INSURGENCY AND COUNTER INSURGENCY WARFARE
NAZI COUNTER-INSURGENCY : POLICY AND METHODS.
By Dr Philip Blood.
This new series of publications will examine how the Nazis combatted resistance within occupied Europe. The increase in resistance fighters, guerrillas, and partisans led the Nazis into making some radical shifts in policy. They imposed the euphemism Bandenbekämpfung, meaning the combatting of criminal gangs, to outlaw the resistance movements and as an excuse to employ police actions against the indigenous populations. Introduced in August 1942, it was a policy congruent to Nazi racial programmes (genocide and resettlement), and had the additional task of securing the economic exploitation of the occupied territories. Sole responsibility for this policy rested solely with Heinrich Himmler as chief of the SS and Police.
The roots of German counter-insurgency practices are traced back to Franco-Prussian War, the colonial wars, the First World War, the Freikorps counter-revolution and the Legion Kondor in Spain. This series will provide the most complete study of the methods, language and terminology, operations and organisational analysis yet covered on German counter-insurgency policy. There will be maps, organisational charts and diagrams. The first in the series are:-
Volume 1 : German Security Doctrine 1814-1945
[Publication March 2004]
ISBN 0-85420-292-7 Hardback Edition £27.50
ISBN 0-85420-297-8 Softback Edition £17.50
Volume 2 : Staatschutzkorps - The SS and the German Police
[Publication April 2004]
ISBN 0-85420-253-6 Hardback Edition £27.50
ISBN 0-85420-258-7 Softback Edition £17.50
Volume 3 : Bandenbekämpfung-January-August 1942
[Publication May 2004]
ISBN 0-85420-263-3 Hardback Edition £32.99
ISBN 0-85420-268-4 Softback Edition £19.99
To be followed by:-
Volume 4 : The 1944 Bandenbekämpfung Manual
Volume 5 : Bandenbekämpfung - Operations and Methods
Volume 6 : Bandenbekampfverbände – Himmler’s army of occupation
FRANCO’S MOROCCAN DIARY
The Diary, published for the first time in English, is the personal contemporary account written by General Franco when he was a Major and second-in-command of the Spanish Foreign Legion fighting in Morocco between 1920-1922. It is his record of service in this unique Spanish formation’s first campaign. The formation was raised in 1920 and was soon in action against the Moor insurgents led by Abd-el-Krim. The Legion rapidly became known as a tough and effective fighting force often being used in the most difficult and dangerous operations.
Franco was already the outstanding junior officer in the Spanish Army, by the age of 23 he was the youngest captain in the Spanish Army, decorated three times with the Cross of Military Merit. He left Africa at the end of 1922 was promoted Lt. Colonel in 1923 and became the Foreign Legion’s commander. In 1926 he became the youngest general in the Spanish Army.
This Diary gives a vivid account of the experiences of a Spanish Foreign Legionary officer under the command of Colonel Millán Astray.This diary includes Franco’s views of the importance for the Spanish officer to serve in the African Theatre so as to gain an understanding of the essentials of soldiering.
The translator / editor has included extensive footnotes on the units, individuals and locations mentioned in the Diary.
[Publication June 2004].
210 x 295mm, 140 pages, stills, maps.
ISBN 0-85420-296-X Hardback edition £27.50
ISBN 0-85420-292-7 Softback edition £17.50
RUSSIAN - SOVIET UNCONVENTIONAL WARS IN THE CAUCASUS, CENTRAL ASIA AND AFGHANISTAN
By Dr R F Baumann
This is the first time RUSSIAN-SOVIET UNCONVENTIONAL WARS IN THE CAUCASUS, CENTRAL ASIA AND AFGHANISTAN has been made generally available. The Russians have a long history of fighting what are now called unconventional wars. Certainly since the 18th Century, and more recently in Afghanistan and Chechnia. The early wars were fought in the Caucasus. Fighting in that region started in earnest in the early 19th Century and continued to the late 1840s. Unrest continued in the region thereafter with major uprisings in the 1870s and also following the 1917 Revolution. It continues today in the Chechnia region.
As the Russian Empire expanded Russian forces dominated the Kazahk region and undertook a series of campaigns in the area between the Caspian and Aral Sea. This culminated in the assault on Khiva in 1873 and the operations in 1880-1 on the Persian border, by then the Empire was on the borders of Persia and Afghanistan. After the Revolution the Red Army conducted a long campaign in the area north of the border with Afghanistan against the Basmachis Central Asian resistance. The Soviet operations started in 1918 and the last rumblings of resistance was finally quelled in 1933, though no serious fighting took place after 1924.
The Soviets had considerable experience in the conduct of and fighting against, insurgency warfare. Prior to World War II it was either suppressing or encouraging such wars on its Asian frontiers. In World War II it organised activities behind the German line in Russia as well as supporting resistance and partisan movements in eastern and central Europe. After World War II it had to deal with resistance in the Ukraine and other areas of the Soviet Union that had been liberated from German occupation. Since World War II it encouraged, supplied and trained numerous participants in insurgent wars from the large scale such as Vietnam to the insignificant. In 1979, after the Soviet military intervention in Kabul, the Red Army allowed itself to become involved in an unwinnable war. This despite the Soviet experience in such fighting that extended back to the Revolution. Furthermore their conduct of operations demonstrated their failure of how such a war should be fought.
