The military theorist Carl Von Clausewitz wrote in German and he uses the terminology that fit his era of the early 19th century. Translating that style of German to readable English is difficult. To add to a reader's problems, Clausewitz writes in a dialectical format and when he deals with hypothetical scenarios, the dialectics can be confusing.To give a reader fuller insight to this problem, one has only to read the English style of writing used by Gibbon in his 1776 works on the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. No translations are required, of course, but with that said, his writing is difficult to follow. For example he uses paragraphs that fill one half of a page. And, Gibbon "jumps" from one era of the Empire to another with not enough explanations as to why he's doing that. His long "run on" sentences will drive a modern day reader running for cover.
So, it's clear as to why Clausewitz's German dialectical format plus its proper translation to English requires total focus. One cannot "skim" over a page of his "On War" for example and expect to understand what he is speaking about.
Lenin turned to the works of military theorist Carl Von Clausewitz in 1915. Lenin was not that interested in military strategy or tactics. What many people overlook is that Clausewitz paid attention to war time politics and the role of warfare in relation to the masses. In some of Lenin's writings he copied verbatim some of Clausewitz's observations on how the politics of a nation interacted with wars.
Because Carl von Clausewitz died before completing all of his works on warfare, many of the beliefs he had that were part of the foundation of his works are subject to multiple meanings. For example, Clausewitz's reference to the Trinity. Many people assume that he borrowed the trinity concept from Christianity and used the term simply to emphasize certain points in his methodology concerning warfare. To some readers, the Trinity for Clausewitz meant the people, the army and the government. For others, they believe he was speaking of violence, chance and reason.
Clausewitz contracted cholera in 1831 and died in Breislau on November 16th of the same year. Von Clausewitz 1780-1832.
In its most basic form, Carl Von Clausewitz defined the total defeat of an enemy as military operations that were not necessarily political, although the defeat of the enemy would have political effects. But before the political ramifications were realized, Clausewitz defined total victory as the destruction of the enemy's armies and the conquest of its territory.
In his book called On War, Carl von Clausewitz presents his theory that there are three forces that drive a war. The form a trinity he calls chance, passion, and rationality. This should not be confused with his ideas on war itself. Here in his trinity he speaks in very broad terms.
Carl von Clausewitz was born on 1780-06-01.
Many readers of the works of military theorist Carl von Clausewitz are often surprised at his use of metaphysics and actual religious concepts. As just one example of this, Clausewitz refers to the Trinity, the Christian trinity, when speaking about war and the people of a nation involved in one.
Lenin turned to the works of military theorist Carl Von Clausewitz in 1915. Lenin was not that interested in military strategy or tactics. What many people overlook is that Clausewitz paid attention to war time politics and the role of warfare in relation to the masses. In some of Lenin's writings he copied verbatim some of Clausewitz's observations on how the politics of a nation interacted with wars.
Vladimir Lenin decided to read the works of Carl Von Clausewitz in 1915. Lenin was in exile at the time and World War One was raging. Lenin believed he needed a better education on wars and the publication called "On War" by Clausewitz was an excellent source on such matters.
Because Carl von Clausewitz died before completing all of his works on warfare, many of the beliefs he had that were part of the foundation of his works are subject to multiple meanings. For example, Clausewitz's reference to the Trinity. Many people assume that he borrowed the trinity concept from Christianity and used the term simply to emphasize certain points in his methodology concerning warfare. To some readers, the Trinity for Clausewitz meant the people, the army and the government. For others, they believe he was speaking of violence, chance and reason.
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz was available in Europe in 1832, its publication date.
Both of them based their works on the experience made fighting during the Napoleonic wars and by reading Napoleon's writings. Indeed ,only Clausewitz was able. to catch the "living gist", the "significance" implied in the experience made by the great leader, without reduce it in a series of pedantic "rules", good for all kind of purposes.
Clausewitz contracted cholera in 1831 and died in Breislau on November 16th of the same year. Von Clausewitz 1780-1832.
One major difference between Carl Von Clausewitz and Henri Johmini is the fact that Clausewitz writes more on how politics and military strategies are linked. Johmini tends to shy away from this angle of warfare and is more concerned with purely military tactics and strategy. As an aside, Vladimir Lenin studied Clausewitz because Clausewitz speaks to what Lenin wanted to learn. That being how military strategies and political goals are inter related.
Carl Von Clausewitz
Military theorist Carl Von Clausewitz believed that the driving elements in any war were chance, passion and rationality. These were respectively governed by the military, the people and the government.
To cite Carl von Clausewitz in APA style, include the author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses. For example: (Clausewitz, 1832). In MLA style, include the author's last name and the page number in parentheses. For example: (Clausewitz 75).