Center of gravity carl von clausewitz books

Clausewitz, center of gravity, and the confusion of a. The first, the supreme, the most farreaching act of judgment that the statesman and commander have to make is to establish the kind of war on which they are embarking. Over the last 25 years, the center of gravity concept has. Apr 17, 2019 clausewitzs thoughts in books 1 and 8 are quite consistent with the first and second strands of ir analysis. Dec 12, 2008 a prussian soldier and writer, clausewitz is said to have distilled napoleon into theory. Nicholas murray and christopher pringle university press of kansas, 2018. Clausewitz was also a wideranging, innovative historianhis acerbic history of prussia before 1806 became an underground classic long before it could be publishedand a combative political essayist, whose observations on the affairs of germany and europe. Nov 26, 2015 disrupting terrorists center of gravity. It is that characteristic, capability, or locality from which the force derives its freedom of action, physical strength, or will to fight. Thus, the center of gravity is usually seen as the source of strength.

Sep 02, 2008 on war is the most significant attempt in western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy. Echevarria ii entitled clausewitz s center of gravity. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. May 11, 2017 the center of gravity of an armed force refers to those sources of strength or balance. In the process, however, each of the servicesshaped. A prussian soldier and writer, clausewitz is said to have distilled napoleon into theory. This term center of gravity schwerpunkt appears about 40 times in clausewitz s book, most often with no particular or consistent meaning. On war vom kriege formed only the first three of ten volumes of clausewitzs collected writings and even that collection is incomplete. However, three more specialized discussions appear below. His major work on war remains a central treatise on military and general strategy in the 21st century. Since, as clausewitz stated, the effect produced on a center of gravity is determined and limited by the cohesion of the parts, the energy that holds the system together is equivalent to the gravity of that system. His book on war published posthumously in prussia as vom kriege in 1832, was adopted as a key text at the naval war.

Clausewitz, on war, excerpts relating to term centers of gravity. This term center of gravity schwerpunkt appears about 40 times in clausewitzs book, most often with no particular or consistent meaning. On war is the most significant attempt in western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy. In addition, realists of all types highlight the importance of military power. I will admit, i do enjoy the discussion provided in on war. For clausewitz, the army itself is usually the center of gravity. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy early military career. Selfreliance is the best defence against the pressures of the moment.

He uses the standard meaning of schwerpunkt, which was center of gravity. Clausewitz was a realist in many different senses and, while in. His theories and observations in this work have been heeded by military strategists for nearly two hundred years. Is the center of gravity cog concept still relevant in todays operational.

Yet, clausewitz was a product of both his time and experience. He served in the campaigns of 179394 on the rhine, after which he seems to have devoted some time to the study of the scientific branches of his profession. The book has influenced military thinkers and practitioners as diverse as sir julian corbett, vladimir lenin, mao zedong, harry summers, and colin powell. Strategy and the us civil war, 18611865 oxford university press, 2010, won the prestigious fletcher pratt award, was a main selection of the history. Clausewitz stressed the moral and political aspects of war. Perhaps best known among his numerous pronouncements is that war is a continuation of politics by other means. In going back to the original concept, lieutenant colonel echevarria reveals that clausewitz intended the center of gravity to function much as its counterpart in the mechanical sciences does, that is, as a focal point. Clausewitz, center of gravity, and the confusion of a generation of. He gained enduring fame for on war, which provides deep insight into the theory and conduct of war. Clausewitzs center of gravity its not what we thought lieutenant colonel antulio j. Consequently, the main lines of every major strategic plan are largely political in nature, and their political character increases the more the plan. Clausewitz, on war, excerpts relating to term center s of gravity. He used a romantic or hegelian conception of warfare.

Contentsshow united states department of defense the definition of a cog is the source of power that provides moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act. Savage peoples are ruled by passion, civilized peoples by the mind. Many have considered this to be the bible of military strategy and tactics. Clausewitz defined it as the hub of all power and movement, on which everything depends. As systems are dynamic, it would make little sense to call it a center of gravity as it would constantly move and. He stressed the dialectical interaction of diverse factors, noting how. His most notable work, vom kriege on war, was unfinished at his death. We tried for years to make it work, but its time to face reality, together they are just too abstract and confusing for us to embrace. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy. This term center of gravity schwerpunkt appears about 40 times in clausewitzs book. Book one defines warfare as an act of force to compel our enemy to.

The definition of a cog is the source of power that provides moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act. His life and work oxford university press, 2014, is on the british army professional reading list. He is most famous for his military treatise vom kriege complete text available here, translated into english as on war complete text available here. The edition cited here was edited by michael howard and peter paret, princeton university press, 1984, pp. In doing so, the author reveals that clausewitz intended the center of gravity to function much as its counterpart in the mechanical sciences doesas a focal point. He used a romantic or hegelian conception of warfare, stressing the dialectic of how opposite factors. Disrupting terrorists center of gravity national the. Wallach as most would suspect when studying clausewitz is looking to establish relations between the military and politics. To understand centers of gravity, one must be grounded in the original context of on war. As cited in christopher fowler, center of gravity still relevant after all these years, usawc strategy research project, 2002. Indeed, cog analysis is clearly not as scientific as the term center of gravity might suggest.