Hitler’s Headache – – Guerillas!

Arawa Guerilla, Issue 8, 1 November 1942, Page 3

Hitler’s Headache - - Guerillas!

One of the most significant developments in this war, arising out of the nature of operations, is the extensive use of guerilla tactics against the enemy. The guerilla was not unknown in warfare before the war, but his history is a long story and we are at present concerned with to-day. And to-day in China, Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, Java, Greece and Crete, guerillas are harrying the enemy and diverting men and materials from Hitler’s battlefronts. We propose to show in a short series of articles something of'what is being accomplished by guerilla bands and, within the limitations of space, guerilla tactics. A good deal of material is now. available of the activities of the Chinese and Russian guerillas, a little of the happenings in Yugoslavia, in spite of the fact that General Mikailovich is cut off from the outside world, but the story of the guerillas in Greece and Crete numbering amongst them some of our own troops, is an epic still to be written. In a total war it is necessary for every one, soldier or civilian, to learn -as -much as he (or she!) can of guerilla warfare. One never knows, unfortunately, when such knowledge may not prove useful. SUPPORT OF THE POPULATION The first requisite for successful guerilla operations (and this is where we “have the wood” on Hitler and Co.) is that the bands must have the support of a friendly population. The guerillas rely on the people of the country about them for information and food. General Chu Teh, leader of the. Chinese Eighth Route Army, said, “Tactics are important, but we could not exist if the majority of the people did not support us. We are nothing but the fist of the people beating their oppressors.” The guerilla is our exclusive weapon in this war. Outside the Reich, Italy and Japan, the Axis has no friendly populations.

In the countries we have mentioned above, the enemy is fighting the whole of the people. Near a village in the Ukraine enemy troops passed a 12-year-old girl hanging out washing beside a stream. She took, no notice of the invaders as' they went by, but as soon as they disappeared from sight she took the clothes from her clothes-line again. At this signal several men appeared from the woods and quickly parted the bushes nearby, exposing a radio set. The line on which the girl had been hanging the clothes was the aerial. THE ROAD THAT WASN’T At another place, in the Ukraine also, the Red guerillas called upon the villagers to help them in a little roadbuilding. To one side of a road which was being used by the enemy lay a treacherous bog. The plan was explained and everyone got to work building a road

from the highway to the bog, then piles were driven into the bog and over them was stretched a layer of canvas. A little soil and rubble on the canvas put the finishing touch to the job. Everyone hid themselves to see the result of their labours as night fell. Then a guerilla dressed in a German uniform “borrowed” from the enemy took up his post on the highway to “direct traffic.” For some time nothing happened, though the listeners, could hear enemy transport on the highway. Then, as they began to fear that something had’ g6ne wrong, down the new road lumbered a line of tanks. On they came, nearer and nearer to the bog until the leading tank reached the edge of the canvas, then, for what seemed an impossible, time, travelled across the flimsy ‘ structure. It turned slowly over on its side, slipped and sank. The second and third tanks slipped into the mire also. The fourth tank as it came on, realising that something was wrong opened fire; those in the rear, when they heard this, broke line and raced towards the morass spitting metal, to be completely destroyed. Twelve tanks altogether. ' KNOWING THE COUNTRY A good way of deciding how to attack is to say, “What methods will the enemy think impossible?” Then to find the one that is not quite impossible for determined men, and push it through as hard and fast as you can. Ambush is, of course, the standby of guerillas. To be effective it is necessary to know the country like the palm of the hand, every track, gully, short cut, every good observation point. The enemy have not got this information; this is the guerillas’ advantage. Knowledge of the country, aids the guerilla, too, in the preparation of surprises for the enemy. The guerilla band is usually on short commons for conventional weapons, very often having to rely for supplies on what he captures from the enemy. In familiar .country it is possible to improvise unusual weapons. In Northern China, on at least one occasion a man-made avalanche of stone accounted for a large Japanese detachment. Sir John Moore said during the war of the Spanish people against Napoleon: “Nothing would damp the enemy’s spirit more than to see the country turned against him. He knows the strength of our armyregular, militia and reserve—and will come prepared to meet and may hope to beat it. But how penetrate or subdue a country where the population is armed and opposed to him?” That was written a long time agobut Sir John Moore knew his stuff. In Next Issue: — “GUERILLAS IN YUGOSLAVIA.”

WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. Who was the guard who, on giving the challenge, “Who goes there?” and receiving the reply, “Staff,” said smartly, “Advance and be recognised, Rollo!” Who was the Sergeant who, on going to church one Sunday evening for the first time, returned with a red nose and a dazed look in his eyes? Who was the N.C.O. who, on boasting that he had volunteered for the Army, received the reply, “Ah, but some of us have sufficient manners to wait until we’re asked”? Who is A Company’s most scientific bludger? Who was the N.C.O. who tore madly round the lines one morning at 6.25 a.m. blowing fiercely on his whistle and generally doing his scone, only to find it was Sunday morning? What famous .personage uttered the fallowing remark, “N.C.O.’s? Concrete from the ankles up. God help them!” ? Who is the S/M. whose favourite command is, “More to the right in quarterdozens!” ? Who is “Bumble-footed Bertie.”