War Department

Combating the Guerrilla (1945) War Department

Guerrilla warfare may have one or more of three aspects. These aspects are (1) the inaccessible strongpoint or reduit, (2) the irregular bands, or partisans, with or without a reduit and (3) the undercover or underground party which may operate alone or in conjunction with the other aspects. Guerrillas disrupt lines of communications and military government by military and political action. They must attain surprise, mobility, and inaccessibility to be successful. The most effective means of defeating guerrilla activity is to cut them off physically and morally from the local inhabitants. While stern measures, such as curfew, prohibition of assembly, limitations of movement, heavy fines, forced labor, and the taking of hostages, may be necessary in the face of a hostile population, these measures must be applied so as to induce the local inhabitants to work with the occupying forces. Although the advantages of the guerrillas are mobility and surprise, his weaknesses are his dependence on others and his lack of resources, especially in equipment and resupply. A knowledge of guerrilla activities is a prerequisite to being able to devise effective countermeasures.