Clausewitz friction and genius book

This book will help leaders place clausewitz s ideas in context with the other leading theorists of war. This article first provides an overview of clausewitzs idea of genius, particularly. Clausewitz acknowledges that friction creates enormous difficulties for the realisation of any plan, and the fog of war hinders commanders from knowing what is happening. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in military matters. Its coherence and ambition are unmatched by other military literature. In mutual comparison, both clausewitz and sun tzu have been critiqued for their individual notions of genius and of promises of victory, respectively. Very few people could stay calm, seeing this for the first time badger, you can open your eyes now you will grow used to it, so that you barely notice most. This is cliff rogers article, clausewitz, genius, and the rules, the journal of military history. These difficulties accumulate and produce a friction, which no man can. The translation of clausewitzs on war is the 1943 version done by german literary scholar o. As long as we have no personal knowledge of war, we cannot conceive where those difficulties lie of which so much is said, and what that genius and those extraordinary mental powers required in a general have really to do. Taking friction to the level of politics and strategy is an excellent idea, and one that many politicians might learn from. The second lays out his theories regarding the nature of war, his ideas concerning the relationship between war and policy, and the complementary balance between friction and military genius.

But the effects of genius show not so much in novel forms of action as in. Clausewitzs on war and sun tzus art of war in one volume. Since the works first appearance in 1832, it has been read throughout the world, and has stimulated generations of soldiers, statesmen, and. He argues that intellect is not the chief indicator of military genius. Matthijs jolles at the university of chicago during world war iinot. Clausewitz expounds on the nature of strategic genius, strategy as an. Clausewitz acknowledges that friction creates enormous difficulties for the. The result was his principal book, on war, a major work on the philosophy of war.

History has certainly borne that out, particularly in the last century, with two statecentric world. The commander still must overcome fear and friction to do it. The winning simplicity we seek, the simplicity of genius, is the result of intense mental engagement. In the 10 july 1827 notice, clausewitz described the first six books as a rather formless mass that must be thoroughly revised again.

Regarding military genius, clausewitz states that two qualities are. It is precisely in the context of this challenge that he develops the concept of military genius, whose capabilities are seen above all in the execution of operations. Fortunately clausewitz provided me the third chapter of book one of on war, where he dissects military genius into its component parts and discusses them. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading on war. On war is full of sharp observation, biting irony, and memorable phrases, the most famous being, war is a. What hitler should have known the word state is identical with the word war.

Purpose and means in war on military genius on danger in war on physical effort in war intelligence in war friction in war concluding observations on book one book two. Tactically, defense is the stronger form of war with a weakeror negativeobject. Clausewitz, jomini, and the birth of modern strategy fog. All appears so simple, all the requisite branches of knowledge. Pdf comparison of clausewitz description of military genius with current.

Clausewitz, on war 1831 book iion the theory of war context. Aside from war is a mere continuation of policy by other means, one of the concepts most associated with clausewitz is probably his idea of friction. The first provides students with background information concerning clausewitz s purpose and method. Clausewitz s theory of war considered war to be a remarkable trinity of rational action policy, irrational action passion and the play of chance friction versus genius. War is complex, and any theory which sought to exclude variables introduced by such friction as human genius, courage, incompetence, and other unpredictable events is useless.

Clausewitz enlisted in the prussian army in 1792, and in 179395 he took part and was commissioned in the campaigns of the first. After the peace, he was employed in a command on the rhine. His ideas were shaped by dramatic historical events that touched him personally and professionally. On my road to professionalism i have wondered what makes a person a genius at the military arts and sciences. There is the final consideration that clausewitz was after all a child of his times. Clausewitz, on war xxi saass comps prep wiki fandom.

Some juicy quotations from clausewitz, on war these quotations are taken from the michael howardpeter paret translation, princeton university press, 197684, which is based on the original in german, vom kriege, dummlers verlag, berlin, 1832. Like jomini, clausewitz pulls from his experience during the napoleonic wars. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Clausewitz on strategy is a newly translated collection of sections from clausewitz s classic work on war thats aimed at helping 21stcentury executives and entrepreneurs grapple with the unpredictability of todays business climate. It is an extraordinary attempt to construct an allembracing theory of how war works. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy. If napoleon was the military genius clausewitz described, it raises the question how well a prussian on the other side of the napoleonic wars could observe, know, or understand the. The genius for war clausewitz next considers the factors that indicate military genius. It has been translated into english several times as on. Prince peter kropotkin, 18851 introduction as the above quote implies, as long as there are states, there are bound to be wars.

Matthijs jolles at the university of chicago during world war iinot todays standard translation, but certainly the most accurate. Clausewitz points out that there is a lot of friction in war, when issuing orders and moving men around, that nonsoldiers seldom appreciate. It is based on his observations and his own experience in the french revolution and the napoleonic wars. His combination of experience and analytical rigor has allowed him to speak with a timeless voice throughout the ages. In clausewitz and chaos, nuclear strategist and historian stephen cimbala analyzes the role of friction in military planning and strategic decision making. Genius, for clausewitz, was not some sort of magic black box. Technology, military genius, and the improbable victory.

Memorandum written by clausewitz shortly before his death book i. Vom kriege has been translated into english several times as on war. This book offers clausewitzs framework for selfeducationa way to train the readers. This book by colin gray complements on war, expanding from clausewitz s theory of war to formulate a theory of strategy. The other books have relevant information for our times too, but one must shift through much which belongs to the past. This book is built around a new and complete translation of clausewitzs study of the waterloo campaign berlin. Stated precisely, the defensive form of warfare is intrinsically stronger than the offense 353. Clausewitz and contemporary war oxford scholarship. Clausewitz reentered the prussian service in 1815, and served as chief of the staff to thielmans corps, which was engaged with grouchy at wavre, on the 18th of june.

So, if you hadnt already filled in that space on your buzzword bingo card, here you go. On war is the most significant attempt in western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy. As usual, the new material is up front, followed by, in this case, the whole of book one. Accidents affairs appearance art balance character conflict courage determination difficulty effort enemies exercise feelings fighting genius giving goals inspirational judgment luck lying military passion peace politics.

Sound judgement, moreover, depends largely on subrational faculties, which clausewitz. Clausewitz stated that friction may not be handled as an. Mark mcneilly is the author of sun tzu and the art of modern warfare oxford university press, from which this article is derived. On war is one of the first books on modern military strategy. More to the point, he emphasizes the role of the commanders judgment in dealing with the specifics of a situation. Graham 1808 1883 a classic work on military strategy by a veteran of the napoleonic wars. Indeed, in chapter three of book i clausewitz argues that strategic decision making in war must be handled by the genius of a commander, by which he means a harmonious combination of intellectual and emotional qualities that allow a commander to exercise sound judgement. This book is built around a new and complete translation of clausewitzs study of. In 1818, he became majorgeneral, and director of the military school at which he had been previously educated. The book, recently updated, now includes the wars in iraq and afghanistan.