Talk:Commissariat

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When the Bolsheviks succeeded in their Coup of October/November and reorganized the Government the administrative apparatus was identified as the Commissariat. For example, Leon Trotsky served at one time as Commissar for Foreign Affairs and then as Commissar of War. I would amend the entry but lack the more detailed knowledge about the Commissariat to write further about it. (Incidentally, this usage would be distinct from the use of the term in the Red Army where, like Western armies, a commissary fulfills a logistical role) LAWinans (talk) 05:36, 26 November 2017 (UTC)Reply

This article mentions that the Major-General hopes to someday "know precisely what is meant by commissariat". He's actually saying that he does know what is meant by it, trying to impress his listeners with his knowledge (of this rather mundane word). The effect is the same though; the Major General comes off as a buffoon for thinking that knowing this word, having nothing to do with military tactics, will impress them, when he really demonstrates that he has very little in the way of actual military knowledge. --Jonnybgoode44 (talk) 21:37, 31 May 2011 (UTC)Reply

That's the precise opposite of what's going on in the song. The section it comes from is:

In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon” and “ravelin”, When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a javelin, When such affairs as sorties and surprises I’m more wary at, And when I know precisely what is meant by “commissariat”, When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery, When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery; In short, when I’ve a smattering of elemental strategy, You’ll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.

"In fact, when" sets up an unfulfilled condition: the Major-General is explicitly stating that he does not at present know what commissariat means, but that when he does, he will be an ideal major-general (but he isn't at the moment). 87.115.26.19 (talk) 02:50, 2 November 2012 (UTC) NefertumReply