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The Simple Sabotage Field Manual. [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-02-11

"His arsenal is the kitchen shelf"

-Simple Sabotage Field Manual, Section 1, Introduction.

The Simple Sabotage Field Manual (Strategic Services Field Manual No. 3) was published in 1944 for use in Strategic Services training. It came with the directive that it be "carefully controlled and not allowed to come into unauthorized hands". It was declassified in 2008 and is public domain in the US.

The Office of Strategic Services was an intelligence agency formed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the purpose of coordinating espionage behind enemy lines among all branches of the American military, along with propaganda and subversion. It was dissolved shortly after the end of World War II, followed by a succession of similar agencies, eventually leading to the formation of the CIA.

The Manual was meant to provide guidance for ordinary civilians, acting alone, to obstruct and disrupt the operations of fascist takeover during World War II. The idea being that along with deployment of armed forces in wartime, small acts of civilian resistance are also valuable. Their cumulative effect can be considerable.

It's available to read online for free from the Project Gutenberg website. It's also available as a free PDF download (link at the end of the story). The "sabotage" mainly consists of various acts of civil disobedience, non-cooperation, and neglect/vandalism of enemy property and equipment. It's interesting and even inspiring, but it's not the Anarchist Cookbook. (Which is also available for free online from another source).

It's been a subject of increasing interest recently.

Screenshot from the Project Gutenberg website, 6 February 2025.

And on Monday 10 February 2025.

Section 1, the Introduction, discusses the various forms that sabotage can take, and utilizing ordinary civilians, who while less technically skilled than trained military, are highly motivated and capable of causing a lot of disruption for the enemy.

Screenshot from Section 1, Introduction.

Also from Section 1.

Section 2 emphasizes actions that involve minimal risk, possible to accomplish by individuals acting alone, targeting things which a citizen saboteur comes in daily contact with.

From the Section 2, Possible Effects.

Section 3 addresses motivating a saboteur and provides suggestions for getting away with actions. It includes a discussion of ways to persuade the citizen saboteur to set aside their natural aversion to willful neglect and destruction.

Screenshot from Section 3, Motivating The Saboteur.

Section 4 discusses tools, targets, and timing. Actions to be taken before and during a military offensive are covered.

Screenshot from Section 4, Tools, Targets, And Timing.

Section 5 is a long, very detailed list of specific actions to take and how to do them. There are directions for making homemade fuses for starting fires. Ways to effectively disrupt water and sewage systems, and cause damage to machinery, vehicles, and electrical devices. Disruption of manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and transportation are covered.

From Section 5, Specific Suggestions For Simple Sabotage.

There are also suggestions for "lowering morale and creating confusion" in the enemy.

Also from section 5.

I was surprised by how many of the suggestions could still be useful eighty-odd years later. A few sound very much like things being done right now, like clogging up tip lines with bullshit reports and boycotting movies, news, etc.

The Simple Sabotage Field Manual is available free to read online or as a download from Project Gutenberg.

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Thank you for reading. This is an open thread, all topics are welcome.

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