What is the commissar system?

The commissar system refers to a method employed primarily by Communist governments to maintain strict civilian control over the military. In this system, military officers are paired with political commissars. The military commissar is a professional military officer, while the political commissar has a direct connection to the secret police. The purpose of the political commissar is to ensure loyalty and adherence to party directives by the military, leveraging the threat of severe consequences, such as imprisonment or even death, for non-compliance. This pairing ensures that the military remains under the tight control of the party leadership, effectively preventing any dissent within the ranks 1.