Carl von Clausewitz: biography facts, works, quotes

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:41

The most famous work of a Prussian general named Carl von Clausewitz is known to every educated person - this is the treatise "On War". Despite the fact that Clausewitz's statements are ubiquitous, very few people manage to read this 700-page work that turned the idea of \u200b\u200bmilitary confrontations.

Short biography

Carl von Clausewitz was from a noble family of nobles. He began his military career in 1792. Five years later he became a graduate of the Berlin military school. Then Clausewitz was invited to the post of adjutant, so he began to serve at the court of Prince August of Prussia. The young military man took part in the confrontation between Prussia and France, which took place in 1806-1807. When Prussia was defeated, Karl von Clausewitz took an active part in the development of reforms regarding the army. During this time, he also began teaching at the school and writing his first research paper, The Basic Principles of War.

Europe soon began to understand the inevitability of a clash between Russia and France. Clausewitz decided to come to Russia and start serving in the Russian army, where he fought throughout the war under the leadership of GeneralP. P. Palena. Clausewitz participated in the Battle of Borodino.

Beginning of theoretical research

Starting from 1818, the military theorist worked as director of the military school in Berlin. At the same time, he conducts thorough theoretical studies of military affairs. More than 130 wars and clashes - this is the total amount of material that Carl von Clausewitz studied at that time.

“About the War” is the most ambitious work of the military leader, although in addition to this work he wrote a number of studies. In his main work, Clausewitz considered such concepts as the purpose of war, its content, methods of conduct, victory and defeat. Clausewitz is the first researcher to pay attention to the moral factor during the war.

It was Karl von Clausewitz who introduced such a thing as a "military operation". Under this term, the theorist understood a chain of battles, as well as the movement of troops to implement a certain plan. Clausewitz was able to prove that during the war, a battle is inevitable - an armed clash of two opposing forces. The various tricks of military leaders and tactical moves can only slightly affect the overall outcome of the war, which is ultimately determined by the balance of power.

"About the war" - the main work of the great general

The main work of Clausewitz saw the light after his death (the military leader died of cholera). The treatise On War, published in 1832, is an unfinished study. Throughout lifethe general changed some views, but did not have time to redo the work.

It is known that the main theorist who influenced the worldview of many military leaders at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries was Carl von Clausewitz. The books that he wrote in addition to his main work are "Principles of Warfare", "Napoleon Bonaparte's Italian Campaign", "German Military Thought". Work on this main study - "On War" - Clausewitz continued throughout his life.

In his works, the military leader was mostly interested in the armed clashes of the last century and a half. It was he who managed to show the futility of the so-called cabinet wars that took place in the 17th-18th centuries. He managed to oppose these confrontations with the lightning-fast conquests of Napoleon. Their ultimate goal was not to starve the enemy, but to crush him quickly. Clausewitz saw the main task of his work "On War" as revealing the secrets of Napoleon's quick victories.

Clausewitz's attitude towards Russia

During his stay in the Russian Empire, Clausewitz could neither fall in love with the Russian people, nor learn the Russian language - what distinguished him from his compatriot Empress Catherine II. Despite this, his theoretical research in the Russian Empire for a long time played a much greater role than in his native Germany. The image of this general was used by Leo Tolstoy himself in the famous novel War and Peace. But there were those military personnel for whom Clausewitz was just a narrow-minded German, from whom they could hardly get new knowledge.

Carl von Clausewitz: quotes needed not only in war

Many researchers believe that Clausewitz's views are applicable not only in military affairs, but also in such industries as marketing, brand wars, political confrontations. "The purpose of war is to achieve peace on terms that are beneficial to the winner" - this is one of the main provisions of Clausewitz, which can be applied in other areas besides military affairs.

Clausewitz resolutely rejected the thoughts that were popular at that time, which were expressed by the military writer Heinrich Jomini, who reduced military affairs to theoretical postulates and formulas. “The pursuit of the enemy,” wrote Carl von Clausewitz, “is the second act of victory, and in most cases it is more important than the victory itself.” Clausewitz considered the moral component to be the main element of success in any clash and confusion - fortitude. “Without courage, an outstanding commander is unthinkable … - the commander noted in his writings.

Clausewitz also warned: "People who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it." War, as the military leader believed, is not just a clash of two opposing forces - in itself, it is a continuation of politics.

After the work "On War" became the reference book of the then famous military theorist Helmut von Moltke, Clausewitz became the most famous author in Europe. Many prominent military leaders were guided by his writings.