But in war more than in any other subject we must begin by looking at the nature of the. He did not live to see the book appear in print but its influence was profound in prussia and then in the unified german nation state during the. Nov 14, 20 while book 2 is not considered complete, yet it is so important to understanding clausewitzs study of war, that it cannot be disregarded. We propose to consider first the single elements of our subject.
Princeton university press books are printed on acidfree paper. The elements in this chapter are presented in numbered sections, as follows. 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.
A thesis submitted for the degree of phd at the university of. May 15, 2018 clausewitz knew the real world was very different and said as much in book 1 chapter 2 and book 8 chapter 6. The trinity can be seen as the apotheosis of his theorising. Clausewitz on nature and character of war 1486 words.
But fighting is a trial of strength of the moral and physical forces by means of the latter. Chapter summary for carl clausewitzs on war, book 1 chapter 1 summary. A thesis submitted for the degree of phd at the university. Introduction i propose to consider first the various elements of the subject, next its vari ous parts or sections, and finally the whole in its internal structure. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy. Let us just consider the nature of this foundation, its want of trustworthiness, its changefulness, and we shall soon feel what a dangerous edifice war is, how easily it may fall to pieces. Although war is a physical contest, the moral component cannot be omitted for the condition of the mind has always the most decisive influence on the forces employed in war. We propose to consider first the single elements of our. He died before he could rewrite more than the first chapters of book one. War is a continuation of politics by different means. On war, book 1 by clausewitz my interpretation and.
Free of technical jargon, and suitable for modern readers. The 197684 howardparet version is the standard translation today. Since the works first appearance in 1832, it has been read throughout the world, and has stimulated generations of soldiers, statesmen, and. In the context of this chapter, which actually explores the relationship between objectives and the military means used. I propose to consider first the various elements of the. On war, book 1 by clausewitz my interpretation and summary. They range from the magnificent opening sequence of logically unfolding propositions to the rich but at times onesided or. Clausewitz leave a comment at long last, the muchawaited conclusion to book 1, chapter 1 of on war. He did not live to see the book appear in print but its influence was profound in prussia and then in the unified german nation state during the course of the 19th century. Graham translation of clausewitz s vom kriege 1832 published in london in 1873. However, grahams edition only contains the first four books of the work. He was a professional soldier but his legacy is that of a military strategist and theorist. If youre following along in the modern library war series edition, were on page 273.
His brief description of the trinity comes at the end of book 1, chapter 1 the only chapter we know he considered complete 10 and is presented under the. In their impedient effects they may therefore be comprehended again in the collective notion of a general friction. Having in the foregoing chapter ascertained the complicated and variable nature of war, we shall now occupy ourselves in examining into the influence which this nature has upon the end and means in war if we ask first of all for the aim upon which the whole war is to be directed, in order that it may be the right means for the attainment of the. It was a very difficult book to read and i think ive made some errors in interpretation plus grammar and spelling. At long last, the muchawaited conclusion to book 1, chapter 1 of on war. Ends and means in war clausewitz now considers the ends and means of war.
Chicago boyz blog archive clausewitz, on war, book 1. While book 2 is not considered complete, yet it is so important to understanding clausewitzs study of war, that it cannot be disregarded. The translation of clausewitzs on war is the 1943 version done by german literary scholar o. Using a clausewitzian dictum to rethink achieving victory. Clausewitz, on war, book 1, chapter 1, 1 introduction. Clausewitz knew the real world was very different and said as much in book 1 chapter 2 and book 8 chapter 6. Since howard and paret have expressed concern on more than one occasion that their translation of on war might be too clean, the translations in this essay are my own. Matthijs jolles at the university of chicago during world war iinot todays standard translation, but. In the later book, with a forewarning of liddellharts better peace, he declares. Clausewitzs on war and sun tzus art of war in one volume. Chicago boyz blog archive clausewitz, on war, book 1 my. A clausewitz for every season the american interest.
