Soviet airmen's membership in the Communist Party?

[Nikita Egorov]

Starting from beginning of the war and up to the end of 1942 people, who was in charge of ideological work had even different rank system. This happened because communist organisation in army had a so colled "two way controll system". Thus, having regimental commander at the head of regiment was not enough and politruk polka (who oftenly had a rank of politruk or starshiy politruk) also supervised ideological work. By the end of 1942 all this "party ranks" were dropped. This was linked to major reorganisation in VVS. All "party ranks" were made ordinary army ranks. As an example "Batalyonnyi Komissar" became "major". Many personalities obtained equal army ranks and became regimental commanders, escadrilya commanders and occupied other command positions. At the same time positions of "political officers" remained and their duties were carried by the same people, who has ideological background or education.
As regards to membership in the communist party. This was cosidered as great honor and surely the majority of commanders were members. Membership also could be given as a sort of award to distinguished pilots. A true hero must be a member of party only in this case his name was subjected to wide spread popularity. Otherwise, and there are lots of examples, real front pilots, who had victories and vast combat experience, but also disciplinary or other "problems" were ignored in terms of awards or commemoration because of their non party status.

[Franek Grabowski]

Privet Nikita
Judging by PPAF, party membership was a key to further career, promotion depending on it. It seems there was some opposition against politruks in the Red AF as at some point it was demanded politruk must have been a combat aircrew. Also, they were not that much liked - I have documents mentioning incidents of beating and threatening with a gun in Soviet manned units of PPAF.
Also, I have heard that party membership was popular because families would have been noticed about deaths of party members.

[Nikita Egorov]

Hi,
Many of politruks were real combat pilots. As regards to beneficials from being party member I think no doubt here. Nevertheless, I won't comment on the cases of beating and threatening... I have never come across such cases in my practise.

Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski

Privet Nikita
Judging by PPAF, party membership was a key to further career, promotion depending on it. It seems there was some opposition against politruks in the Red AF as at some point it was demanded politruk must have been a combat aircrew. Also, they were not that much liked - I have documents mentioning incidents of beating and threatening with a gun in Soviet manned units of PPAF.
Also, I have heard that party membership was popular because families would have been noticed about deaths of party members.

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by Nikita Egorov

Hi,
Many of politruks were real combat pilots. As regards to beneficials from being party member I think no doubt here. Nevertheless, I won't comment on the cases of beating and threatening... I have never come across such cases in my practise.

On 1.04.1945 navigator Shirokov two times threatened with a gun deputy for political education, ml. lejt. Vasjuk. He fired once but missed. This happenned in 2 pułk nocnych bombowców, mostly manned by Soviets. This is from a disciplinary report from May 1945.

[marsyao]

Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski

Also, I have heard that party membership was popular because families would have been noticed about deaths of party members.

Franek, this sentence makes no sense ( I guess you get from Ryan's "Last battles"), Soviet government noticed soldiers family, party member or not, when they were killed, and their families received pension too.

[Andrey Dikov]

>On 1.04.1945 navigator Shirokov two times threatened with a gun deputy for political education, ml. lejt. Vasjuk. He fired once but missed. This happenned in 2 pułk nocnych bombowców, mostly manned by Soviets. This is from a disciplinary report from May 1945.

Franek, are you sure that he threarened him, because he was "zampolit"?

May be they failed to share a girl, may be some of them abused another etc. etc.... What were the reasons?

[Franek Grabowski]

Franek, this sentence makes no sense ( I guess you get from Ryan's "Last battles"), Soviet government noticed soldiers family, party member or not, when they were killed, and their families received pension too.

Possibly, but I am certain that thousands of families were not notified. The issue was raised several times in Poland when enquires came to arrive, trying to solve fate of next of kin soldiers. Possibly it was due to chaos and another, party chain just ensured a family would be notified.

Franek, are you sure that he threarened him, because he was "zampolit"?
May be they failed to share a girl, may be some of them abused another etc. etc.... What were the reasons?

Sadly, no details in those documents. There was a very low discipline in the Soviet PPAF units, that is a fact. Another is, that almost every veteran of PPAF just hated politruks, as they called them.