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Document Title: A Study of Rear Area Security Measures Agency: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Army Research Office Release Date: November 7, 2013 Notable: A comparative counterinsurgency/rear-area-security study across five conflicts (WWII Greece & France, China 1937-45, Korea 1950-53, Nicaragua 1926-33). Provenance: This document was released in response to a FOIA request from Mr. John Greenewald. The Army Research Office, after reviewing the request, determined the report was releasable in its entirety. The document is attached to this response, with costs waived in accordance with DoD Directive 5500.7-R. The Document: A STUDY OF REAR AREA SECURITY MEASURES Greece (World War II) France (World War II) China (1937-1945) Korea (1950-1953) Nicaragua (1926-1933) SPECIAL OPERATIONS RESEARCH OFFICE THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON 16, D.C. OPERATING UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY The Special Operations Research Office, operating under contract with the Department of the Army, conducts research on military problems in support of requirements stated by the Department of the Army. This study was conducted in response to a request from the United States Army Combat Developments Command Military Police Agency. Using age-old area control and rear area security measures, the five case studies aim to provide data on cases, indicators, positive countermeasures, and negative countermeasures to assist in constructing a model or matrix reflecting the relationship between these factors and escalation of rear area security problems. The definition of rear area security is contained in paragraph 8.1b, FM 100-10. The five cases comprise this paper, and the case study approach were agreed to jointly by the USACDCMPA and the Counterinsurgency Information Analysis Center. Degradation definitions of area control and their relationship to numerical figures (Attachment I) were suggested to CINFAC by the USACDCMPA. For the five case studies, only two had a classic rear area control situation: Greece and France during World War II. Rear area control in Nicaragua 1926-1933, China 1937-1945, and Korea 1950-1953 had more of the characteristics of area control. Because of the above considerations, a broad approach was utilized. Brief background information is given in Section/SYNOPSIS. In Section/SITUATIONS, causes, indicators, positive and/or negative countermeasures of each degradation are examined without, however, being separately identified as such. In the Chinese case study, however, the descriptions of degradations were replaced with specific types of incidents because of the nature of the conflict. Context: This study is based solely on a review of selected unclassified material. Time limitations precluded collection and use of appropriate classified material and a full review of all unclassified literature on the subject. A bibliography has been added for the convenience of anyone desiring to study any…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

Case · DAILY-030

A Study of Rear Area Security Measures (Greece, France, China, Korea, Nicaragua)

JUL 6 · 2026Narrated by daily-declassified-a-study-of-rear-area-security-measures-greece-france-china4 minLast updated July 6, 2026

The short version

S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Army Research Office Release Date: November 7, 2013 Notable: A comparative counterinsurgency/rear-area-security study across five conflicts (WWII Greece & France, China 1937-45, Korea 1950-53, Nicaragua 1926-33). Provenance: This document was released in response to a FOIA request from Mr.

Date: JUL 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

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Document Title: A Study of Rear Area Security Measures Agency: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Army Research Office Release Date: November 7, 2013 Notable: A comparative counterinsurgency/rear-area-security study across five conflicts (WWII Greece &…

Questions about this case

What was A Study of Rear Area Security Measures (Greece, France, China, Korea, Nicaragua) about?: S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Army Research Office Release Date: November 7, 2013 Notable: A comparative counterinsurgency/rear-area-security study across five conflicts (WWII Greece & France, China 1937-45, Korea 1950-53, Nicaragua 1926-33). Provenance: This document was released in response to a FOIA request from Mr.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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