The Lasting Influence of Carl von Clausewitz’s On War
The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars changed the political landscape of Europe. Universal conscription allowed for the massive growth of armies, and it became imperative for nations to study military planning and strategy in order to consider the political and logistical aspects of war in a more effective manner. As a result a veritable renaissance of military writings and philosophies began to populate intellectual circles including the works of Carl von Clausewitz’s On War and his contemporary Baron Antoine-Henri Jomini. Clausewitz’s On War aims to define war “grammatically”, that is to say, stripping the subject down to the core elements that drive the phenomenon of warfare. The reason why Clausewitz is still relevant today because his text demands that the reader internalize the concepts in the same way that math demands an appraisal of a problem and the underlying issues before developing a strategy for a solution. His perspective most likely arose from the several decades …show more content…
Logistical operations such as supplying transport, equipment, horses, artillery, food, and shelter to soldiers while on campaign has been a perpetual struggle since the beginning of military history. It’s even more surprising that Clausewitz neglects logistical analysis considering his mentor Gerhard von Scharnhorst was instrumental in comprehensive logistic reforms after the Prussia and it’s allies were defeated by Napoleon in 18056. Considering the timelessness of the logistics struggle and how magnificent Napoleon navigated said struggle one would think Clausewitz would have expansive commentary about it. Logistics and naval power were subject in which Clausewitz’s contemporary Jomini, expanded on even though he had seen much less battle than Clausewitz
The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars changed the political landscape of Europe. Universal conscription allowed for the massive growth of armies, and it became imperative for nations to study military planning and strategy in order to consider the political and logistical aspects of war in a more effective manner. As a result a veritable renaissance of military writings and philosophies began to populate intellectual circles including the works of Carl von Clausewitz’s On War and his contemporary Baron Antoine-Henri Jomini. Clausewitz’s On War aims to define war “grammatically”, that is to say, stripping the subject down to the core elements that drive the phenomenon of warfare. The reason why Clausewitz is still relevant today because his text demands that the reader internalize the concepts in the same way that math demands an appraisal of a problem and the underlying issues before developing a strategy for a solution. His perspective most likely arose from the several decades …show more content…
Logistical operations such as supplying transport, equipment, horses, artillery, food, and shelter to soldiers while on campaign has been a perpetual struggle since the beginning of military history. It’s even more surprising that Clausewitz neglects logistical analysis considering his mentor Gerhard von Scharnhorst was instrumental in comprehensive logistic reforms after the Prussia and it’s allies were defeated by Napoleon in 18056. Considering the timelessness of the logistics struggle and how magnificent Napoleon navigated said struggle one would think Clausewitz would have expansive commentary about it. Logistics and naval power were subject in which Clausewitz’s contemporary Jomini, expanded on even though he had seen much less battle than Clausewitz