All there is to Know about Guerilla Warfare
A guide by Emily Otero, period 6
What are you talking about?
The official, dictionary definition of this term is as follows:
“sudden unexpected attacks carried out by an unofficial military group or groups that
are trying to change the government by assaults on the armed forces”
In other words, guerilla warfare is basically a battle tactic characterized by ambushes by rebel
groups or groups without much political influence on the military in a desperate attempt to
change the way they are being treated. The technique was designed for use by much weaker,
violently passionate groups on unsuspecting, relatively overpowered forces, forces that the rebels
could never even dream to take on in a more open, arguably more “fair” battle situation.
Translated even further, this is pretty much a really extreme, really violent game of hide-andseek, except the hider and the seeker are the same person, and the other guy is (ideally) a
panicked, unwitting victim.
Guerilla warfare is best implemented when the attacker, usually a comparatively militarilyregressed group with limited weaponry and with a general disadvantage to their opponent, is
effective in its stealth methods. That’s all this kind of warfare has to go on; stealth. It depends
upon the element of surprise, and is used most efficiently when the rebel groups using the
technique strike in ways that seem random or unpredictable to the enemy. Common targets to a
rebel group using guerilla warfare include traffic along roads known to be used to transport
supplies or aid to the enemy, or in seemingly unrelated sites belonging to the enemy. The key is
to strike with purpose, but not to make it seem that way.
“Guerilla” in Spanish directly translates to “little wars,” which is exactly what this ambushing
technique is about – waging little wars in hopes of winning a much bigger one.
Who?
As previously mentioned, the word “guerilla” has its roots set in Spanish, which would lead us to
the logical conclusion that the technique was probably developed in Spain or Latin America,
probably during a revolution in which rebel groups would want to turn the tide in their favor in a
battle predestined to fail.
You would be right in such an assumption; guerilla warfare tactics were a massive help in the
Cuban Revolution, in which the peasant revolts led by Fidel Castro used guerilla warfare against
then-dictator Fulgencio Batista.
This, however, was not the first ever use of guerilla warfare, with it being a military strategy and
all. No one can really point out who it was that first used the tactic. Known uses of guerilla
warfare are explained in the Details section below. However, it should be noted that most (if not
all) of the groups using this strategy are rebels or revolting peasants of some sort.
Why?
A few possible motivations behind the need for guerilla warfare are:
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a lack of advanced weaponry drives a need to find alternative ways to fight, using
surprise instead
surprise attacks are known to launch units used to planning before striking into a frenzy
frenzy equals disorder, and more formal, rigid, units will be unable to cope with disorder
a smaller number of fighters emphasizes need to stay stealthy and stay healthy
striking smaller units means having a more equal amount of fighters on each side, plus
the added advantage of an ambush
interrupting supplies and aid on its way to the opponent slowly weakens them, making
them easier to take down
Details?
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Used by the Arabs against Israel and Britain in 1936 over conflicting religious views in
Palestine (conflict continued in more traditional military tactics later on)
Used by the Chinese Communist population, aiding the Chinese military ito drain
Japanese military power in the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)
Used (under the name of “Viet Cong”) by communist North Vietnam against noncommunist South Vietnam (starting 1954)
Used by Fidel Castro and his army of peasant rebels used guerilla warfare against thendictator Fulgencio Batista in the Cuban Revolution (1956-1959)
Used in Africa in the 1960s to be taken serious enough to get rid of undemocratic
government imposed by the Portuguese in the areas of Mozambique and Angola
o Later organized by Nelson Mandela, leading the African National Congress
against apartheid, or social segregation in South Africa based on race
Used in El Salvador by the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front in their own
revolution against oppression an injustice; its effectiveness got them US financial support
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Used ruthlessly by Hindus in Sri Lanka against (much more dominant) Buddhists over
the territories of Kashmir (official end to violence resulted in 2002)
Where?
Guerilla warfare isn’t something that can be tied down to one precise location – its basic idea has
spread all across the world, as evidenced in a few of the major displays listed above. If one thing
is for sure, though, it is found to be practiced amongst the outnumbered and outclassed. It finds
its home in desperation and perseverance, and, in every instance in which it has been introduced,
it hopes to fight its way to victory.
Why do I care again?
Not only was this kind of warfare extremely effective in revolutionary acts regardless of time
period, ethnic group, or global region, allowing otherwise harmless peasants to stand up for
themselves, but it also is still being used today. Terrorist attacks are nothing more than guerilla
“ambushes” meant to strike fear into people’s hearts to make a point, no matter what that point
may be. The secret to a terrorist attack and the secret to a guerilla ambush are one and the same,
because they are one and the same.
Additionally, there is a possibility of this topic cropping up on the AP exam. If that doesn’t make
you care at least a little bit, then nothing will.