Evolution of Warfare

Evolution of Warfare Clausewitz and Jomini MOI

Reading Assignment • Preston and Wise, Men in Arms, pp. 207 - 208, 238 - 240, 338 • Handout: Basford, Jomini and Clausewitz: Their Interaction

Learning Objectives • Comprehend Clausewitz’s statement that “war is nothing but a continuation of political intercourse with an admixture of other means” • Comprehend and contrast the present day acceptance of Clausewitz’s dicta to those of Jomini’s • Know and describe the wide spectrum of the types of war which Clausewitz addressed, (e.g. People’s War)

Learning Objectives (cont) • Comprehend the importance assigned by Clausewitz to moral force vice physical force • Know and discuss Clausewitz’s impact on current communist military and political thoughts and practices • Know and describe Jomini’s contribution to the theory of warfare, especially his “discovery” of the “fundamental principles of War”

Clausewitz and JominiComparison • Contemporaries and rivals, contemptuous of each other’s ideas • Jomini much more influential, especially outside of Prussia. • Clausewitz major works were published posthumously • Jomini was a living author • Jomini wrote in French (more international) • Clausewitz wrote in German

Clausewitz and JominiComparison • Clausewitz more accepted today. Works stood the test of time and is applicable to the current world. • Writings are the accepted standard against to measure military action • Jomini was studied by the participants of the American Civil War extensively. • Jomini is not read much today

Clausewitz - Background • Born in 1780 • Joined Prussian Army as an Ensign • In 1806, he was wounded and taken prisoner by napoleon’s forces • In 1812, the Russian Army • He fought the French until Napoleon abdicated in 1814

CLAUSEWITZ • Clausewitz @ Waterloo as Chief of Staff to a Prussian Corps Commander • In 1818 he was promoted to Maj Gen • Head of the Prussian War Academy.His duties were limited to administration and he was unable to influence curriculum. • Turned to writing • Died of Cholera in 1830

CLAUSEWITZ (CONT) • “On War” published by his wife • “War is nothing but a continuation of political intercourse with a mixture of other means” • Political dialogue does not cease • “Is war not merely another kind of writing and language for political thoughts? It has certainly a grammar of its own, but its logic is not peculiar to itself”

CLAUSEWITZ (CONT) • “War is a trinity of violence, chance or reason” • Remarks on Russia: maintained that Russia was (is) a country which cannot be conquered by force of arms. • “War is an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfill our will…” • “As soon, therefore, as required expenditures of force exceeds the value of the political, the object must be abandoned and peace will be the result”

CLAUSEWITZ (CONT) • Absolute War; “Conflict of forces left to themselves, and obeying no other but their own inner laws” • Much Like today’s Total War. • Arming the people “a people’s war” • Vietnam, Afghanistan, War on Terrorism

CLAUSEWITZ (CONT) • Remarks on Russia: • Maintained that Russia was (is) a country which cannot be conquered by force of arms

Primary Objectives of War • To conquer and destroy the enemy’s armed forces • To get possessions of the material elements of aggression of the enemy • To gain public opinion

Primary Objectives of War (cont) • Next he laid down the principles which should be followed to attain those objectives • 1) To employ all the forces which we can make available with the utmost energy • 2) To concentrate our force as much as possible at the point where the decisive blows are to be struck

Primary Objectives of War (cont) • 3) Not to lose time..by rapidity many measures of the enemy are nipped in the bud, and public opinion is gained in our favor..surprise…is the most powerful element of victory. • 4) Lastly…to follow up the success we gain with the utmost energy. The pursuit…is the only means of gathering up the fruits of victory.

