In it, he calls for a protracted peoples war, as a means for small revolutionary groups to fight the power of. Mao s sayings, printed in a little red book, were distributed during the cultural revolution. Document excerpts with questions longer selection follows this section from on guerrilla warfare, by mao tsetung, translated by samuel b. In china, mao zedong 18931976 wanted to overthrow the rule of the guomindang or kmt and establish a new communist political order under the leadership of the chinese. Mao, a 44year old guerrilla leader in the communist red army in china when he wrote on guerrilla warfare, outlined what he felt was an overarching strategy for guerrilla forces in order to achieve victory. Mao zedong, the father of modern guerrilla warfare theory. In many countries, there are but two classes, the rich and the miserably poor. Chairman mao would later become the founding father of the peoples republic of china. The three stages of maos revolutionary warfare parallel. Clearly guerrilla operations are an important component of revolutionary war, but the underlying principle and fundamental objective is. This reference publication is mao tsetungs thoughts and philosophy of guerrilla warfare. Without a political goal, guerrilla warfare must fail, as it must, if its political objectives do not coincide with the aspirations of the people and their sympathy, cooperation, and assistance cannot be gained. Mao himself is officially regarded by the cpc as a great revolutionary leader for his role in fighting against the japanese fascist invasion during the second world war and creating the peoples republic of china, but maoism as implemented between 1959 and 1976 is regarded by todays cpc as an economic and political disaster. In his book, mao describes guerrilla warfare as one of many methods used by an oppressed people to combat aggression.
On guerrilla warfare mao zedong, mao tsetung, samuel b. Twelve years later, the nationalist chinese were rousted from the mainland, and mao consolidated his control of a new nation, having put his theories of revolutionary guerrilla warfare. In this book mao discusses the differences between guerrilla and orthodox military forces, as well as how such forces can work together for a common goal. The book is written in the context of chinas guerrilla war against japanese occupiers. Having already had ten years guerrilla experience, mao was already an expert, and in this book he beautifully explains his basic strategy and tactics. What should be noted is that for mao zedong gueril. Fmfrp 1218 mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare marines. The essence of guerrilla warfare is thus revolutionary in character. Phase i is devoted to the organization of an underground resistance movement to spread propaganda and elicit support for the. On guerrilla warfare work by mao zedong britannica.
Mao zedongs on guerrilla warfare and joseph kabilas lost. In 1937, mao tsetung wrote this manual on revolutionary guerrilla warfare. The first documented, systematic study of guerrilla warfare, mao tsetungs 1937 text remains the definitive guide to orchestrating revolution in developing countries. It is important to understand his philosophy of guerrilla warfare because it is the basis of todays guerrilla forces.
He was the mastermind who basically predicted how the war in china will proceed against japan. Mao zedong s 22 years in the wilderness can be divided into four phases. It is therefore the principal concern of all guerrilla leaders to get the water to the right temperature and to keep it there. When mao wrote on guerrilla warfare in 1937 the chinese communist party ccp had been at war for a decade in one of the largest countries in the world. Mao zedong on war and revolution asia for educators. Brief timeline 1930 mao writes a single spark can start a prairie fire. While guerrilla tactics can be viewed as a natural continuation of prehistoric warfare, the chinese general and strategist sun tzu, in his the art of war 6th century bce, was the earliest to propose the use of guerrilla warfare. This book is not so much a howto venture on the tactics of waging a guerrilla war. Nov 30, 2007 discover book depositorys huge selection of mao zedong books online. Mao zedong was a marxist theorist, revolutionary, and, from 1949 to 1959, the first chairman of the peoples republic of china.
