On War

Combining military theory and raw accounts of its practice, Carl von Clausewitz's treatise On War has had a profound influence on subsequent thinking on warfare. This Penguin Classics edition is edited with an introduction by Anatol Rapoport.

Writing at the time of Napoleon's greatest campaigns, Prussian soldier and writer Carl von Clausewitz created this landmark treatise on the art of warfare, which presented war as part of a coherent system of political thought. In line with Napoleon's own military actions, he illustrated the need to annihilate the enemy and make a strong display of one's power in an 'absolute war' without compromise. But he was also careful to distinguish between war and politics, arguing that war could only be justified when debate was no longer adequate, and that if undertaken, its aim should ultimately be to improve the wellbeing of the nation, pioneering the notion of war as 'politics by other means'.

This edition contains a detailed introduction, examining von Clausewitz's skill and reputation as a writer, philosopher and political thinker, as well as a bibliography, notes and a glossary.

Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) was a Prussian soldier and writer who entered the Prussian Military at the age of twelve with the rank of Lance-Corporal, serving in the Rhine campaign from 1793 to 1794. In 1801 he joined the Berlin Military Academy, where he studied Kant and attracted the attention of General Gerhard von Scharnhorst, whom he later helped to reform the Prussian army. 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.

If you enjoyed On War, you might like Sun-Tzu's The Art of War, also available in Penguin Classics.

On WarPreface to the Pelican Edition< BR> Introduction by Anatol Rapoport< BR> On War< BR> Introduction by Col. F. N. Maude< BR> Introduction of the Author< BR> Brief Memoir of General Clausewitz by the Translator< BR> Book One: On The Nature Of War< BR> I. What is War? < BR> II. End and Means in War< BR> III. The Genius for War< BR> IV. Of Danger in War< BR> V. Of Bodily Exertion in War< BR> VI. Information in War< BR> VII. Friction in War< BR> VIII. Concluding Remarks< BR> Book Two: On The Theory Of War< BR> I. Branches of the Art of War< BR> II. On the Theory of War< BR> III. Art or Science of War< BR> IV. Methodicism< BR> V. Criticism< BR> VI. On Examples< BR> Book Three: Of Strategy In General< BR> I. Strategy< BR> II. Elements of Strategy< BR> III. Moral Forces< BR> IV. The Chief Moral Powers< BR> V. Military Virtue of an Army< BR> VI. Boldness< BR> VII. Perseverance< BR> VIII. Superiority of Numbers< BR> IX. The Surprise< BR> X. Stratagem< BR> XI. Assembly of Forces in Space< BR> XII. Assembly of Forces in Time< BR> XIII. Strategic Reserve< BR> XIV. Economy of Forces< BR> XV. Geometrical Element< BR> XVI. On the Suspension of the Act in War< BR> XVII. On the Character of Modern War< BR> XVIII. Tension and Rest< BR> Book Four: The Combat< BR> I. Introductory< BR> II. Character of the Modern Battle< BR> III. The Combat in General< BR> IV. The Combat in General (continuation)< BR> V. On the Signification of the Combat< BR> VI. Duration of the Combat< BR> VII. Decision of the Combat< BR> VIII. Mutual Understanding as to a Battle< BR> IX. The Battle< BR> X. Effects of Victory< BR> XI. The Use of the Battle< BR> XII. Strategic Means of Utilizing Victory< BR> XIII. Retreat After a Lost Battle< BR> Sketches For Book Eight: Plan Of War< BR> I. Introduction< BR> II. Absolute and Real War< BR> III. (A) Interdependence of the Parts in War< BR> (B) Of the Magnitude of the Object of the War, and the Efforts to be Made< BR> IV. Ends in War More Precisely Defined— Overthrow of the Enemy< BR> V. Ends in War More Precisely Defined (continued)— Limited Object< BR> VI. (A) Influence of the Political Object on the Military Object< BR> (B) War as an Instrument of Policy< BR> Concluding Remarks by Anatol Rapoport< BR> Notes< BR> References< BR> Glossary< BR> Index