Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What tactics did Mao Zedong recommend for guerrilla fighters?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
guerrilla warfare
A masked Iraqi Shiʿi militia fighter dashing across a street, carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, Baghdad, August 7, 2004.
Mao Zedong’s approach to guerrilla warfare emphasized the necessity of a political goal and the critical importance of securing the support of the rural population, which provided guerrillas with sanctuary, supplies, and intelligence.12
Key tactics and principles associated with Mao’s strategy include:
- Protracted War: Mao codified a theory of protracted revolutionary struggle, viewing guerrilla warfare as a major strategic concept rather than a minor supplement to conventional forces.34
- Popular Support and Discipline: He stressed that guerrillas must maintain strict discipline to retain the loyalty of the people. This included requirements to pay peasants for food, respect their property, and maintain proper conduct.2
- Mobility and Flexibility: Under the leadership of Mao and Zhu De, the army developed into a highly mobile and flexible force that operated throughout the countryside.4
- Attrition: Rather than engaging in pitched battles with massed troops, the strategy focused on destroying enemy forces piecemeal through attrition and harassment.14
- Control of the Countryside: Mao prioritized establishing grassroots political control over rural areas over the costly attempt to hold urban centers.54