld novel Monstrous Regiment, 'Corporal' Strappi is a 'political,' an officer inserted into the rank-and-file in order to ferret out dissention in the ranks. Cover of an early edition of The Colour of Magic; art by Josh Kirby Discworld is a comedic fantasy book series by the British author Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which are in turn standing on the back of... Monstrous Regiment is the 31st novel in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series. ...

In the universe of Warhammer 40,000, Commissars are a special officer of the Imperial Guard, designed to ensure the loyalty of Imperial forces to the GodEmperor and unify them in the Imperiums cause. Some of the most famous Commissars are Commissar Yarrick, Saviour of Armageddon, Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, character in the Gaunt's Ghosts series of novels by Dan Abnett and Commissar Ciaphas Cain, character in the series of novels by Sandy Mitchell. This article is about the tabletop miniature wargame and the fictional universe in which it is set. ... A Cadian Shock Troopers squad In the tabletop strategy game, Warhammer 40,000, the Imperial Guard are the largest body of fighting men and women in the 41st Millennium Imperium. ... Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt is the commanding officer of the fictional Tanith First-and-Only, and has been recreated as a special character in the Warhammer 40,000 table top wargame. ... Gaunts Ghosts is a book series written by Dan Abnett. ... Dan Abnett is a British writer, mainly of comic books and gaming fiction. ... Ciaphas Cain is a character in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe; a Commissar of the Imperial Guard. ...

In Tom Clancy's novel The Hunt for Red October and the film based upon it, the captain of a Soviet nuclear submarine wishes to defect to the United States. He kills the Political Commissar aboard his vessel first to facilitate the defection. Thomas Leo Clancy Jr. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... The Hunt for Red October was a 1990 film based on the best-selling novel of the same name. ...

In Greg Bear's Eon, a sub-plot involves the conflict between the leader of a Russian space regiment and three Zampolits. Gregory Dale Bear (born August 20, 1951) is a science fiction author. ... The Way fictional universe is a trilogy of science fiction novels and one short story by Greg Bear. ...

In the third season of Babylon 5, a political officer was briefly assigned to the station. Along with bringing new orders to the Nightwatch personnel on the station, she also attempted to seduce Captain John Sheridan. When evidence linking President Morgan Clark to the murder of President Santiago was exposed, she was recalled to Earth. Babylon 5 is an epic American science fiction television series created, produced, and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. ... Night Watch or Nightwatch can refer to: Night Watch, a painting by Rembrandt Night Watch, a novel in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series Night Watch, a novel in Sergey Lukyanenkos Watch trilogy Night Watch, a fictional intelligence organization in the science fiction television series Babylon 5 Nightwatch, an album... John Sheridan was a character in the sci-fi series Babylon 5 John Sheridan is an Irish footballer This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... In the Science Fiction series Babylon 5, William Morgan Clark was the president of the Earth Alliance. ...

In the Honor Harrington series, political officers (People's Commissioners) were assigned to military and naval units of the People's Republic of Haven from Flag in Exile to Ashes of Victory. Examples include Eloise Pritchart and Denis LePic, subsequently the President and Attorney General of a restored Republic of Haven, respectively. (War of Honor, Crown of Slaves, At All Costs) Honor Stephanie Harrington is a fictional character, the eponymous heroine of a series of science fiction books set in the Honorverse, written by David Weber and published by Baen Books. ... The Republic of Haven is a fictional star nation in the Honorverse. ... Flag in Exile is the fifth Honor Harrington novel by David Weber. ... Ashes of Victory is the ninth Honor Harrington novel by David Weber. ... Eloise Pritchart is a fictional character in David Weber´s Honorverse series of novels. ... The Peoples Republic of Haven is a fictional star nation in the Honorverse. ...

External links

• The Communist Party and the Red Army, Leon Trotsky