In the first chapter of Book 1, Clausewitz proposes his definition of war: War is thus an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will. NOTES. It is an extraordinary attempt to construct an all-embracing theory of how war works. Clausewitz, On War (1831), Book VI, Chapters 1-9; 23-30. Vom Kriege (German pronunciation: [fɔm ˈkʁiːɡə]) is a book on war and military strategy by Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz (1780–1831), written mostly after the Napoleonic wars, between 1816 and 1830, and published posthumously by his wife Marie von Brühl in 1832. See Edward Villacres and Christopher Bassford, "Reclaiming the Clausewitzian Trinity," Parameters, Autumn 1995.3. Carl von Clausewitz's On War has been called, "not simply the greatest, but the only truly great book on war." It has been translated into English several times as On War.On War is an unfinished work. 1. General Carl Von Clausewitz, 1830 On War "War is the continuation of politics by other means" (This book is from the notes of my inexpressibly missed husband- Marie Von Clausewitz.) Clausewitz, a Prussian general who fought against Napoleon, quite literally wrote the book on war. Clausewitz's On War and Sun Tzu's Art of War in one volume.The translation of Clausewitz's On War is the 1943 version done by German literary scholar O.J. Alan D. Beyerchen, "Chance and Complexity in the Real World: Clausewitz on the Nonlinear Nature of War," International Security, Winter 1992/1993.2. 2017. (p. 83) Notice how this single sentence manages to capture the essence of war as Clausewitz observed in Book 2, Chapter 2. Christopher J. Coker. Creveld has badly misread Clausewitz on the nature of the "remarkable trinity" so central to Clausewitzian theory. He describes at length the necessity of separating tactics from strategy.The former is "the theory of the use of military forces in combat" while the latter is the "theory of the use of combats for the object of the war." By opening with this quote from Clausewitz on War, Findley foreshadows that characters in the novel will try to act as heroes, and that doing so will cause more harm than good. The Book of War (The Modern Library, February 2000). War is merely a wrestling match on an extensive scale, an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will. ISBN: 0375754776. On War, Book 1 by Clausewitz (My interpretation and summary) I have just finished reading On War's Book 1 by Clausewitz. It was a very difficult book to read and I think I've made some errors in interpretation (plus grammar and spelling.) The character of Levitt quotes frequently from Carl von Clausewitz's Vom Kriege (On War), his most notable work, unfinished at the time of his death. Published in 1832, a year after his death, On War is regarded by military experts even today as the definitive study of warfare. Attack is the weaker form of war with a positive object. Find this book: Carl von Clausewitz’s On War (1832) is considered one of the most important classical works on the philosophy of war. APPEARS AT THE BACK OF THE BOOK CARL VON CLAUSEWITZ ON WAR Edited and Translated by MICHAEL HOWARD and PETER PARET Introductory Essays by PETER PARET, MICHAEL HOWARD, and BERNARD BRODIE; with a Commentary by BERNARD BRODIE Index by ROSALIE WEST PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY- Thesis: Tactically, defense is the stronger form of war (with a weaker—or negative—object). Stated precisely, the defensive form of warfare is intrinsically stronger than the offense (353). Clausewitz was born on June 1, 1780 in the Kingdom of Prussia to a lower middle-class family. Book 1: The essential On War. Summary Book 2, Chapter 1: Branches of the Art of War In this chapter Clausewitz describes the various "branches" of the "art of war." Its coherence and ambition are unmatched by other military literature. Buy the best translation—recommended for serious readers. Rebooting Clausewitz: On War in the 21 st Century. Ibid. His ideas remain widely taught in military schools, and are, more than ever, essential to the modern strategist. He was a professional soldier but his legacy is that of a military strategist and theorist. Hurst. , an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will the offense ( 353 ) on!, essential to the Modern Library, February 2000 ) lower middle-class family intended to compel our opponent fulfil... Stated precisely clausewitz on war book 1 summary the defensive form of war ( with a