Guerilla warfare in two civil wars

Focus of the topic §

This document discusses the use of guerrilla warfare by the Vietcong in the Vietnam Civil War and by Castro’s forces in the Cuban Revolution. It analyzes the successful tactics employed by both groups and the effective situations in which guerrilla warfare was utilized. The document also mentions the background information of guerrilla warfare and the significance of the Vietnam War compared to the Cuban Revolution.

Background Info §

• Guerrilla warfare is an unconventional form of warfare where small groups conduct ambushes, sabotage, and other tactics to fight a larger enemy.
• The Vietcong, with a force of 200,000, fought against the US and Diem’s ARVN, which had over 2 million soldiers, in the Vietnam Civil War.
• Castro’s forces fought against Batista in the Cuban Revolution.
• Both the Vietcong and Castro’s forces used guerrilla warfare, which had been successful in previous wars like the Chinese Civil War.
• Vietnam received support from China and the Soviet Union, while Cuba later became connected to the Soviet Union.
• Although the Vietcong and Castro’s forces were similar, the significance of the Vietnam War was higher.

Body §

• P2 - Successful tactics
  • The tactics and use of guerrilla warfare by the Vietcong were effective.
  • The Vietcong used punji traps, which were easily built and caused significant physical and mental damage to soldiers.
  • They also had networks of tunnels in the jungle, which allowed them to conduct surprise attacks and hide from US forces.
  • The Vietcong’s communication with peasants and their pro-peasant goals led to support from civilians, who provided shelter and food.
  • Castro’s forces sabotaged industries, such as sugar cane fields, which were crucial for the government’s income.
  • Castro also used propaganda, including speeches and interviews, to gain support and become a figure of liberation.
  • Both the punji traps and the sabotage of industries were effective tactics that caused significant damage to the enemy.
• P3 - Effective Situation
  • Both the Vietcong and Castro’s forces were in situations where guerrilla warfare became effective.
  • The unpopularity of Diem and the US forces in Vietnam, due to their oppressive policies and actions, led to support for the Vietcong.
  • Similarly, Batista’s brutal forces in Cuba allowed Castro’s forces to present themselves as fighters for liberation.
  • However, the Vietnam War had additional factors that made guerrilla warfare more significant.
• However
  • In Vietnam, the anti-war movement in the US, fueled by television coverage and anti-war musicians, affected public opinion and weakened support for the war.
  • The weak political leadership of the US, particularly President Johnson, who underestimated the Vietcong and failed to consider the impact on civilians, contributed to the outcome of the war.
  • In Cuba, the fight against Batista’s government lasted only one year, indicating the inherent weakness of his regime.
  • Other labor activists and political groups in Cuba also fought independently from the guerrilla forces.

Possible Essay Questions §

Resources §

• The Cuban PhD Paper on Classroom, specifically chapters 3 and 5, could be a good source.
• Other source URLs are provided in the slides.
• There is also an essay on Classroom that compares Vietnam and Cuba, which should be read before writing a comparison essay.
• https://classroom.google.com/u/1/c/MzEwNTg1MTE0ODMz

Notes §

• The document suggests not focusing on “unsuccessful tactics” as they did not affect the outcome.
• However, if there is a question about evaluating effectiveness, it may be necessary to mention unsuccessful tactics.