The guerrilla war

As out of date as this book is, it is still of use for a historical and psychological look at the tactics of the guerrilla warrior.

Che's basic principles are simple - any guerrilla force, if properly trained and motivated and with popular support, can overthrow an unpopular repressive government and replace it with one which represents the popular will. Che's record was 1 for 3. Cuba being an unequivocal success, with the Congo less so, and Bolivia ending in his own death.

Some of his principles on tactics are long since out of date. The US Army no longer uses M1 Garands. Any practitioner of night warfare must note its difficulty ever since the invention of night-vision goggles, IR vision, and satellite imagery. However, some were out of show more date even on publication. I doubt that napalm and air strikes are an 'inconvenience'.

Nevertheless, many broad principles remain true. Become popular with the people through propaganda and good behavior. Move constantly. Out-endure the enemy, fire up the grievances against them. Attack supply lines and convoys with explosives.

What, then, is a counter-insurgent to do against such an army? I, a mere student of humanity, offer these few scattered suggestions.

-Maintain positive relations with the population at ALL COSTS
-Establish areas where the population feels secure, and systematically expand them
-Substantively address any economic/social grievances through investment in infrastructure, education, etc.
-Have a means for the population to voice grievances peacefully (democracy)
-Have competent governance
-Have a solid and reliable means of gathering intelligence, whether HUMINT, SIGINT, or alternates
-Have total control of the air
-Establish basic economic services, make the people feel more secure with the counterinsurgency present

All easier said than done. And what should the counterinsurgency avoid?

-Do NOT have an external occupier as the main force for counterinsurgency (See the average Libyan's view of the United States versus the average Afghan's)
-Do NOT coerce or intimidate the people
-Do NOT cause excess collateral damage
-Do NOT loot/steal/pillage supplies from the local population (Ex: See the 'Three-Alls' policy of the Imperial Japanese Army for what not to do)
-Do NOT forcibly move/resettle the civilian population. This will stir up resentment
-Failure in adapting to changes in tactics, communication, propaganda
-Above all, do NOT make your force appear to be the greater threat than the insurgents are.

For all of the book's flaws, it is still an interesting read - the psychology and the mind of the resistance fighter is similar, although the tactics are long since changed. show less

Neither useful as a historical document of the Cuban Revolution, nor as a blue print for rural revolution (Che was unable to replicate his Cuban success in South America or Africa), Guerrilla Warfare is a book that would have long ago been relegated to the dustbin of history, if the face of the most marketable communist in history didn't adorn the dust-jacket. Skip it.

He is ready to give his life, but the positive quality of this guerrilla warfare is precisely that each one of the guerrilla fighters is ready to die, not to defend an ideal, but rather the convert it to reality.


Guerrilla Warfare by Che Guevara is the book of standards and tactics for guerrilla warfare for the 1960s. Guevara needs no introduction. He is either loved or hated with very few people not taking sides.

Although dated in terms of weapons and the lay of the land after fifty years, the book still holds value. Technology has certainly changed. The Chiapas rebels made history by using the internet to promote their cause. Live Twitter feeds now give worldwide coverage to rebellions and protests. Much has changed since Guevara's days show more of messengers and carrier pigeons. What makes this book interesting is what makes the guerrilla. When I joined the Marines in the early 1980s, I remember reading through the pre-boot camp material while on the delayed entry program. It explained what it is to be a Marine. How I would be trained to be a cut above the military servicemen around the world. We trained and acted on a higher standard. There was a build up to being a Marine. The idea was to psych you up for the challenge.

Guevara seems to follow the same path. Guerrilla fighters were morally superior to the oppressors. They were to treat the local population with respect and prove to the population that they were the good guys. When engaging the enemy, prisoners were not to be taken. There were to be lectured on the error of their ways and released. Injured enemies were to be given medical treatment. Again, the move was made to appear to be the bigger person, but it was also a very practical move. Guerrillas were in no position to create and run prisoner camps. Guerrilla warfare's intent was to wear down the opponents to a tipping point to where the population would feel motivated to join en mass. A captured and released soldier might be less willing to put his life on the line for a second time.

This book still contains practical information. Engage the enemy only when you know you will win. Always make sure that when you engage the enemy, that you will capture enough ammunition to replace what was expended. Keep civilian casualties at a minimum; these are your allies and when acts of sabotage are needed, carry them out where they hurt the enemy and not the local population. Do not blow up a soft drink factory; it serves no military purpose concentrate on what feeds you enemy: Power plants, ammunition factories, and places that produce war material.

Guerrilla Warfare is an idealist type of book. It instructs on what makes a guerrilla a hero and leaves out what happens when things go wrong. It is written to make fighting an oppressor morally right and a noble cause. Guevara insists that outside government forces and influence should be kept out of the struggle. Why change from one master for another? In keeping with that theme, he does not mention communism or socialism. Interesting too, Yankee and Soviets are only mentioned twice. America, when used, refers to the hemisphere and not the US. A dated read in technology, but the marketing it still rings true. Selling an idea is not much different from selling a product. Perhaps Che was a bit more of a capitalist than he thought. show less

A basic text for conducting a low tech war against a technically superior enemy, Guevara had a good mind, and had been deeply committed to the struggle against American Imperialism. The book is less rhetorical that the Mao Tse Dung effort with the same title in English. It has been reprinted many times, and is still read by both the Guerrillas and there opponents. You will see the cited edition is not the one I read by reference to the reading date.

Mostly practical advice, on organization, equipment, discipline, sabotage, and other things. Measured in tone and clear on things like decency towards the civilian population, etc. Also focus on learning and the need for indoctrination. No exaggerated portaits of the other side. It would be good if the tone of ideological discourse was more often like this.

This edition of Che's classic work Guerrilla Warfare contains the text of his book, as well as two later essays titled _Guerrilla Warfare: A Method_ and _Message to the Tricontinental._ A detailed introduction by Brian Loveman and Thomas M. Davies, Jr., examines Guevara's text, his life and political impact, the situation in Latin America, and the United States' response to Che and to events in Latin America. Loveman and Davies also provide in-depth case studies that apply Che's theories on revolution to political situations in seven Latin American countries from the 1960s to the present. Also included are political chronologies of each country discussed in the case studies and a postscript tying the analyses together. This book will show more help students gain a better understanding of Che's theoretical contribution to revolutionary literature and the inspiration that his life and Guerrilla Warfare have provided to revolutionaries since the 1960s. show less

An interesting if somewhat dated viewpoint of the ideas and theories behind gorilla warfare and revolution. Historically it was a good read.