I dedicate this book first to the memory of Edson Souto, Marco Antonio Bras de Carvalho, and Elson José de Almeida, known as "Escoteiro," and to the many unnamed heroic fighters and urban guerrillas who perished at the hands of the assassins of military oppression: the army, the navy, the air force, and the Brazilian Department of Public and Social Order, known by its acronym DOPS.

Secondly, I dedicate this book to those brave comrades, both men and women, imprisoned in the Brazilian Government's medieval dungeons where they have been subjected to torture more cruel and horrendous than the crimes of the German Nazis.

We fight in memory of those comrades we most revere, those who fell in battle, and those taken prisoner.

Every comrade opposing the military dictatorship who joins in the struggle contributes in his or her own way, no matter how insignificant the task.

All readers of this manual will agree that no one can remain passive. Read this manual. Follow its instructions. And join in the struggle. No matter what your philosophy or personal circumstances, you become a revolutionary only by making a revolution.

A revolutionary does not read this manual, then put it on the shelves with his personal library. He passes it on to other revolutionaries. Those who support our revolutionary cause should make copies of the manual, print a new edition, so that it serves as a handbook for every working revolutionary.

Finally permit me to state why this book bears my name. The ideas expressed in it reflect the personal experiences of many engaged in the Brazilian armed struggle. I have the honor to be one of them. I assume full responsibility for this book so that those who read it can never doubt its truths, nor deny the reason why we fight. Many contributed their ideas and experiences to this book. There are good reasons why they must remain anonymous. These patriots are now in a war, dying like soldiers. The more who join us in the struggle, the better.

The words armed struggle and terrorism no longer imply evil. These words today wear new clothes. Their color is new. Terrorism today is not factionalism, It does not dishonor one. It is rather the focus of mass action.

To join the armed struggle and to become today's terrorist ennobles the spirit. It is an act worthy of all revolutionaries engaged in armed struggle against the shameful military dictatorship and its monstrosities.

Carlos Marighella