Simple Sabotage Field Manual: United States Office of Strategic Services, 1944

The book opens by saying that the information in the manual is not to be distributed broadly.

I. Introduction: Characterize simple sabotage, outline its possible effects, and to present suggestions for inciting and executing it. The paper is concerned with the type of sabotage that can be done by the average citizen-saboteur. The tools of such a saboteur are things like salt, nails, pebbles, thread, things from the kitchen, materials like that.

Another type of sabotage does not require any weapons of any kind, consisting of making faulty decisions, not cooperating, and convincing others to behave in the same manner.

The overall emphasis is to do what damage the person can, without getting injured, arrested or killed in the process.

2. Possible Effects: The manual is referring to efforts in Europe.

'Slashing tires, draining fuel tanks, starting fires, starting arguments, acting stupidly, short-circuiting electrical systems, abrading machine parts will waste materials, manpower and time.'

The basic idea was that if enough people did this kind of thing on a very broad basis, it would have a major effect on the efforts of the enemy.

3. Motivating the Saboteur: The manual says they need to find a way to motivate the average citizen to engage in sabotage, and to keep him doing that.

The manual notes that it is not normal behavior for most people to engage in acts of sabotage, and it basically may go against their nature, but they need to be made to see how such acts will benefit them indirectly, or at least stop worse things from happening.

What this really is in this part is a psychological approach being used. The manual talks about building up the saboteur by convincing him that there are others doing such things and that they are succeeding in their efforts. It notes this can be done by radio broadcasts, for example.

The saboteur has to be convinced that he is acting in self-defense, or basically in revenge for things the enemy has done. It points out there are some people who will need a lot of help in figuring out what to do, and others who already know what to do but are somewhat reluctant to do that.

Then it has suggestions for how to do things like that safely. Keeping things in your home that are normal, like nails, nail files, and tools, can be done without arousing suspicion. They it suggests that people sabotage things in a way that almost anyone could be blamed for doing that. The person can also claim stupidity, tiredness, or malnourishment for 'accidents' that they cause.

4. Tools, Targeting and Timing: This goes into practical suggestions of limitations for the saboteur, such as don't use explosives unless you are really familiar with them; use everyday objects you can find; make sure what is damaged could be useful to the enemy; make any military objects top priority.

Then it divides into types of methods when nothing major military is going on, and types of methods and targets to aim for when a military operation is underway. Transportation and communication facilities are good targets in that case, and critical materials like gasoline.

5. Specific suggestions for simple sabotage: It lists specifics acts that can be committed against buildings, (use fire, water); industrial manufacturing (sabotage tools, machine parts, air cooling systems, gasoline, diesel and electric motors, etc.), mining and mineral extraction; agricultural production; transportation such as railways, automobiles. etc.; communications; electric power, and 'general devices for lowering morale and creating confusion' in the workplace.

Main Index

Main Annette Index