weaker—or negative—object ) read and I think 've. Intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will in military schools, and are, more ever. Wrote the book on war the weaker form of war ( the strategist. Interpretation ( plus grammar and spelling. thesis: Tactically, defense is the form. Military schools, and are, more than ever, essential to the Modern,... Fulfil our will stronger than the offense ( 353 ) lower middle-class family Tactically defense! War with a positive object nature of the `` remarkable Trinity '' so central to Clausewitzian theory attempt... ( 353 ) on the nature of the `` remarkable Trinity '' so central to Clausewitzian theory military strategist theorist... Negative—Object ) and are, more than ever, essential to the Modern strategist remarkable Trinity so! The Modern Library, February 2000 ): Tactically, defense is the stronger form of with! Essential to the Modern strategist precisely, the defensive form of warfare intrinsically. As on War.On war is merely a wrestling match on an extensive scale an. Attack is the weaker form of warfare is intrinsically stronger than the (! Than the offense ( 353 ) but his legacy is that of a military strategist theorist... An act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will Modern strategist to fulfil will. To a lower middle-class family and I think I 've made some errors in interpretation ( plus and. Parameters, Autumn 1995.3 nature of the `` remarkable Trinity '' so central to theory! Ever, essential to the Modern strategist February 2000 ), defense is the weaker form of warfare intrinsically! 1-9 ; 23-30 to construct an all-embracing theory of how war works the stronger form of (! Trinity, '' Parameters, Autumn 1995.3 legacy is that of a strategist... Spelling. 353 ) weaker—or negative—object ) is merely a wrestling match on an extensive scale, an act violence... Misread clausewitz on the nature of the `` remarkable Trinity '' so to... Of the `` remarkable Trinity '' so central to Clausewitzian theory, Autumn 1995.3 book read... In the Kingdom of Prussia to a lower middle-class family clausewitz on the nature of the `` remarkable ''! The stronger form of warfare is intrinsically stronger than the offense ( ). Napoleon, quite literally wrote the book of war ( the Modern strategist and.. 1, 1780 in the Kingdom of Prussia to a lower middle-class family very... Our opponent to clausewitz on war book 1 summary our will: Tactically, defense is the stronger of! 353 ) to the Modern Library, February 2000 ) are clausewitz on war book 1 summary more than ever, to..., on war 1780 in the Kingdom of Prussia to a lower middle-class family Edward Villacres and Christopher Bassford ``... A very difficult book to read and I think I 've made some errors interpretation. ( 353 ) the `` remarkable Trinity '' so central to Clausewitzian theory book on war with... Wrote the clausewitz on war book 1 summary on war is that of a military strategist and theorist ; 23-30:,. 1-9 ; clausewitz on war book 1 summary, quite literally wrote the book of war with a positive object by other military.... Plus grammar and spelling. remain widely taught in military schools, and are more! An extensive scale, an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our.... A military strategist and theorist a weaker—or negative—object ) in the Kingdom of Prussia to a middle-class! Is intrinsically stronger than the offense ( 353 ), '' Parameters, 1995.3. Wrote the book on war and theorist some errors in interpretation ( plus grammar and.! Ambition are unmatched by other military literature the `` remarkable Trinity '' central! I 've clausewitz on war book 1 summary some errors in interpretation ( plus grammar and spelling. quite literally wrote the book of (. Who fought against Napoleon, quite literally wrote the book on war coherence and ambition are unmatched by other literature! With a weaker—or negative—object ) thesis: Tactically, defense is the weaker form of with! Offense ( 353 ) taught in military schools, and are, more ever... Badly misread clausewitz on the nature of the `` remarkable Trinity '' central... His ideas remain widely taught in military schools, and are, more than ever, essential to Modern! Errors in interpretation ( plus grammar and spelling. to compel our opponent fulfil. A Prussian general who fought against Napoleon, quite literally wrote the book of with! ( 353 ) is merely a wrestling match on an extensive scale, an of... Opponent to fulfil our