210 x 295mm, iv + 112 pages,129 maps.
ISBN 0-85420-008-8 Hardback edition £32.99
ISBN 0-85420-013-4 Softback edition £19.99
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN
Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet Afghan War
By Colonel A Jalali and Lt.Colonel L W Grau.
A three volume study of operations and actions of the Afghan Mujahideen resistance fighting against the Soviet Forces in Afghanistan 1979-1989. When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan few realised how long the fighting would go on and that it would end with the Soviets being forced into a humiliating retreat. 620,000 Soviets served in Afghanistan during this period, of which 525,000 were in the Soviet Armed forces, 90,000 were KGB and 5,000 MVD. The Soviets lost nearly 14,000 killed, 469,685 wounded and sick, of those over 10,500 became permanent invalids. In addition to the human loss vast amounts of equipment was destroyed including jet aircraft, helicopters and tanks, as well as trucks and support vehicles. The Afghan losses were staggering from a population of 16.5 million over 1.3 million were killed, and a further 5.5 million - one third of the population - found refuge outside the country. Very few copies of the original edition of THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN were printed, and none were generally released.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN contains accounts of numerous actions fought by the Afghan resistance each account is told by the Afghan commander who participated in the action described. These commanders in the vast majority, were civilians who took up arms against the Soviets and developed the skills necessary to command guerrilla units. Most of these accounts are supported by a full page coloured map, that show the topography, the locations of the attackers and defenders, movements, fields of fire etc.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN is an invaluable guide to anyone wishing to understand modern guerrilla warfare, whether conducting one or fighting against guerrillas in the field. In addition it provides invaluable insights in how to train and support guerrillas in the field. Each operation is commented on to highlight the elements that caused the operation/action to succeed or fail. In the event of failure what should have been done to have prevented such failure, or in the case of success what could have been done to have improved on that success.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN effectively shows what is required to conduct a successful guerrilla/insurgent campaign. The techniques and experiences described apply not only to Afghanistan but also to many other parts of the world such as the Balkans, Central and South America, Sri Lanka, the southern borders of Russia and the Far East. These volumes are not just a history of a series of operations and actions but a manual on the conduct of guerrilla operations as well as what support and assistance such a campaign requires to succeed.
OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN: Volume 1
34 accounts, with 33 coloured & 4 b/w maps with chapters on Ambushes, Raids, Shelling Attacks, and Attacks on Strong Points.
210 x 295 mm, x + 129 pages, 33 Colour and 4 Mono illustrations,Tables of Symbols & Index.
ISBN 0-85420-360-5 Hardback edition £32.99
ISBN 0-85420-365-6 Softback edition £19.99
OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN: Volume 2
24 accounts. Chapters on Mine Warfare, Attacking Lines of Communication, Sieges, Fighting Heliborn Insertions, Defending Against Raids, Defending Cordon and Search .
210 x 295 mm, iv + 119 pages, 25 Colour and 5 Mono maps, Colour & Mono diagram, Tables of Symbols & Index.
ISBN 0-85420-370-2 Hardback edition £32.99
ISBN 0-85420-375-3 Softback edition £19.99
OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN: Volume 3
36 accounts Defending Base Camps, Counter Ambushes, Encirclement, Urban Combat. Also included are a number of accounts, with maps and commentary, from Soviet sources which recount actions already described from the Mujahideen point of view in these volumes. The Soviet accounts were written by officers who had taken part in these actions themselves.
210 x 295 mm, Colour and Mono Maps, Table of Symbols, Index.
ISBN 0-85420-306-5 Hardback edition £32.99
ISBN 0-85420-311-7 Softback edition £19.99
ANTI-PARTISAN WARFARE IN THE BALKANS 1941-1945
A study by two senior German officers, one a Mountain Corps commander the other an SS Police Colonel, both of whom had first hand experience of fighting Partisans in Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece in World War II. Fighting in the Balkans has always been far from easy, the hatred of the indigenous population combined with the terrain made the conduct of successful sustained counter insurgency operations very difficult. The Germans had to rely on their Allies, the Italians and Bulgarians, as well as collaborationist units whose effectiveness and reliability was often in doubt. This study describes the problems faced by the German occupation forces, the rise and development of the guerrilla movements, the early counter-measures by Germany and her Axis allies, the organisation of the guerrilla units, the impact of the Italian defection in 1943, and operations in 1943 and 1944. The appendices include the Yugoslav Army Order of Battle in early 1941, notes on German General Officers and German formations mentioned in the narrative, Orders of Battle of the German Divisions. Notes on the Italian formations mentioned in the narrative, and a commentary on the Bulgarian Army.
210 x 295mm, x + 101 pages, Orders of Battle, 8 Maps.
ISBN 085420-225-0 Hardback edition £25.99
ISBN 085420-230-7 Softback edition £12.99
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Insurgency & Counter Insurgency