ABSTRACT
The Communist Party of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics came to power through the Red Guards, forerunner of the Soviet Armed Forces. This force was created as an instrument of the Party for seizing and keeping power. The Party is alert to ensure that it maintains control over the Armed Forces. The extent of Party control over the Soviet Armed Forces, and the methods by which this control is maintained, may seem incomprehensible to Western readers. Additional controls of the Party over the military are exercised by the Committee of State Security's Directorate. In 1946 the Main Political Administration of the Soviet Armed Forces was formed in the People's Commissariat of the Armed Forces. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union guides Party-political work in the Armed Forces through the Main Political Administration of the Soviet Army and Navy.