If there also exists even the nucleus of a revolutionary party able to supply doctrine and organization, only one ingredient is needed. It gives the reader a chance to learn about this type of warfare from one who lived and fought as a guerrilla for most of his adult life. Strategy and tactics of guerrilla warfare wikipedia. Published in 1961 following the cuban revolution, it became a reference for thousands of guerrilla fighters in various countries around the world. Nov 08, 2018 when mao wrote on guerrilla warfare in 1937 the chinese communist party ccp had been at war for a decade in one of the largest countries in the world. One of the most influential documents of our time, mao tsetungs pamphlet on guerrilla warfare has become the basic textbook for waging revolution in. One of the most influential documents of our time, mao tsetungs pamphlet on guerrilla warfare has become the basic textbook for waging revolution in underdeveloped and emergent areas throughout the world. Jan 28, 2010 this special edition contains the two most important essays by mao on guerrilla warfare tactics in a new, completely uncensored format.
Based on the basic strategy and tactics of warfare as described by suntzu, mao stresses the importance of guerrilla warfare tactics in a revolutionary war, emphasizing that they must be combined in conjunction with conventional warfare tactics. Twelve years later, the nationalist chinese were rousted from the mainland, and mao consolidated his control of a new nation, having put his theories of revolutionary guerrilla warfare to the test. What is the relationship of guerrilla warfare to the people. This is one of the more famous quotes from mao zedong s small book on guerrilla warfare. According to mao, guerrilla warfare is a way for the chinese to expel an. This book analyzes the nature and conduct of guerrilla warfare, and considers its implications for american policy. This book was written by mao zedong 18931976 in 1937, as he was waging a guerrilla war against the occupying army of imperial japan. Mao zedong on war and revolution a revolution is commonly understood to be an event which seeks to overthrow one political order in society and replace it with another. Mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare think like a horse. From on guerrilla warfare, by mao tsetung, translated by samuel b. Mao and the communists continued to employ guerrilla warfare in the struggle against the japanese beginning in 1937. Mao has aptly compared guerrillas to fish, and the people to the water in which they swim. First developed by the chinese communist revolutionary leader mao zedong 18931976, the basic concept behind peoples war is to maintain the support of the population and draw the enemy deep into the countryside stretching their supply lines where the.
Origins of modern guerrilla warfare of protracted revolutionary war, maos on guerrilla warfare 1937, which was later called the most radical, violent and extensive theory of war ever put into effect. If the political temperature is right, the fish, however few in number, will thrive and proliferate. They also made significant contributions to the field of irregular warfare. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare. Tackling one of the most prevalent myths about insurgencies, this book examines and rebuts the popular belief that mao zedong created a fundamentally new form of warfare that transformed the nature of modern insurgency. This special edition contains the two most important essays by mao on guerrilla warfare tactics in a new, completely uncensored format translated by chen song. The myth of mao zedong and modern insurgency springerlink. This is one of the more famous quotes from mao zedongs small book on guerrilla warfare.
Dec 15, 2017 putting asides politics, mao zedong was one of the most tactful military leaders of the 20th century. Revolutionary guerrilla warfare this ebook list for those who looking for to read revolutionary guerrilla warfare, you can read or download in pdf, epub or mobi. In it, he repeatedly emphasizes the importance of two main foci in revolutionary warfare. Selections from on guerilla warfare asia for educators columbia. One of the most original military thinkers of the twentieth century was mao zedong 1893 1976, the communist revolutionary who became the founding father of the peoples republic of china. Mao wrote the book in 1937 to convince chinese political and military leaders that guerilla styletactics were. Mao zedong books list of books by author mao zedong. What al qaeda learned from mao the surprisingly secular guerrilla strategy behind the wouldbe islamist revolution by michael w. Mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare by mao tsetung books on. On guerrilla warfare was one of the books left by chinese leader mao tse tung, but unlike his more famous red book, this one is dedicated entirely to military strategy. May some of ebooks not available on your country and only available for those who subscribe and depend to the source of library websites. Mao stresses the importance of guerrilla warfare tactics in a revolutionary war. Mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare and millions of other books are available for. December 26, 1893 september 9, 1976, also known as chairman mao, was a chinese communist revolutionary who became the founding father of the peoples republic of china prc, which he ruled as the chairman of the communist party of china from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976.
