The PKK, on the one hand, focuses on acts of terror to create fear in society, on the contrary, it aims to gain sympathisers and reorganise people. The PKK has continuously voiced that their so-called guerrilla struggle against the state is a kind of national liberation movement conducted on behalf of allegedly oppressed Kurdish people.
However, there is a great contradiction between the method and actions they implement and its core argument. In this regard, the number of civilians killed by the PKK between and surpassed deaths, including public officials, teachers and village guards. The PKK has carried out acts inconsistent with the guerrilla warfare techniques such as killing, kidnapping and bombing civilians, thus violating the whole law of war. This character of PKK is sufficient for defining them as a terrorist organisation.
Terrorist groups with inadequate funds and human sources started to seek support from the people. Otherwise, they found sustenance through foreign fighters. In the contemporary world, the quality of the armed groups is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Nowadays, terrorists and guerrillas both resort to asymmetric and hybrid warfare techniques, seek public support, wear uniforms and continue to target civilians.
The materials ranged from scavenged tin can to discarded wire, but the most important ingredients were provided by the enemy. In a year, dud American bombs could leave more than 20, tons of explosives scattered around the Vietnamese countryside. After air-raids, volunteers retrieved the duds and the dangerous business of creating new weapons began. Local forces also designed primitive weapons, some designed to frighten intruders, but others were extremely dangerous.
Punjis were often deliberately contaminated to increase the risk of infection. The Vietcong were masters at moving through and blending into the local terrain. From now on, the Vietcong would avoid pitched battles with the Americans unless the odds were clearly in their favor.
There would be more hit and run attacks and ambushes. To counter the American build-up, Vietcong recruitment would be stepped up and more North Vietnamese Army troops would be infiltrated into South Vietnam. The Vietcong, following the example of Chinese guerillas before them, had always given the highest priority to creating safe base areas.
They were training grounds, logistics centers and headquarters. They also offered secure sanctuaries for times when the war might go badly. Hiding the base areas had always been a high priority for the Vietcong. Now, with American spotter planes everywhere, it was more vital than ever to protect them.
In remote swamps or forests, there were few problems, but nearer the capital, it was much more difficult. The answer was to build enormous systems of underground tunnels. The orders coming from NLF headquarters were absolutely clear. In response, Union commanders tried sending out scouting parties to capture the guerrillas.
These attempts, however, accomplished little. Guerrillas, who had the advantage of surprise and knowledge of the territory, were nearly impossible to catch and efforts to capture them only distracted soldiers from fighting the Confederate army.
Their inability to stop the guerrillas who continued to destroy Union supplies and kill Union men encouraged a growing dislike among Northern soldiers for the Southern population from which the guerrillas came. Union commanders began to hold civilians responsible for the actions of guerrillas, often by burning homes and communities, arresting civilian non-combatants, and in some cases evacuating entire counties.
By , the guerrilla war throughout the South had become confused, bloody, and disorganized. The Union Army had ceased to tolerate guerrillas, and met their attacks unhesitatingly with retaliation. Civilians, exhausted by the violence in their communities and hopeful of preventing Federal retaliation against their homes, lost their support for the guerrilla movement and it soon began to die out.
Despite the significant role that guerrillas played during the war, academically they have received very little attention. Early Civil War historians characterized guerrillas as interesting yet irrelevant, and as a result the importance of guerrillas during the Civil War has been largely understated. Today, however, historians are beginning to recognize the role that guerrillas played in shaping both the outcome of the war and wartime society. Guerrillas, whether they fought as bushwhackers, jayhawkers, or partisan rangers, influenced both the Confederate home front and Union military policy, and proved to be important, if slightly overlooked, figures in the American Civil War.
Ash, Stephen V. Grimsley, Mark. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Mackey, Robert R. Norman: The University of Oklahoma Press, Sutherland, Daniel E. Learn More: Logistics of the Civil War. Civil War Article. Guerrilla Warfare.
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