Mao Tse-Tung On Guerilla Warfare | Samuel B. Griffith

On Guerrilla Warfare

Extended Synopsis

In 1937, while in retreat after a grueling decade of battling the Nationalist troops of Chiang Kai-shek, Mao Tse-Tung penned a succinct yet profoundly influential pamphlet that would permanently alter the landscape of military strategy. On Guerrilla Warfare constitutes the first systematic, theoretical analysis of asymmetric insurgent combat. Within its pages, Mao outlines the core tenets of protracted warfare, establishing himself as the chief architect of a revolutionary method of combat that relies on mobility, political indoctrination, and the critical support of the civilian populace.

This specific 2017 volume by Martino Fine Books is a full facsimile reproduction of the highly regarded 1961 edition. It features the classic translation by General Samuel B. Griffith, USMC, a premier military strategist of his era. Griffith's authoritative introduction contextualizes Mao's theories for a Western audience, making this text an indispensable resource for understanding the mechanics of insurgency and the ideological frameworks that shaped modern 20th-century conflicts.

Special Features & Edition Details

• A faithful, full facsimile reprint of the original 1961 USMC edition, preserving historical accuracy.
• Includes the seminal translation from the original 1937 Chinese text (游击战) by General Samuel B. Griffith.
• Features an extensive contextual introduction providing a strategic analysis from a leading United States Marine Corps officer.

Reader Targeting

• Military historians, defense analysts, and strategic planners studying asymmetric warfare and counter-insurgency.
• Academic scholars and university students focusing on Chinese political history and communist ideologies.
• Readers seeking foundational primary source documents that shaped 20th-century geopolitics.

About the Author & Translator

Mao Tse-Tung (Mao Zedong) was a Chinese communist revolutionary who became the founding father of the People's Republic of China, which he ruled from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976. His Marxist-Leninist theories, military strategies, and political policies are collectively known as Maoism.

General Samuel B. Griffith II was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps and an esteemed military historian. Earning his doctorate at Oxford University, he became one of the foremost Western experts on Chinese military theory, famously translating both Mao's On Guerrilla Warfare and Sun Tzu's The Art of War.

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