NCJ Number
63487
Date Published
1966
Length
157 pages
Annotation
THIS COLLECTION OF LECTURES DELIVERED BY MAO TSE-TUNG DURING CHINA'S WAR WITH JAPAN PRESENTS MAO'S IDEAS FOR USING GUERRILLA WARFARE AS A POLITICAL WEAPON TO MOBILIZE THE CHINESE PEOPLE.
Abstract
UNLIKE MANY OF MAO TSE-TUNG'S WRITINGS, HIS PUBLISHED LECTURES DEAL ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WITH PROBLEMS OF MILITARY TACTICS RATHER THAN THE LARGER POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL ISSUES RAISED BY THE WAR OF RESISTANCE AGAINST JAPAN. THIS EMPHASIS ON PRACTICAL MATTERS WAS NATURAL IN LECTURING TO FUTURE GUERRILLA COMMANDERS WHO HAD ONLY MINIMAL FORMAL EDUCATION. A LENGTHY INTRODUCTION TO THE LECTURES DESCRIBES THE INFLUENCE OF MAO ON THE CHINESE PEOPLE DURING WORLD WAR II AND THE COMMUNIST REVOLUTION. BOTH THESE MODERN CONFLICTS AND THE CLASSICAL TEXT OF SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR INFLUENCED MAO'S CONCEPTS OF UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE. MAO'S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS STATE THAT AN UNDEREQUIPPED ARMY OF THE MASSES CAN SUCCESSFULLY FIGHT A PROTRACTED STRUGGLE AGAINST TECHNOLOGICALLY SUPERIOR FORCES. GUERRILLA ARMIES MUST CONSTANTLY CHANGE THEIR LOCATIONS AND STRIKE ONLY THE WEAKEST PARTS OF THE OPPOSING FORCES. POPULAR SUPPORT FROM THE MASSES IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE GUERRILLAS WHO REQUIRE ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR WOUNDED AND PLACES FOR ESCAPE. AMBUSHES AND DIVERSIONARY ATTACKS ARE RECOMMENDED BY MAO AS PROPER METHODS FOR CONDUCTING A WAR OF ATTRITION. MAO DESCRIBES IN DETAIL THE STRUCTURE AND TASKS OF GUERRILLA ARMIES. PROPER MILITARY TRAINING SHOULD DEVELOP THE PEOPLE'S CAPACITY FOR SELF-DEFENSE. EDITOR'S NOTES SUPPLEMENT THE LECTURES. (TWK)