Kashyyyk resistance

"I've had some experience with the Wookiees. They won't be taken into captivity without a fight."
"I fully expect a fight, Commander."

―A clone commander and Darth Vader^[2]

The Kashyyyk resistance, also known as the Wookiee underground resistance movement or as the Wookiee resistance, was the name given to informal groups of resistance fighters that opposed the oppression of the planet Kashyyyk and the native Wookiees by the Galactic Empire that had turned Kashyyyk into a slave world.

Overview[]

"Wookiees do not take lightly to the threat of captivity. Already they're abandoning the tree-cities for the high forests. If they penetrate deeply enough, we will need months, perhaps years to find and root them out. Even then, the cost to us will be great, in terms of materiel and lives."

―A clone commander, to Darth Vader^[2]

The Kashyyyk Resistance fought against the machinations of the Galactic Empire. This was because of the Imperial practice of capturing Wookiees in order to use them for slave labor and at its peak, the Kashyyyk Resistance desperately fought for its survival as well as freeing their people from a reign of tyranny. The Resistance was mostly formed from Wookiee's who had broken the shackles of slavery and managed to flee into the jungles of their homeworld. Hiding within the dense jungles of Kashyyyk, they used the trees to move about undetected and strike from these positions. After the attack, they quickly retreated back into the trees and any Imperial pursuit normally suffered a high rate of casualties. The organization had a single objective which was freeing their people from slavery and removing the Empire's presence from their homeworld. This sees them sabotaging Imperial operations and attempting to increase their numbers by striking targets where their captive kin were imprisoned. Sometimes, these freed Wookiee's were encouraged to escape off-world and the Resistance conducted actions to ensure that as many of their kind were able to escape to other planets.^[1]

Wookiee resistance — Wookiee freedom fighters during the Galactic Civil War.

Though lacking a formal organization, the Resistance was formed when a band of Wookiees decided to stand up against their oppressors leading to the formation of cells with defined leaders of this small groups. At times, separate cells could merge together to form a larger group though this act was often dangerous as the Empire was ruthless and zealous in its attempts at exterminating any signs of rebellious movements on their slave worlds. This prevented the Kashyyyk Resistance from being an organized group and forced them to maintain only sporadic contact with another to the point that many of its members were unaware that there were other resistance fighters around the world. On rare occasions, the multiple group of Wookiee Freedom Fighters formed together in a joint operation to strike a blow against the Empire but the Imperial response was usually swift and brutal.^[1]

During certain moments, the Kashyyyk Resistance was aided by outside elements such as the Rebel Alliance which saw the group benefiting from the resources of another organization but maintained the ferocity as well as local knowledge of the Wookiees. Local traders and merchants were known to also support the Wookiee's by helping them to evacuvate their families or to engage Imperial slave transports.^[1]

Though Wookiee's were known for their great strength, the Kashyyyk Resistance was known to use advanced equipment to support their goals. This included the use of traditional bowcasters, devastating grenade launchers and the actions of recon droids. A linked series of comlinks were used to remotely use the recon droids that were used to scout nearby areas and were equipped with explosive charges to eliminate hidden targets. They were also known to had retrofitted Oevvaor jet catamaran so that they could be used to fight off Imperial gunships or landers.^[1]

History[]

"The Empire, of course. They are not interested in sending valuable soldiers all the way out here to help squelch this resistance but at the same time they cannot just turn a blind eye to those disobedient furballs."

―Colonel Gurnst, to a spacer^[8]

SecondBattleOfKashyyyk — Darth Vader fighting Wookiees.

The Kashyyyk Resistance was first formed during the era of the Clone Wars where it battled against the assaults from the Confederacy of Independent Systems.^[1] However, soon after the creation of the New Order, the Wookiees massively revolted against the Empire. Thousands of Wookiees warriors fought Darth Vader's clone stormtroopers but they were severely defeated due to the overwhelming use of orbital bombardment by Imperial Star Destroyers. After the battle, 200,000 captured Wookiees were enslaved by the Empire.^[2] Another large battle took place about one year later and was similarly crushed by Darth Vader.^[9]

In 2 BBY, during the early days Galactic Civil War, a Wookiee underground resistance movement was active in Rwookrrorro and led by Katarra. Jowdrrl and Ralera were also members. During that time, Katarra's resistance group was supported by Bria Tharen of the Corellian Resistance.^[3]

After the Battle of Yavin, the Wookiee Resistance was very active in the area around Kachirho. However, the Galactic Empire was not willing to lose valuable soldiers in fighting the Wookiee resistance anymore. The Empire therefore contracted the mercenaries of Task Force Bravo led by Colonel Gurnst to crush the resistance.^[8] A resistance leader during this period was the Wookiee warrior Ulaaar.^[4]

After the Battle of Endor, the Kashyyyk Resistance was able to build a large army supported by various war vehicles.^[5] Kashyyyk was finally freed of the Empire in 4 ABY, a few months after the Battle of Endor. While the New Republic navy defeated the Imperial fleet in orbit,^[6] all the battles on the surface of Kashyyyk were fought by the Wookiee resistance.^[5]