In our system of universal military training, barrack life must be reduced to a minimum, so that ultimately the Red barracks may completely disappear. - Nikolai Bukharin

The Red Army has been created by the workers for the struggle with the White Army of capital. The Red Army issued out the civil war; it will disappear when a complete victory has been gained in the war, when class has been abolished when the dictatorship of the proletariat has lapsed.

We see now that infringement of freedom is necessary with regard to the opponents of the revolution. At a time of revolution we cannot allow freedom for the enemies of the people and of the revolution. That is a surely clear, irrefutable conclusion.

The political commissars are the representatives of the class will of the proletariat in the army; they are mandated by the party and the military centres.