Center of Gravity • Governs the grand strategical aim of a war • Without it the whole structure of national power will collapse

Moral Force • Morale is to the physical as 3 is to 1 • Courage, audacity, and self-sacrifice • “Shinning blade”

Clausewitz and Communism • Lenin and Mao quote him in their works • Lenin used Clausewitz and others to form his philosophy. • Mao • Mihn– used his ideas almost inclusively in Vietnam

Clausewitz Contributions • Center of Gravity • That point in the enemy’s organism – military, political, social, etc at which, should he be defeated, or should he lose it, the whole structure of national power will collapse. • War is an instrument of policy • Moral Force, Moral Factors involved in war • Courage, audacity and self-sacrifice • Moral to physical is 3:1 • Moral force “shining blade” ; “handle of the sword”

Jomini Background • Swiss, born in 1779 • Worked in a banking house in Paris • Unpaid, unofficial job in the French Supply Corps • During the peace of Amiens (1801 - 1802) Ney assisted him in publishing treatise on the campaigns of Frederick the Great • Chief of Staff for Marshall Ney • Made comparisons of Napoleon and Frederick

Jomini • One might say that he (Napoleon) was sent into this world to teach generals and statesmen what they ought to avoid. His victories teach what may be accomplished by activity, boldness, and skill; his disasters what might have been avoided by prudence

Jomini • Impressed Napoleon and he gave him a regular appointment as a colonel in the French Army • Never Commanded • Joined Russian Army 1813 • Well read and studied throughout the world

Jomini • Saw future war as total war and was apprehensive. Needed International laws to limit warfare • Demonstrated a negligible understanding of general relationship of war and society • Industrial Revolution “the means of destruction are approaching perfection with frightful rapidity”

Ideal Military Force • Leadership trained for political as well as military responsibilities • A high state of readiness – both personnel and material • Continued study of military science at all levels of leadership • An esteemed position for the military profession

Ideal Military Force (cont) • Peacetime planning • Operational planning compatible with war aims (National Objectives) • Contingency planning, strategic intelligence, adequate budget

Jomini - Nature of Approach • Took up the study of warfare • Approach was that of scientist and tried to create a formula. • Endeavored to demonstrate that there are fundamentals and unchanging principles which determine war’s outcome and that the only reasonable theory of war was that which admitted the existence of precepts, but still left room for natural genius.

Jomini - His Concepts • Winning Territory • 1) Each military operation will take place within a definite zone of operations • Regarded the zone as a field with 4 sides • Two of these sides occupied by opposing force • 2) The task of the Commanding General • Choose the line of operations to effectively dominate three sides of the zone • Enemy will be crushed or forced out of the zone

Jomini - His Concepts • 2) Task of the Commanding General (cont) • Leadership trained for political as well as military responsibilities • High state of readiness, both of personnel and material Continued study of military science at all levels of leadership • Esteemed position for military profession • Peacetime planning • Operational planning compatible with war aims (national objectives) • Strategic intelligence • Adequate budget

Jomini - Strategic Principles • Bringing strategic measures, the major part of an army’s forces, successively to bear upon the decisive areas of a theater of war and as far away as possible from the enemy’s communications, without compromising one’s own. • Maneuvering in such a manner as to engage one’s major forces against parts only of those of the enemy

Jomini - Strategic Principles • Furthermore, in battle, by tactical maneuvers, bringing one’s major forces to bear on the decisive area of the battlefield or on the part of the enemy’s lines which is important to overwhelm. • Arranging matters in such a fashion that these masses of men not only brought to bear at the decisive place but they be put into action speedily and together, so that they may make a simultaneous effort

Jomini – Strategic Principles • Based on Napoleon’s campaigns • Bringing, by strategic measures, majority of forces successfully upon the decisive areas and upon the enemy’s comm. W/O compromising one’s own. • Maneuvering as to engage one’s major forces against parts of those of the enemy. • Majority of your forces at the right time and place against the enemy’s line where it is important to overwhelm • Bring them together rapidly for a simultaneous effort.

Summary • Clausewitz • Center of gravity • Morale force • Jomini • Strategic principles • Ideal Military Force

Evolution of Warfare