In the opening chapter of on war, a careful distinction is made between war in theory and war in reality. The characteristics or form of war typical in any particular age might change, but the essential nature of war. On war is perhaps the greatest book ever written about war. It was like a beam of light from the past, still illuminating present day military quandaries. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Here clausewitz discusses war not as it is in reality, but as it is in theory, in the abstract. Echevarria ii, clausewitz and contemporary war oxford, oxford university. He was a prussian war strategist who lived in the late 18th and early 19th century, whose work still holds sway in. He refers to war in the abstract or what war should logically be as absolute war, war in theory, war in pure theory, the natural tendency of war, play of imagination, or. War is merely a wrestling match on an extensive scale, an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will.
We claim that clausewitz theorization of strategy advances the ongoing scholarly conversation on the. It is an extraordinary attempt to construct an allembracing theory of how war works. This book is a classic and a must for every one interested in military history and history in general. For americans, most of whom have not felt the hard hand of war, and whose policy makers seem to believe that drones and air strikes are all that are needed to solve the problems of war, clausewitzs warning at the very beginning of on war deserves the closest attention. Kindhearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way. When clausewitzs widow published on war in 1832 a year after her husbands death, it was received with a respect which may have owed more to clausewitzs reputation as one of the great generation of prussian military reformers, a pupil of scharnhorst and a close colleague of gneisenau, than to any deep or widespread study of its contents. Since the works first appearance in 1832, it has been read throughout the world, and has stimulated generations of soldiers, statesmen, and intellectuals. Art of war reads more like a manual written as a succinct guide for the prince.
His most notable work, vom kriege on war, was unfinished at his death. His magnus opus on war is used by military historians, strategists, and politicians to this day. Princeton university press, 1984, particularly if you are using this book for your scholarly or research work. Wallach as most would suspect when studying clausewitz is looking to establish relations between the military and politics. Available in the national library of australia collection. Reading his book is required at military academies today.
Feb 26, 2006 enter your search terms separated by spaces, then press. However, grahams edition only contains the first four books of the work. Clausewitz s theory of the paradoxical trinity and the us strategy in the gulf war open pdf 707 kb. He coined the famous or infamous depending on how you see it war is the continuation of politics by another means. Others claim that the rise of nonstate warfare, in the. Clausewitzs categories of war and the supersession of. On war is the most noteworthy endeavor in western history to get war, both in its inner elements and as an instrument of. Most of it was written after the napoleonic wars and was published after his death.
He joined the russian army to fight against the french invasion of russia. He is most famous for his military treatise vom kriege complete text available here, translated into english as on war. Graham translation of clausewitz s vom kriege 1832 published in london in 1873. The 197684 howardparet version is the standard translation today. It is commonly believed that clausewitz s treatise had a greater impact on military leaders of the late xix and xx centuries than any other book. He served in the campaigns of 179394 on the rhine, after which he seems to have devoted some time to the study of the scientific branches of his profession. A painting of the the battle of moscow, 7th september 1812, from 1822 by louisfrancois lejeune. From clausewitz to ludendorff 33 practice it would not.
In his book vom kriege on war the expression is explained. On war is the most significant attempt in western history to understand war. It has been translated into english several times as on war. A newly abridged edition of clausewitz s classic study of war, using the acclaimed translation by michael howard and peter paret. As we approach, the thunder of the cannon becoming plainer and plainer is soon followed by the howling of shot. War is a continuation of politics by different means. It is a difficult and dense book that few dare to explore entirely, but many of its ideas have become widely known, principally that famous aphorism. It looks at the relevance of clausewitz, the general operational plan in iraq, and the vital clausewitzian theories such as the importance of. Analyzing clausewitzs theory on war a really cool blog. Clausewitzs theory of the paradoxical trinity and the us. Thucydides the peloponnesian war as a vehicle, the course examines basic concepts related to war, policy, and strategy that are essential for students to understand. The genesis of on war \ peter paret the influence of clausewitz \ michael howard the continuing relevance of on war \ bernard brodie on war.
Wallach as most would suspect when studying clausewitz. Clausewitzs conception of war is strikingly unique. Its coherence and ambition are unmatched by other military literature. The esteem in which clausewitz is held is certainly unmatched in the. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy. He is most famous for his military treatise vom kriege, translated into english as on war.
This is an essay which has been submitted as requirement for the international security course. Sensitively abridged to retain all the essential chapters on the conduct and philosophy of warfare. Graham 1808 1883 a classic work on military strategy by a veteran of the napoleonic wars. His work and ideas have significantly influenced the strategic theory and his statements and beliefs are among the most frequently cited, and also among the most controversial. Gatzke stressed clausewitz s unlimited war of annihilation, his absolute war, without mentioning the other possibilities covered by the theory in on war. War in theory is now carefully designated with the novel term absolute war, underlining that it is a phenomenon which is absolved, or set free from the. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at title. Son of an officer he entered the prussian army at eleven or twelve years old in 1792 and fought in five wars and at least thirtysix battles, including some of the bloodiest battles of the napoleonic era. Written sometime between 18161832 after the napoleonic wars. By comparing this theoretical version of war with reality, clausewitz aims to identify how and why these two types of war di.
Grahams translation of the original work is adequate. Knowledge of such issues offers students of war and strategy a. On war is the most significant attempt in western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy. He gained enduring fame for on war, which provides deep insight into the theory and conduct of war. A german military general and theorist, he spent the better part of life working either on field or researching on war. On war is the most noteworthy endeavor in western history to get war, both in its inner elements and as an.
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