On Guerrilla Warfare
| Author | Mao Zedong |
|---|---|
| Original title | 论游击战 |
| Country | China |
| Published | 1937 |
| Text | at |
On Guerrilla Warfare (simplified Chinese: 论游击战; traditional Chinese: 論游擊戰; pinyin: Lùn Yóujĩ Zhàn) is Mao Zedong’s case for the extensive use of an irregular form of warfare in which small groups of combatants use mobile military tactics in the forms of ambushes and raids to combat a larger and less mobile formal army. Mao wrote the book in 1937 to convince Chinese political and military leaders that guerilla style-tactics were necessary for the Chinese to use in the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Mao states that guerrilla warfare is “a powerful special weapon with which we resist the Japanese and without which we cannot defeat them.” Mao explains how guerrilla warfare can only succeed if employed by revolutionaries because it is a political and military style. According to Mao, guerrilla warfare is a way for the Chinese to expel an intruder that has more arms, equipment, and troops.
“A primary feature of guerrilla operations is their dependence upon the people themselves to organize battalions and other units.” In chapter 2, Mao explains the differences and the relationship between guerrilla and regular troops. Guerilla warfare needs to be decentralized to allow quickness and detachment. However, orthodox troops can temporarily adopt guerrilla strategy and vice versa.
Mao refers to a bevy of wars from different continents to support his belief that guerrilla warfare is necessary to expel more powerful potential conquerors. He refers specifically to Russian resistance during the French invasion of Russia, the Abyssinians' failures to resist Italian aggression in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, and Sun Yuan Li's leadership against the British in the Taiping Rebellion. He also states that guerrilla warfare cannot succeed on its own without orthodox warfare. The two should work together in an effort to defeat a larger, stronger enemy.
Mao explains that Japan’s military efforts do not have complete citizen and soldier support. He believes that China can defeat the enemy if they use guerrilla warfare and extend the duration of the war.
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