A Timely Look at Chairman Mao's Collected Writings

ISBN: 1934255254

Collected Writings of Chairman Mao – Volume 1 – Politics and Tactics

Collected Writings of Chairman Mao – Volume 2 – Guerrilla Warfare

Collected Writings of Chairman Mao – Volume 3 – On Policy, Practice and Contradiction

Street Publication Date: 11/20/09

Mao Zedong, also known as Mao Tse-tung, is regarded as one of the most controversial figures in modern world history. After conquering the country, he ruled the People’s Republic of China from its establishment as a Communist State in 1949 until his death in 1976.

Brilliant and ruthless, his legacy includes guerrilla military warfare tactics, violent cultural revolutions, and enduring Communist propaganda. He was named one of the 100 most influential figures of the 20th century by Time Magazine.

Eric Margolis, of the Huffington Post writes of Chairman Mao:

“Mao was an accomplished poet, writer and historian, a profound thinker, and a superb military strategist. He crushed the US-backed Nationalist’s 4.3-million strong armies in a series of titanic battles, forcing his rival, Chiang Kai-shek, to flee to Taiwan… The Great Helmsman united fractured, war-torn China, restoring its pride and self-confidence after two centuries of humiliation. Mao thwarted both Soviet and U.S. efforts to turn China into a client state, and built up China’s military power… Mao’s aides dared not tell him millions were starving. Red Emperor Mao was prodigal with his people’s lives, and, according to aides who were close to him, was shockingly indifferent to their suffering. Mao horrified even brutal Soviet leaders by saying he was prepared to lose half his people to emerge victorious from a nuclear war…

Excerpt from “Collected Writings of Chairman Mao – Politics and Tactics” by Mao Zedong.
Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

WE MUST ORGANIZE THE MASSES AND UNITE WITH THEM

Modern warfare is not a matter in which armies alone can determine victory or defeat. Especially in guerrilla combat, we must rely on the force of the popular masses, for it is only thus that we can have a guarantee of success. The support of the masses offers us great advantages as regards transport, assistance to wounded, intelligence, disruption of the enemy’s position, etc. At the same time, the enemy can be put into an isolated position, thus further increasing our advantages. If, by misfortune, we are defeated, it will also be possible to escape or to find concealment. Consequently, we must not lightly give battle in places where the masses are not organized and linked to us.

WE MUST NOT FEAR THE ENEMY

When we see the enemy, simply because he has a weapon in his hands, we must not be frightened to death, like a rat who sees a cat. We must not be afraid of approaching him or infiltrating into his midst, in order to carry out sabotage. We are men; our enemies are also men; we are all men, so what should we fear? The fact that he has weapons? We can find a way to seize his weapons.

All we are afraid of is getting killed by the enemy. But when we undergo the oppression of the enemy to such a point as this, how can anyone still fear death? And if we do not fear death, then what is there to fear about the enemy? So when we see the enemy, whether he is many or few, we must act as though he can satisfy our hunger, and immediately swallow him.