Guerrilla warfare facts for kids

Spanish guerilla forces resisting the Napoleonic French invasion, in 1808, where the word "guerrilla" was first used in warfare.

A guerrilla is a civilian who attacks a regular army. When civilians attack civilians, it is usually called terrorism. When two or more armies (representing countries) attack each other, this is a war.

Guerrilla warfare is a war tactic in which people (Spanish: guerrilleros) fight against an organized army. Guerrilla warfare is sometimes practiced in places where a regular army has difficulty, such as forests and mountains. Usually, this army is invading a territory.

Guerrilla is a word of Spanish origin. It means "little war". It was first used in 1808, when Spain was invaded by Napoleon, resulting in the Peninsular War with Spanish guerilla forces resisting the French army.

This war tactic was used on the British by the Native Americans. The natives had an advantage because they used guerrilla warfare. This war tactic was also used on the Americans during the Vietnam War.

Images for kids

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  Guerrilla warfare during the Peninsular War, by Roque Gameiro, depicting a Portuguese guerrilla ambush against French forces. The term "guerrilla" was coined during this conflict, which occurred in the early 19th century.

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  Lakhdari, Drif, Bouhired and Bouali. Algerian women guerrillas of the War of Independence c. 1956

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  Boer guerrillas during the Second Boer War in South Africa

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  The Estonian Forest Brothers relaxing and cleaning their guns after a shooting exercise in Veskiaru, Järva County, Estonian SSR, in 1953

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  A Tuareg rebel fighter with a DShK on a technical in northern Niger, 2008