The political commissar (also politruk, Russ: political officer), is the supervisory political officer responsible for the political education (ideology) and organisation, and loyalty to the government of the military. Historically, the commissaire politique (political commissary) first appeared in the French Revolution (1789–99), guarding it against anti-Revolutionary (ideological) thought and action, and so ensuring the Republican victory.

Red Army

Despite a French Republican origin, the political commissar, usually is associated historically with the Soviet Union (1917–91), where the Russian Provisional Government of 1917 introduced them to the military forces to ensure the government’s political control. In the event, after the October Revolution, the political commissar remained in the Red Army until 1942.

In the Red Army and the Soviet Army, the political commissar existed only during the 1918–28, 1937-40, and 1941-42 periods; not every Red Army political officer was a commissar. The political commissar held military rank equaling that of the unit commander to whom he was attached, moreover, the commissar also had the military authority to countermand the unit commander’s orders when required. In the Red Army historical periods when political officers were militarily sub-ordinate to unit commanders, the political commissar institution did not exist in the Red Army.

The political supervision of the Russian military, was effected by the Political Commissar, who was introduced to every unit and formation, from company- to division-level, including the Navy. Revolutionary Military Councils (RVS) were established at army-, front-, fleet-, and flotilla-level, comprising at least three members — commander and two Political workers. The political workers were denominated "Members of the RVS", not "commissars", despite being official political commissars.

In 1919, the title Politruk ( ) was assigned to military commissars at company level, like-wise, despite being official political commissars, they were not addressed as "commissar". Beginning in 1925, the politico-military doctrinal course towards edinonachalie ( , single command) was established, and the political commissar, as a military institution, was gradually abolished. The introduction of edinonachalie was two-fold, either the military commander joined the Communist Party and became his unit’s political officer, or a pompolit ( , assistant commander for political work) officer was commissioned sub-ordinate to him. Earlier, in 1924, the RVSs were renamed as Military Councils, such high-level political officers were known as ChVS (Chlen Voennogo Soveta, Member of the Military Council), they were abolished in 1934.

On 10 May 1937 the political commissar was re-instated to the Red Army, and Military Councils were created. These events derived from the political purges that began in the Soviet armed forces. Again, in August of 1940, the political commissars was abolished, yet the Military Councils continued throughout the Great Patriotic War (1941–45), and afterwards. Below army level, the edinonachalie (single command) system was restored. In July of 1941, consequent to the Red Army’s defeats at war’s start, the political commissar reappeared, but political supervision proved ineffective to fighting the German invaders of Russia, and the political commissar was abolished in 1942.

Moreover, at the company- and regiment-level, the pompolit officer was replaced with the zampolit (deputy commander for political work). Although the Military Councils remained, command authority was the unit commander’s. In 1943, the company-level political commissar was eliminated, yet restored after the Great Patriotic War.

Chinese military

The position of political commissar ( ) also 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 public relations and counseling, and sometimes serves as second-in-command.

The position of political commissar also exists in the Republic of China Army of the Republic of China(Taiwan).

Iranian Air Force

The Iranian Air Force in 1981 had a committee of "Mullahs" approving every flight and mission. They only allowed enough fuel for the flights to reach or fly their approved mission distance.

References

1. R. Dupuy, Nouvelle histoire de la France contemporaine: La République jacobine (2005) p.156

• Source: The Soviet Military Encyclopedia

See also

• Commissar Order
• Military commissariat
• People's Commissars - the Commissariats in the structure of Soviet Government

External links

• The Communist Party and the Red Army, Leon Trotsky