On war is one of the most important books ever written on the subject of war. Clausewitz has served in the rhine campaign 17931794, when the prussian army invaded france during the french revolution and in the napoleonic wars from 1806 to 1815. In this book, clausewitz develops an integrative concept of war as continuation of politics by. Grahams translation of the original work is adequate. The 197684 howardparet version is the standard translation today. Clausewitzs categories of war and the supersession of. Clausewitzs works were published posthumously, edited by his widow, and these, the first three volumes of ten, contain the first appearance of vom kriege on war, his. For an important work like vom kriege, a translation that accurately reflects the context, and faithfully conveys the authors intended meaning of the work itself, while preserving more or less the structure of the original work without sacrificin. Clausewitz was familiar with immanuel kant, and was perhaps even inspired by him, on war for example deals with the nature of war, in other words the thing in itself.
It is derived from the german original, clausewitz s vom kriege berlin. It concentrates on defeating the enemy by massing overwhelming force at the enemys weak point. On war is the most significant attempt in western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy. Graham 1808 1883 a classic work on military strategy by a veteran of the napoleonic wars. For a general discussion of the various versions of vom kriegeon war available, see. Princeton university press, 1984, particularly if you are using this book for your scholarly or research. Clausewitz, a prussian general who fought against napoleon, quite literally wrote the book on war. The book was compiled from his writings following his experiences and lessons learned during the napoleonic wars. Its coherence and ambition are unmatched by other military literature. His most notable work, vom kriege on war, was unfinished at. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. We do not know exactly which edition it was scanned from. Graham translation of clausewitz s vom kriege 1832 published in london in 1873.
Please take a look at the relevant books shown below. Clausewitz had set about revising his accumulated manuscripts in 1827, but did not live to finish the task. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Clausewitz enlisted in the prussian army in 1792, and in 179395 he took part and was commissioned in the campaigns of the first. Indeed, even though the focus of clausewitzs magnum opus is narrowly on the conduct of military operations in wartime, not policy, politics, the state, human nature, the nature of historical processes, or the nature of reality itself, it is a mark of the books profundity that these subjects arise almost immediately in any serious.
Graham translation of clausewitzs vom kriege 1832 published in london in 1873. War, however, is not the action of a living force upon a lifeless mass total nonresistance would be no war at all but always the collision of two living forces, the ultimate aim of waging war, as formulated here, must be taken as applying to both sides. This book challenges this assumption by showing that clausewitz was an ardent analyst of small war and integrated many aspects of his early writings on partisan warfare and. Published in 1832, a year after his death, on war is regarded by military experts even today as the definitive study of warfare. However, grahams edition only contains the first four books of the work.
Most of it was written after the napoleonic wars and was published after his death. Also known by its german title vom kriege, this book is a masterwork of military strategy which walks the. His magnus opus on war is used by military historians, strategists, and politicians to this day. Jan 21, 2012 what separates this book from the rest is its detailed explanation into the nature of war and what it is, in short, this book isnt for everyone as it touches philosophy. War therefore is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfil our will. Clausewitz was a realist in many different senses and, while in. He coined the famous or infamous depending on how you see it war is the continuation of politics by another means. Read the soft copy of this book anytime, anywhere and download it for free. If you enjoyed on war, you might like suntzus the art of. It is derived from the german original, clausewitzs vom kriege berlin. Defensive war the plan of a war designed to lead to the total defeat of the enemy a commentary. This book challenges this assumption by showing that clausewitz was an ardent analyst of small war and integrated many aspects of his early writings on partisan warfare and peoples war into his magnum opus, on war. It has been translated into english several times as on war. The book, whilst primarily focused on military strategy, also provides tactical and operational guides and deals with political and economic problems arising from war.
He was commissioned to take part in the campaigns of the first coalition against revolutionary france. More a philosopher than a soldier, clausewitz s fame rests on the enduring success of on war vom kriege, unfinished at the time of his death and published posthumously by his wife, in 1832. Feb 26, 2006 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. On war also widely known by its german name vom kriege is considered to be clausewitzs magnum opus, despite the fact it remained unfinished at the time of his death. In remembering world war i classic work vom kriege 1832.
He is generally well known for his military treatise vom kriege, converted into english as on war. Also known by its german title vom kriege, this book is a masterwork of military strategy which walks the reader through elements of. His most notable work, vom kriege on war, was unfinished at his. His wife edited his collected works and published them between 1832 and 1835. Clausewitz, a prussian officer who fought against the french. His ideas remain widely taught in military schools, and are, more than ever, essential to the modern strategist. Pdf clausewitz vom kriege download full pdf book download. Also known by its german title vom kriege, this book is a masterwork of military strategy which walks the reader through elements of tactics, strategy, unit organisation and deployment, battlefield layouts, and much more. It appears, however, to be either the very first edition or a very recent edition based on modern scholars reconstruction of clausewitz s original text.
Since the works first appearance in 1832, it has been read throughout the world, and has stimulated generations of soldiers, statesmen, and intellectuals. Vom kriege is the basic work on the western way of war. Graham translation published by nicholas trubner in london in 1873. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. He is most famous for his military treatise vom kriege, translated into english as on war.
As an officer in the prussian army in 1806, clausewitz had. War is the continuation of politics by other means. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Presented by adam douglas, senior rare book specialist at peter. Although clausewitz later modified his position to state that military aims were subordinate to political necessity, the concept was made manifest in the structure of the german military. He was a professional soldier but his legacy is that of a military strategist and theorist. Published posthumously between 1832 and 1835 by clausewitzs wife, on war delivers a deep insight into various concepts and schools of thought connected to war. More a philosopher than a soldier, clausewitzs fame rests on the enduring success of on war vom kriege, unfinished at the time of his death and published posthumously by his wife, in 1832. In wars where one side cannot disarm the other side entirely, the motives towards peace will rise and fall on each side depending on the probability of future success. Consider the more modern versions and other relevant books shown below. It appears, however, to be either the very first edition or a very recent edition based on modern scholars reconstruction of clausewitzs original text. His most notable work, vom kriege on war, was unfinished at his death. Clausewitz was born on june 1, 1780 in the kingdom of prussia to a lower middleclass family. Nov 22, 2019 read the soft copy of this book anytime, anywhere and download it for free.
Jan 30, 2018 clausewitz s works were published posthumously, edited by his widow, and these, the first three volumes of ten, contain the first appearance of vom kriege on war, his dialectical analysis of the. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy. It is an extraordinary attempt to construct an allembracing theory of how war works. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Ii while war clearly provides the foundations for vom kriege, it is evident that politics holds together the space between war and politics.