Partisan's Companion

Learn how regular citizens fought back against Hitler's army in this exclusive translation of the first guide for Soviet partisans. The original version of this manual was distributed to the public in December 1941 as Nazi tanks rolled toward Moscow. Inside was chapter after chapter of guerrilla warfare and survival tactics designed to turn ordinary civilians into freedom fighters capable of defending the motherland against a superior force.

Of historic note as the first step toward the development of an organized Soviet partisan movement, the original book had an initial printing of 50,000 copies; printed on low-grade paper, they are rare finds today. In this translation, you'll learn the tactics of partisan warfare as practiced by Soviet citizens during World War II, including how to destroy tanks; set up and use improvised sniper positions; carry out sapper work such as felling trees, damaging telephone and telegraph wires and destroying bridges; fighting with knives and entrenching tools; and surviving under harsh winter conditions.

The Partisan's Companion's relevance to the 21st century is undeniable: the partisan, or guerrilla, has remained a deadly threat that cannot be downplayed or marginalized.