Carl von Clausewitz

Carl von Clausewitz (1780–1831) was a Prussian general and military theorist whose unfinished treatise On War analyzes warfare, strategy, and their relation to politics.

On War: Carl von Clausewitz’s unfinished treatise analyzes war as a political and social phenomenon. This work gathers his central claims and is the source of his lasting influence.
War as an instrument of policy: War as an instrument of policy is the use of organized violence to pursue political objectives. Clausewitz’s famous formulation makes political purpose central to war’s conduct.
Napoleonic Wars: The Napoleonic Wars were a series of European conflicts fought between France and shifting coalitions from 1803 to 1815. These wars supplied the decisive military experiences behind Clausewitz’s theorizing.
Marie von Clausewitz: Marie von Clausewitz was a Prussian writer and editor who prepared her husband’s manuscripts for publication after his death. She organized and published On War, making Clausewitz’s unfinished work available.
Clausewitzianism: Clausewitzianism is the interpretation of war and strategy through concepts derived from Clausewitz’s writings. It names the intellectual tradition built around his theories.
War: War is organized armed conflict between political communities or other organized groups. Clausewitz builds his theory around war as a distinct form of human action.
Trinity of war: Clausewitz’s trinity describes war through the interacting forces of passion, chance, and political reason. It condenses his account of war’s changing and reciprocal pressures.
Battle of Jena–Auerstedt: The Battle of Jena–Auerstedt was a French victory over Prussia on 14 October 1806. Prussia’s defeat exposed military weaknesses Clausewitz later examined.
Helmuth von Moltke the Elder: Helmuth von Moltke the Elder was a Prussian field marshal who led Prussia’s armies in wars of unification. Moltke’s practice became a major test of how Clausewitzian theory could inform command.
Strategic studies: Strategic studies examines the use and threat of force to advance political objectives. Clausewitz remains a foundational thinker in this field’s analysis of war and policy.

Linked from 19 pages