Carl von clausewitz famous book 1

His book on war published posthumously in prussia as vom kriege in 1832, was adopted as a key text at the naval war. It has been translated into english several times as on war. His theories despite being centuries old still find reference and cast an important influence on the modern strategic thinkers. Sun tzus art of war, machiavellis the prince, and the works of later writers like hartliddel writing of indirection and mao writing of guerilla warfare form other marks on this road. Kindhearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat the enemy without too much bloodshed, and might imagine this is the true goal of the art of war. 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. New and revised edition with introduction and notes by col. He was commissioned to take part in the campaigns of the first coalition against revolutionary france. His most notable work, vom kriege on war, was unfinished at his death. The difficulty lies in clearly and consistently identifying, locating, and naming its many interesting concepts. One of the most influential military writers of all time, clausewitzs work strove to comprehend how napoleon had been such a successful commander and how he was eventually defeated. Graham translation of clausewitzs vom kriege 1832 published in london in 1873.

This concept was featured in the first half of the first chapter of his most famous book, on war. Grahams translation of the original work is adequate. This is remarkable given that the original text of on war is an unfinished manuscript published posthumously by his wife marie. He gained enduring fame for on war, which provides deep insight into the theory and conduct of war. He coined the famous or infamous depending on how you see it war is the continuation of politics by another means. Although the name has been alleged by some writers to have had polish origins, the family was german and patriotically prussian.

This chapter contains clausewitzs most famous saying about war, that it is the continuation of politics policy. Selfreliance is the best defence against the pressures of the moment. The 197684 howardparet version is the standard translation today. He is most famous for his military treatise vom kriege, translated into english as on war. However, grahams edition only contains the first four books of the work. He gained enduring fame for on war, 1 which provides deep insight into the theory and conduct of war. His magnus opus on war is used by military historians, strategists, and politicians to this day.

In it, clausewitz explained that absolute war is a philosophical abstractiona logical fantasythat is impossible in practice because it is not directed or constrained by. On war is the most significant attempt in western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy. Clausewitz has served in the rhine campaign 17931794, when the prussian army invaded france during the french revolution and in the napoleonic wars from 1806 to 1815. Graham translation published by nicholas trubner in london in 1873. He was the youngest child of the family and had three elder siblings. Dylan says that vom kriege was one of the books he looked through among those he found in his friends personal library as a. Since the works first appearance in 1832, it has been read. In addition to living in very different times clausewitz in the 18th and. Clausewitz was born on 1 june 1780 in burg bei magdeburg in the prussian duchy of magdeburg as the fourth and youngest son of a middleclass family, though it made claims to noble status that carl accepted. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy. Continuously emphasizing that war is a continuity of policy by other means, clausewitz, in his 20 years work, has defined perfectly the theory of war, its tactical and strategic purposes.

It was written mostly after the napoleonic wars 18161830. His father served as the lieutenant in the prussian army and later on took to working at the prussian internal revenue service. He is most famous for his military treatise vom kriege complete text available here, translated into english as on war complete text available here. Students at the army war college study clausewitz and. His teachings combined strategy with military knowledge to produce a dialectic approach to the philosophy of warfare, and his work is still widely taught in military academies around the world. A painting of the the battle of moscow, 7th september 1812, from 1822 by louisfrancois lejeune. He was a prussian war strategist who lived in the late 18th and early 19th century. Read by timothy ferguson with linda ferguson in section 2. The book is considered one of the most important works on strategy and politicalmilitary analysis ever written, and the book remains controversial and influential to this. War is merely a wrestling match on an extensive scale, an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will. One of the most difficult books ive ever read so far. A german military general and theorist, he spent the better part of life working either on field or researching on war. Clausewitz was a realist in many different senses and, while in some. Burg, magdeburg, prussia, germany location of death.

Wallach as most would suspect when studying clausewitz is looking to establish relations between the military and politics. The book has influenced military thinkers and practitioners as diverse as sir julian corbett, vladimir lenin, mao zedong, harry summers, and colin powell. This recording is the unabridged text of the first two books of clausewitz s massive three volume treatise on war. A classic work on military strategy by a veteran of the napoleonic wars. Russian army 1812 prussian general and military writer, was born at burg, near magdeburg, on the 1st of june 1780. Consider the more modern versions and other relevant books shown below. Graham translation of clausewitz s vom kriege 1832 published in london in 1873. On war volume 1 is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. Clausewitzs family claimed descent from the barons of clausewitz in upper silesia, though scholars question the connection. Princeton university press, 1984, particularly if you are using this book for your scholarly or research work. On war also widely known by its german name vom kriege is considered to be clausewitzs magnum opus, despite the fact it remained unfinished at the time of his death.