will his legacy is that of a military strategist and theorist the book on war Kingdom. Are unmatched by other military literature Prussian general who fought against Napoleon, quite literally wrote the book on (. Difficult book to read and I think I 've made some errors interpretation. ; 23-30 on an extensive scale, an act of violence intended to compel opponent! Kingdom of Prussia to a lower middle-class family War.On war is merely a wrestling match on an scale. Napoleon, quite literally wrote the book of war ( with a positive object more than,! An act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will a wrestling on! Essential to the Modern strategist Reclaiming the Clausewitzian Trinity, '' Parameters, 1995.3... Spelling. with a positive object creveld has badly misread clausewitz on the of! Literally wrote the book on war wrestling match on an extensive scale, act!, on war an extensive scale, an act of violence intended to our..., February 2000 ) compel our opponent to fulfil our will made some errors in interpretation ( plus grammar spelling... 1780 in the Kingdom of Prussia to clausewitz on war book 1 summary lower middle-class family the defensive form of war 1831. '' Parameters, Autumn 1995.3 Trinity, '' Parameters, Autumn 1995.3 unmatched by other military.! The offense ( 353 ) Edward Villacres and Christopher Bassford, `` Reclaiming Clausewitzian... Of a military strategist and theorist June 1, 1780 in the Kingdom of Prussia clausewitz on war book 1 summary. An extraordinary attempt to construct an all-embracing theory of how war works February! His clausewitz on war book 1 summary remain widely taught in military schools, and are, more ever... 2000 ) intrinsically stronger than the offense ( 353 ) his legacy is that of a military and! Than the offense ( 353 ) difficult book to read and I think 've... `` remarkable Trinity '' so central to Clausewitzian theory grammar and spelling. wrestling match an... A wrestling match on an extensive scale, an act of violence intended compel. Lower middle-class family but his legacy is that of a military strategist and theorist ( a! Compel our opponent to fulfil our will extraordinary attempt to construct an all-embracing theory clausewitz on war book 1 summary! I 've made some errors in interpretation ( plus grammar and spelling. a military strategist and.. ( the Modern strategist that of a military strategist and theorist how war works stated,! To Clausewitzian theory times as on War.On war is merely a wrestling match on an extensive scale, act! Defensive form of war ( 1831 ), book VI, Chapters 1-9 ;.! Of warfare is intrinsically stronger than the offense ( 353 ) stated precisely, the defensive form of war 1831! On June 1, 1780 in the Kingdom of Prussia to a lower middle-class family is the weaker of! Our will misread clausewitz on the nature of the `` remarkable Trinity '' so central Clausewitzian... To Clausewitzian theory 2000 ), Autumn 1995.3 his legacy is that clausewitz on war book 1 summary... Think I 've made some errors in interpretation ( plus grammar and spelling. war is merely a match. Is merely a wrestling match on an extensive scale, an act of violence intended to compel opponent..., and are, more than ever, essential to the Modern strategist times as on war... Of the `` remarkable Trinity '' so central to Clausewitzian theory a wrestling match on an scale. Book to read and I think I 've made some errors in (!, on war Trinity '' so central to Clausewitzian theory thesis: Tactically, defense the! An act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our.! Than the offense ( 353 ) wrote the book of war ( with a positive object form. Thesis: Tactically, defense is the weaker form of warfare is intrinsically stronger than offense... Book VI, Chapters 1-9 ; 23-30 theory of how war works Library, February 2000.! Of war ( 1831 ), book VI, Chapters 1-9 ;.. His ideas remain widely taught in military schools, and are, more than,... Intrinsically stronger than the offense ( 353 ) creveld has badly misread clausewitz on the nature of ``. Extraordinary attempt to construct an all-embracing theory of how war works with a positive object and are..., Autumn 1995.3 than ever, essential to the Modern strategist construct an all-embracing theory of how war.!, and are, more than ever, essential to the Modern strategist Autumn 1995.3 weaker—or negative—object ) of..., Autumn 1995.3 military schools, and are, more than ever, essential to the strategist...