Total Resistance

A decent primer, however, I suspect that MAJ Von Dach cribbed the material from old Swiss military manuals. So it would be great if you are in WWII fighting Nazi's.A lot of material on railroads, which basically have been replaced by trucks in the US.A good book to have in your library, but don't depend on it alone; read other top-rated books on the subject as well.

Much of the minutiae may not be as useful anymore, for example how to take down phone lines, and there are other facets which simply did not exist in the author's time, for example drones or digitized electronic warfare. Other facets are too specific to the Swiss military (e.g. instruction for specific mines, grenades) and the author assumes his audience (which were Swiss military and Swiss citizens who had undergone requisite military training) is already versed in basic fire-and-movement, weapons handling, patrolling, etc.Nonetheless, the book is still highly relevant to the modern, American reader. The general strategies, maxims and insights still hold true. As a book on the mindset and process behind guerrilla warfare, I have yet to ready anything superior. Additionally, the author spends a great deal of time on 3 things that are almost always absent from other treatises: 1) the methods of the enemy to psychologically and socially disrupt resistance to its occupation; 2) how to form and grow secure social organization which will allow for resistance and guerrilla groups to form and survive; 3)the implications and issues of establishing PR, propaganda, finance, etc. for the resistance. Even the classics on guerrilla warfare, such as Mao's and Che's books, avoid these topics almost entirely and focus more upon a general notion of 'spirit of resistance' or on tactical considerations.Dach's book spends good time on the issues related to guerrilla field operations, but he also equally covers the civilian resistance aspect (i.e. non combat/interdiction related) and the enemy's methods of organizing and conducting himself.There are also various maps/illustrations in the book that initially appear quaint or simple, but will illustrate the various concepts well without a lot of "clutter" that you might find in a book that was too specialized. Invaluable are photographs or illustrations that illustrate, for example, the best spot to hang explosives on a railroad tank car, or how to best and most expediently sabotage a bridge. These sorts of illustrations are also consistently lacking in most of the literature on this subject.In the end it's an excellent source, especially considering it's brevity and cheap price; tremendous value.

Written in 1958, then translated and issued in English in 1965. Interesting that there is an introduction by Col. Wendell Fertig US Army Retired. Fertig was in the Army in the Philippines and was trapped on Mindanao in WW II when he organized the Philippinoes into a resistance. Fertig awarded himself a higher rank in WW II to better work with the natives, unfortunately, this annoyed Gen McArther, and he was very cool to Fertig in WW II.The book is obviously dated as it was written in 1958, which is now 56 years ago. The book is written around a condition like WW II, where Switzerland would be attacked and overrun in part or in whole, and the war continued, and the Swiss could expect some relief at some time in the future.He talks about guns, and points out that almost all Swiss homes have guns, and that the people would give them to a resistance as the occupier would confiscate them all, or kill people found with guns. It should be noted that the Swiss now and for decades have their army guns at home if in the reserve, or there former army guns if they have retired from the reserves. The Army rifles would be the equivalent of the US M-16, with a fully automatic capability. This is about what they could to to discomfort the enemy.I liked the way he finished the book: "We must and will win this battle since each Swiss male and female in particular believe in the innermost part of their hearts - even if they are too shy and sober in everyday life to admit or even to speak about it - in the old and yet very up-to-date saying: "Death rather than slavery!"Anyone interested in guerilla warfare by a European country may find this book interesting.

The author has proven once again what's in a man's mind is the true weapon, not the tools he uses. The author is a genius in the trade of unconditional warfare.

If you are looking for something to pass time it is great it is a.bit outdated but has a solid foundation

This is an interesting read but out of date information. The book is written for a 1950’s or 1960’s Cold War perspective. While some information in the book is timeless, other information in now completely wrong due too changes in technology and tactics.

this book is the playbook of what should happen if Switzerland fell to the Nazis during ww2. this was the play by play instructions on fighting the occupation and causing the occupiers so many headaches they'd want to leave after dealing with months of harassment from the Swiss.the book itself was in my opinion dated, and it makes some of the fighting info invalid- but other info in the book makes it viable even in today standards.I wish more counties like the USA would have more civil defense plans in place to make books like this their game plan- it's not likely the US will ever be invaded- aside from the flux of undocumented illegals coming in to the US from our south.The people should have some responsibility in maintaining our own freedoms -this book would be valuable if America ever fell to another super power and in our current state of economic decline we won't be able to pay our own troops to work over seas at these wars- let alone police our own borders for security! no more important information then just reading this book and learn about over throwing a tyrannical government, like the one we have now. -lol- it's a joke! Good luck with that!

It is ok just not what I was expecting

Well I lost my original red covered one thst was the good reprint from the late 1980s. This one isn't quite as good but is the easily available issue of the moment. Has some small print and other minor problems previously mentioned here by past reviewers. Magnifying glass at the ready for reading. Otherwise it is pretty much the same as the older editions. Just not as clearly presented.

This isn't a re-print of an old title. It's a scanned copy of an old version. The result is a poor quality print, and the diagrams are difficult to read.It's readable, but in sections, only just.

A great reminder of how to set up a localised resistance movement in case of invasion or civil war. Lots of interesting helpful facts and details.

Excellent, very informative

This manual on Guerrilla warfare is one of the best that I have seen. It deals with the Guerrilla Group and the Civilian organisation support.