"Commisar uniform?" Topic

First time Soviet player here, painting up a platoon for Chain of Command. I've got the PSC's excellent 15mm Soviet Infantry box set, and I've done my basic platoon and am now bring into the support. I was planning on using one of the senior officer models as a Commissar, but what little info I could find on uniforms doesn't show much of a difference between an officer and a Commissar. Was there a difference, or was it just cap badges, or similar? I'm looking for something easy to spot on the table, like different pants, different hat bands or something. Obviously, I can always just do a different base or something, but I was hoping there might be other things I can use. Thanks for any help.

The only distinction Commissars wore was a pair small stars on the lower sleeves.

If you want to make them pop on the table, give them officers blue trousers.

Thanks 😊

Last year I was strolling near "red" square on May the 9th. Lots of vet from ww2 shaking hands, getting bouquets etc. One old chap was in full NKVD uniform, a colonel. Obviously no one considered his ww2 possible exploits, no doubt not having a clue about the uniform; he looked nice and handsome getting a lot of handshakes.

According to The Soviet Soldier of World War Two by Philippe Rio Histoire & Collections press Paris 2012, page 114: "Political commissars wear a red star at the bottom of each sleeve with an embroidered wire hammer and sickle in their centre. These stars were deleted in August of 1941, but they continued to be worn up to 1942-43." The caption goes on to say "The collar tabs are the other ranks' model, but bear officers' rank insignia. The M.35 tunic has piping in the colour of the arm, this being raspberry here for the infantry."

Indeed the model does have the officer's blue trousers bloused into knee high black boots.