A
partisan is a member of an
irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation. The term can apply to the field element of
resistance movements that opposed
German rule in several countries during
World War II (most notably,
Soviet Partisans).
History
As early as the 12th century in Europe, if not before, war parties or detachments from the main body were frequently used on raids to gather or destroy supplies. The term "partisan" was used in the 17th century to describe the leader of a war party. Techniques of partisan warfare were described in detail in
Johann von Ewald's
Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg (1789).
The initial concept of partisan warfare was the use of troops raised from the local population in a war zone, or in some cases regular forces, that would operate behind enemy lines to disrupt communications, seize posts or villages as forward operating bases, ambush convoys, impose war taxes or contributions, raid
logistical stockpiles, and compel enemy forces to disperse and protect their base of operations. It was this concept of partisan warfare that would later form the basis of the "Partisan Rangers" of the
American Civil War. In that war,
Confederate States Army Partisan leaders, such as
John S. Mosby, operated along the lines described by Von Ewald (and later by both
Jomini and
Clausewitz). In essence, 19th century American partisans were closer to
Commando or
Ranger forces raised during
World War II than the "partisan" forces operating in
occupied Europe. Such fighters would have been legally considered uniformed members of their country's
armed forces.
One of the first manuals of partisans'
tactics in the 18th century was
The Partisan, or the Art of Making War in Detachment... by
de Jeney,
hungarian military officer served in
Prussian Army as
captain of
military engineers during
Seven Years' War - published in London, 1760.
Partisans in the mid-19th century were substantially different from raiding
cavalry, or from unorganized/semi-organized
guerrilla forces. The
Russian partisans played a crucial part in the downfall of
Napoleon. Their fierce resistance and persistent inroads helped compel the
French emperor to flee Russia in 1812.
It was during World War II that the current definition of "partisan" became the dominant one—focusing on irregular forces in opposition to an attacking or occupying power.
Soviet partisans, especially
those active in Belarus, were able to effectively harass
German troops and significantly hamper their operations in the region. As a result, Soviet authority was re-established deep inside the German held territories. There were even partisan
kolkhozes that were raising crops and livestock to produce food for the partisans. The communist
Yugoslav partisans were a leading force in the liberation of their country during the
People's Liberation War of Yugoslavia.
Examples
See also
