Carl von Clausewitz

Prussian Military Commander and Scholar

- b. 1780 -- d. 1831

- Fought in Napoleonic Wars and participated in Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.

- Major Work: On War (Vom Kriege), a treatise on military tactics as well as military/political philosophy.

- Distinguished military career

- Highly regarded strategist and tactician

- On War also deals with philosophy of war and its relationship to politics

- Lasting influence as a military and political philosopher

- “Fog of war” – term describing ambiguity of information on the battlefield

- “Friction” – term used to describe constant resistance to every action taken in battle

- “Limited” vs. “Ideal” (or Total) War

- Famous Quotation:

“War is a continuation of state policy with the admixture of other means.”

Scholars have noted conflicting views within On War, which have been attributed to the following:

• - Ideas changed with age. Began to amend his work in later years

• - Died before On War was complete

• - Used a dialectic form of argument (Thesis + Antithesis = Synthesis)

19th Century• Popular in Europe for “modern” tactics• Supported Total War• Reaction against Enlightenment Theories

20th Century• Popular for “Modern” view of warfare• New understanding of On War• Supported “Limited” War

Clausewitz, Carl von. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 2, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-261788

Carl von Clausewitz. (2009). Retrieved February 4, 2009 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_von_Clausewitz

Fog of war. (2009). Retrieved February 4, 2009 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog_of_war