The High Command of the Red Army

Abstract

T HE supreme direction of Russia's war effort is in the hands of Joseph Stalin. He is the Commander in Chief of all the military forces of the U.S.S.R., the People's Commissar for Defense, and, last but not least, Chairman of the Supreme War Council. This Council, consisting of eleven members, plays an extremely important part in the direction of the war. The chief of the General Staff, Marshal Boris Shaposhnikov, holds the post of Stalin's special adviser on all military matters. According to the Soviet Constitution, the question of war and peace is among the prerogatives of the Supreme Soviet (the Soviet Parliament). In the intervals between sessions of the Supreme Soviet, its praesidium enjoys that prerogative, and is entitled, in emergency, to declare war. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet is also entrusted with appointments of the High Command of the Red Army, dismissals, and changes. The Sovnarkom decides the extent of the yearly draft into the army, and also questions connected with the internal structure of the army. The Commissariat of Defense controls all the military forces of the Union, the General Staff, and the Political Department of the Red Army. The territory of the U.S.S.R. is divided, for the purposes of defense, into a number of military districts, each of them headed by a committee of three, one of whom is the Commander of the Military District. Short sketches follow of the characteristics and careers of the most distinguished members of the Soviet High Command.