Table of contents

1 Government of the Soviet Union 2 Military of the Soviet Union 3 Military of China

Government of the Soviet Union

From 1919 to 1946, functions of ministers in the government of Russia and, later, the Soviet Union were performed by People's Commissars. A ministry was called People's Commissariat, whose main governing body was Council of People's Commissars.

Joseph Stalin's first government position was as People's Commissar of Nationalities Affairs.

Military of the Soviet Union

Political commissars of the Red Army were appointed by the Communist Party to military units to direct political propaganda and ensure that Party decisions were implemented. Often the commissar usurped functions of a regular military commander. After 1942, the political officials in the army were no longer called commissars, their title becoming politruk, an abbreviation for "political leader".

During the Russian Civil War, Joseph Stalin was the political commissar of the Western Front against the White Army forces of Baron Wrangel.

Military of China

Today, the position of political commissar exists in the People's Liberation Army of China.