Mao zedong, the father of modern guerrilla warfare theory one of the most original military thinkers of the twentieth century was mao zedong 1893 1976, the communist revolutionary who became the founding father of the peoples republic of china. Mao wrote on guerrilla warfare in 1937 while in retreat after ten years of battling the nationalist army of chiang kaishek. Mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare three days supply of rice. How did mao zedong implement the guerrilla warfare tactic.
Mao was one of the most influential and controversial political figures of the 20th century, in china and abroad. Mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare kindle edition by tse. This big picture approach to a revolution resonates through the book. On guerrilla warfare is mao zedongs 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. The red book of guerrilla warfare kindle edition by. In just seven chapters, mao explains what guerrilla warfare is, how guerrilla operations relate to other war operations, guerrilla warfares place in history, how guerrilla warfare contributes to victory, how guerrilla forces should be organised, the crucial political element required in guerrilla forces, and how this all comes together in a strategy of guerrilla resistance. Mao explains how guerrilla warfare can only succeed if employed by revolutionaries because it is a political and military style. In a war of revolutionary character, guerrilla operations are a necessary part. Based on mao s own experiences in fighting chiang kaisheks nationalists and his interpretations of the classic strategies of suntzu, on guerrilla warfare outlines the tactics that have proven effective around the world, from vietnamese jungles to middle eastern deserts. Although the text has been compared to mao zedongs on guerrilla warfare, guevara claimed not to have read maos book. Both mao tsetung and che guevara had outsized impacts on the social, political and cultural landscape of the 20 th century. Guerrilla warfare was influenced by two books from the spanish civil war.
An insurgency, or what mao zedong referred to as a war of revolutionary nature, guerrilla warfare can be conceived of as part of a continuum. He literally wrote the book on the modern theory of insurgency. Mao states that guerrilla warfare is a powerful special weapon with which we resist the japanese and without which we cannot defeat them. In 1937, mao tsetung wrote this manual on revolutionary guerrilla warfare during the japanese invasion of china. Its difficult to make sense of the tactical decisions made by ho chi minh and general vo nguyen giap during the indochina wars without understanding. On guerrilla warfare book by mao zedong thriftbooks. Nov 01, 2007 buy on guerrilla warfare by tsetung, mao, zedong, mao, samuel b. Mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle.
Peoples war, also called protracted peoples war, is a maoist military strategy. Mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare great majority of its citizens. Nov 06, 2015 mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare ebook written by mao tsetung. In 1937, mao set his ideas out in a small book entitled on guerrilla warfare. Kings of revolution is a compendium of prominent guerilla leaders worldwide including george washington, simon bolivar, mao zedong and. Based on mao s own experiences in fighting chiang kaisheks nationalists and his interpretations of the classic strategies of suntzu, on guerrilla warfare outlines the tactics that have proven effective around the world, from. Mao writes, guerrilla warfare has qualities and objectives peculiar to itself. The man stands, raises a water bottle to his lips, rinses his mouth, spits out the water. As a revolutionary leader, mao zedong laid the economic, technological and cultural foundations of modern china, transforming the country from an agrarian society into a major world power. Surviving a revolution and guerrilla war doesnt necessarily make one an expert on guerrilla warfare. Guerrilla warfare pdf download full download pdf book. On the low end are smallscale raids, ambushes and attacks.
Mao tsetung reference archive 2000 written by mao in 1937, when japanese imperialists occupied all of china, this book served as an instruction manual for guerrilla fighting, written based on more than a decade of personal experience by mao. Mao wrote the book in 1937 to convince chinese political and military leaders. This reference publication is mao tsetungs thoughts and. Putting asides politics, mao zedong was one of the most tactful military leaders of the 20th century.
See all books authored by mao zedong, including on guerrilla warfare, and quotations from chairman mao tsetung, and more on. Mao never states in the book that he is some sort of expert, so i cant fault him for that, but i wouldnt take mao s book as a be all end all guide to guerrilla war. Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants, such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or irregulars, use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hitandrun tactics, and mobility, to fight a larger and lessmobile traditional military. Mao tsetung on guerrilla warfare great war stories. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.