ABSTRACT
The various Soviet Russian regulations on partisan warfare used to be regarded as the best codification of guerilla tactics. Regular troops and guerillas must keep absolute secrecy before, during and after an operation, and about all their daily activities. ‘In order to carry out the operation quickly one must be thoroughly acquainted with the terrain, the roads and the nearby posts; one must be familiar with the plan of operation and one’s task; one must know the combat technique thoroughly; finally, one must be instilled with the desire to annihilate the enemy and with belief in victory.’ On arrival the troops must be allowed to rest, to study or prepare for battle, to spread propaganda among the population and to form bases. Encirclement aims at restricting enemy activities, patrols and search actions; intercepting food supplies, isolating the enemy and making life in the post intolerable.
