INSEAD Library

Includes bibliographical references and index

Digitized

On War Contents Editors' Note Note for the 1984 Edition xi xii Introductory Essays The Genesis of On War PETER PARET 3 The Influence of Clausewitz MICHAEL HOWARD 27 The Continuing Relevance of On War BERNARD BRODIE 45 On War Author's Preface Author's Comment Preface MARIE VON CLAUSEWITZ 61 63 65 69 Two Notes by the Author BOOK ONE On the Nature of War 1 What is War? 2 Purpose and Means in War 3 On Military Genius 4 On Danger in War 5 On Physical Effort in War 6 Intelligence in War 7 Friction in War 8 Concluding Observations on Book One 75 90 100 113 115 117 119 122 BOOK TWO On the Theory of War 1 Classifications of the Art of War 2 On the Theory of War 3 Art of War or Science of War 4 Method and Routine 5 Critical Analysis 6 On Historical Examples BOOK THREE 127 133 148 151 156 170 On Strategy in General I Strategy 2 Elements of Strategy 3 Moral Factors 4 The Principal Moral Elements 5 Military Virtues of the Army 6 Boldness 7 Perseverance 8 Superiority of Numbers 9 Surprise 10 Cunning 11 Concentration of Forces in Space 12 Unification of Forces in Time 13 The Strategic Reserve 14 Economy of Force 15 The Geometrical Factor 16 The Suspension of Action in War 17 The Character of Contemporary Warfare 18 Tension and Rest 177 183 184 186 187 190 193 194 198 202 204 205 210 213 214 216 220 221 BOOK FOUR The Engagement 1 Introduction 2 The Nature of Battle Today 3 The Engagement in General 4 The Engagement in General--Continued 5 The Significance of the Engagement 6 Duration of the Engagement 7 Decision of the Engagement 8 Mutual Agreement to Fight 9 The Battle: Its Decision 10 The Battle--Continued: The Effects of Victory The Battle--Continued: The Use of Battle 12 Strategic Means of Exploiting Victory 13 Retreat after a Lost Battle 14 Night Operations BOOK FIVE 225 226 227 23o 236 238 240 245 248 253 258 263 271 273 Military Forces 1 General Survey 2 The Army, the Theater of Operations, the Campaign 3 Relative Strength 4 Relationship between the Branches of the Service 5 The Army's Order of Battle 6 General Disposition of the Army 7 Advance Guard and Outposts 8 Operational Use of Advanced Corps 9 Camps 10 Marches 279 280 282 285 292 297 302 308 312 314 11 Marches--Continued 12 Marches--Concluded 13 Billets 14 Maintenance and Supply 15 Base of Operations 16 Lines of Communication 17 Terrain 18 The Command of Heights BOOK SIX 319 322 325 33o 341 345 348 352 Defense 1 Attack and Defense 2 The Relationship between Attack and Defense in Tactics 3 The Relationship between Attack and Defense in Strategy 4 Convergence of Attack and Divergence of Defense 5 The Character of Strategic Defense 6 Scope of the Means of Defense 7 Interaction between Attack and Defense 8 Types of Resistance 9 The Defensive Battle 10 Fortresses Fortresses--Continued 12 Defensive Positions 13 Fortified Positions and Entrenched Camps 14 Flank Positions 15 Defensive Mountain Warfare 16 Defensive Mountain Warfare--Continued 17 Defensive Mountain Warfare--Concluded 18 Defense of Rivers and Streams 19 Defense of Rivers and Streams--Continued 357 360 363 367 370 372 377 379 390 393 400 404 409 415 417 423 429 433 445 20 A. Defense of Swamps B. Inundations 21 Defense of Forests 22 The Cordon 23 The Key to the Country 24 Operations on a Flank 25 Retreat to the Interior of the Country 26 The People in Arms 27 Defense of a Theater of Operations 28 Defense of a Theater of Operations--Continued 29 Defense of a Theater of Operations--Continued: Phased Resistance 30 Defense of a Theater of Operations--Concluded: Where a Decision Is Not the Objective BOOK SEVEN 447 449 452 453 456 460 469 479 484 488 499 501 The Attack 1 Attack in Relation to Defense 2 The Nature of Strategic Attack 3 The Object of the Strategic Attack 4 The Diminishing Force of the Attack 5 The Culminating Point of the Attack 6 Destruction of the Enemy's Forces 7 The Offensive Battle 8 River Crossings 9 Attack on Defensive Positions 10 Attack on Entrenched Camps 11 Attack on a Mountainous Area 12 Attack on Cordons 13 Maneuver 14 Attacks on Swamps, Flooded Areas, and Forests 523 524 526 527 528 529 53o 532 535 536 537 540 541 543 15 Attack on a Theater of War: Seeking a Decision 16 Attack on a Theater of War: Not Seeking a Decision 17 Attack on Fortresses 18 Attack on Convoys 19 Attack on an Enemy Army in Billets 20 Diversions 21 Invasion 22 The Culminating Point of Victory BOOK EIGHT 545 548 551 555 557 562 565 566 War Plans 1 Introduction 2 Absolute War and Real War 3 A. Interdependence of the Elements of War B. Scale of the Military Objective and of the Effort To Be Made 4 Closer Definition of the Military Objective: The Defeat of the Enemy 5 Closer Definition of the Military Objective--Continued: Limited Aims 6 A. The Effect of the Political Aim on the Military Objective B. War Is an Instrument of Policy 7 The Limited Aim: Offensive War 8 The Limited Aim: Defensive War 9 The Plan of a War designed to Lead to the Total Defeat of the Enemy 577 579 582 585 595 601 603 605 611 613 617 A Commentary A Guide to the Reading of On War BERNARD BRODIE 641 Index ROSALIE WEST 715