Political commissar

The political commissar (also politruk from Russian: политрук from политический руководитель, "political officer") is the supervisory political officer responsible for the political education (ideology) and organization, and committed to the civilian control of the military. Historically, the commissaire politique (political commissary) first appeared in the French Revolution (1789–99), guarding it against anti-Revolutionary thought and action, and so ensuring the Republican victory.[1]

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 communist government established by the October Revolution, the political commissar remained in the Red Army until 1942.





Chinese military


The position of political commissar (Chinese: ) also exists in the Republic of China Army of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Chiang Ching-kuo, appointed as Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) director of Secret Police in 1950, was educated in the Soviet Union, and initiated Soviet style military organization in the Republic of China Military, reorganizing and Sovietizing the political officer corps, surveillance, and Kuomintang party activities were propagated throughout the military. Opposed to this was Sun Li-jen, who was educated at the American Virginia Military Institute.[3] Chiang Ching-kuo then arrested Sun Li-jen, charging him of conspiring with the American CIA of plotting to overthrow Chiang Kaishek and the Kuomintang. Sun was placed under house arrest in 1955.[4][5]

German military


See also


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

External links
