Despite being official political commissars, they were not addressed as "commissar". The Commissar was a member of the Council of the People's Commissars. Political commissars operated alongside military commanders. Officers were in command with the communists doing the organisation and providing political commissars. Lenin was appointed its chairman, alongside five deputy chairmen and ten people's commissars (ministers). They are represented as akin to the ruthless, political commissars of the former Soviet Union. Only those commissars who were identified as deserters were sent to Mauthausen. They also served as political commissars for the Ming armies in times of war. Following their placement in concentration camps, most Soviet "commissars" were executed within days. The regiments had political sections, commissars, instructors and secret service. A new Soviet government took charge of the country, the Council of People's Commissars. Stasi commissars in three of those cities committed suicide. Chairmen of the Council of People's Commissars ("Turksovnarkom"). In the following months, reports continued to be filed regarding the executions of Soviet commissars. Kamenev was acting Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars in Lenin's absence.