The History of Commissar

These articles are about the real history behind COMMISSAR – a novel about the Russian Civil War by D.V. Chernov. Want to receive updates about future books in this series? Follow D.V. Chernov on social media for updates and new content.

Characters of Commissar

Commissar is based largely on real historical events and people. Here is a handy reference to who is a real historical person and who...

Weapons of Commissar: Mauser C96

The iconic Mauser "broom handle" pistol was popular on both sides of the Russian civil war. Although not as ubiquitous as the Nagant revolver,...

Weapons of Commissar: Mark V Tank

The British heavy tanks are probably some of the most recognizable machines of WWI. Manufactured by the Metropolitan Carriage and Wagon Company in Birmingham,...

Weapons of Commissar: Armored Trains

During the Russian Civil War, both the Reds and the Whites relied on trains to move troops and equipment across Russia's vast expanses. Many...

Allied Intervention in Russia: Siberia

One of the events in the novel Commissar is the Allied intervention in Russia. Overshadowed by World War I, this is an often-forgotten episode...

Dora (Fanny) Kaplan

One of many factual events in the novel Commissar is the attempted assassination of the Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. In the evening of August...

Commissar is now available in print and eBook formats

Commissar: A Novel of Civil War Russia is now available to order. Named Semi-Finalist in the 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards, Commissar is the...

Chanticleer Reviews Gives Commissar 5 Stars!

“DV Chernov’s historical espionage thriller, Commissar, deserves a place alongside the best in early 20th c. Russian historical fiction. Highly recommended!” – Chanticleer Reviews Read...

Seattle Book Review Finds Commissar Enthralling

“A taut mystery and espionage story. Not only is Commissar an exciting read, it’s also an excellent introduction to the struggles of the nascent Soviet...

Interview with the Historical Novel Society

David Connon with the Historical Novel Society interviews D.V. Chernov about Commissar: A Novel of Civil War Russia. Read the full interview here.
Semi-Finalist - Chanticleer International Book Awards
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