Small, Forgotten Small Wars
I noticed recently a few posts on largely forgotten conflicts and although this thread has many references, I think a new thread is appropriate.
Post on Estonia (thanks to Stan):
Quote:
In the 1940s the so-called Forest Brothers were responsible for more Russian officer (single shot) kills than any other military unit to include SS death squads. They couldn't afford to squander ammo nor spend too much time in the AO. They adapted well to both the terrain and their own shortcomings (Estonian's rarely whine when the chips are down).
Added to by Cannoneer No.4:
Quote:
The Forest Brothers and the Selbschutz, Schuma Battalions, and the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (Estnische Nr. 1) whacked a lot of Sovs during the Great Patriotic War. Great Irregular Warfare stuff for a different thread.
To which Stan responded:
Quote:
Generally speaking the Forest Brothers limited their activities to supporting Estonian and Finnish soldiers and were at one time something of a myth or legend when soldiers returning from the front recanted stories of “Forest Brothers” disrupting flanking enemy fire and saving their butts. They however were not an elite SS unit hangin’ out in the trees and Bogs. One very old dude told me “how easy it was to pick off Russian officers” as they always paraded around in class A’s with all the glittering accoutrements glaring you in the face.
WW2 German counter-guerilla operations
This was the post I could not find, by JMA in the Suppressive Fire thread:
Quote:
The book Communist Guerrilla Warfare by Dixon/Heilbrunn (1955) dealing with how the Germans dealt with Soviet guerrilla activity after the invasion of 1941 was useful reading in the 70s before COIN became an "industry". It is worth study even though some of the methods used against the guerrillas were considered war crimes at the time.
This booklet, thanks to Fuchs, is available on:http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=2956428 (Requires registration for a free trial).
I have a vague memory that German operations have appeared before somewhere.
Turkish COIN campaign in Kurdistan
A war that fits the thread's title and is currently in the RFI thread:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ad.php?t=12285
Mau Mau Emergency in Kenya
A colonial era COIN war 1952-1960 that the UK would probably prefer to overlook and due to a current legal case has re-appeared. What is astonishing is that the civil disclosure requirements led to the discovery of colonial records "lost" in a store. This short BBC report is summary:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13044974
The use of torture in the 'Emergency' was well known at the time, there was a public airing of one case of abuse and killings at the Hola Camp.
A "taster" on the 'Emergency':http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mau_Mau_Uprising
50 Years Ago Today.....The Bay Of Pigs
Link to articles on the 50 year anniversary of the Bay Of Pigs.
http://specials.msn.com/A-List/Lifes...ex=1>1=36010
Some constant themes run through accounts of fighting in Africa
methinks these themes have been re-learnt more recently:
Quote:
-The ferocity of the fight – killing is the only thing that counts.
-Administrative problems, particularly the provision of water and the vulnerability of lines of communication, often determine tactics.
-Much of the terrain dictates that infantrymen do the fighting – armour, field artillery and aircraft may be useful but their presence involves costly technical support.
-Tribal custom and belief can win or lose the day.
-The local enemy leader does not burden his mind with complications such as taking prisoners or evacuating casualties.
-Africa always wins – the invaders or colonizers in the end acquiesce.
Link:http://www.kaiserscross.com/188001/home.html