Guerrilla - GCSE History Definition

Guerrilla refers to a form of irregular warfare fought by small groups of soldiers such as armed civilians, or irregular soldiers, often against larger traditional military forces. This approach involves tactics like ambushes, sabotage, raids, and hit-and-run strategies. It’s often used when a smaller force is fighting a larger, better-equipped army, and relies on knowing the local area well. A famous example is the Vietnam War, where Viet Cong fighters used guerrilla tactics to attack American troops, using the jungle to hide and strike unexpectedly. Guerrilla warfare was also used much earlier in England by Hereward the Wake, who resisted Norman rule by leading surprise attacks and using the marshland of Ely to his advantage. Studying guerrilla warfare helps GCSE students understand how smaller resistance groups challenged powerful armies throughout history — and how these tactics could be very effective in certain situations.