This is the book that regards the most in areas of military philosophy i. In book 1, chapter 1, clausewitz starts with describing his method, that is considering the various elements and then combining them into a theoretical whole which provides for an acceptable balance of all the complexity and tensions of these elements while also allowing their dynamic nature to remain theoretically speaking. Indextags are found on the bottom of the left column. His insistence that clausewitz was preoccupied with the role of the state, postwestphalia, is. A classic work on military strategy by a veteran of the napoleonic wars. Clausewitz begins his treatise by dispelling the foolish notions which many wish to bring to the matter of armed conflict. Clausewitz s on war and sun tzus art of war in one volume. On war, book 1 by clausewitz my interpretation and summary i have just finished reading on wars book 1 by clausewitz. A clausewitzian framework for analysis springerlink. Though the aim of a war is as variable as the political object and the circumstances of the war, there are three general objects of war. Clausewitz defines the single elements of his subject and thus to advance from the simple to the complex while outlining the shape of the whole that is, war war is defined as an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfil our will. On war is the most significant attempt in western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy. Although this distinction is commonly misattributed to clausewitz, he did not use the term nature in quite this way.
The translation of clausewitz s on war is the 1943 version done by german literary scholar o. The book was compiled from his writings following his experiences and lessons learned during the napoleonic wars. If one reads nothing else of clausewitz, book one is sufficient as it holds the most information for those not about to launch nineteenth century military campaigns. Clausewitz, on war, book 1, chapter 1, 2 definition. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy early military career. Graham 1808 1883 a classic work on military strategy by a veteran of the napoleonic wars. On war thus presents its authors thoughts in various stages of completion.
This book is a classic and a must for every one interested in. Due to the various editions of this work in print, i have included, in addition to the page number, the book, chapter, and section identifiers for. Princeton university press, 1984, particularly if you are using this book for your scholarly or research work. Clausewitz on war, book 2 chapter one national security and. War is an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will book 1, part 2, p. Clausewitzs theory of war and victory in contemporary. This book is a classic and a must for every one interested in military history and history in general. War is merely a wrestling match on an extensive scale, an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will. Consider the more modern versions and other relevant books shown below. Those things which as elements meet together in the atmosphere of war and make it a resistant medium for every activity, we have designated under the terms danger, bodily effort exertion, information, and friction.
War is thus more than a mere chameleon, because it changes its nature seine natur to some extent in each concrete case. Stated precisely, the defensive form of warfare is intrinsically stronger than the offense 353. By the word information, we denote all the knowledge which we have of the enemy and his country. It has been translated into english several times as on war. Jan 01, 2009 clausewitz, on war, book 1, chapter 1, 7 war is n. In other words, i shall proceed from the simple to the complex. Clausewitz was born on june 1, 1780 in the kingdom of prussia to a lower middleclass family. Attack is the weaker form of war with a positive object. Buy the best translationrecommended for serious readers. His most notable work, vom kriege on war, was unfinished at his death. Hew strachan is chichele professor of the history of war at oxford university and director of its leverhulme programme on the changing character of war. In his book vom kriege on war the expression is explained. First, the desire to minimize the destructive nature of conflict. When considering the each individual part of war, its relation to war as an entirety must also be kept in view 2definition.
In the second chapter of the second book, strategy has been defined as the employment of the battle as the. His insistence that clausewitz was preoccupied with the role of the state, postwestphalia, is used to bolster his argument that clausewitz cannot anymore be used to understand warfare in. Clausewitz was a realist in many different senses and, while in. When last we spoke carl had just hit on the importance of feelings. Clausewitz defines the single elements of his subject and thus to advance from the simple to the complex while outlining the shape of the whole that is, war.
327 1425 828 1220 996 1415 715 422 362 1187 1035 464 387 1018 332 504 1161 658 500 540 715 1453 58 57 948 819 444 356 1133 187 1189 1064 854 1237 28 42