Karl von Clausewitz: facts from the biography, works, quotes

The most famous work of a Prussian general named Carl von Clausewitz is known to every educated person - this is a treatise "On the War." Despite the fact that Clausewitz's statements are everywhere, very few people manage to read this 700-page work, which turned the notion of military confrontations.

short biography

Karl von Clausewitz was from a noble family of noblemen. He began his military career in 1792. Five years later he became a graduate of the Berlin military school. Then Clausewitz was invited to the post of adjutant, so he began to serve at the court of Prince August of Prussia. The young military took part in the confrontation between Prussia and France, which took place in 1806-1807. When Prussia was defeated, Karl von Clausewitz took an active part in developing reforms relating to the army. At this time he also began to teach at the school and write his first research paper - "Basic Principles of War."

Soon Europe began to understand the inevitability of a clash between Russia and France. Clausewitz decided to come to Russia and begin his service in the Russian army, where he fought throughout the war under the leadership of General P. P. Palen. Clausewitz participated in the battle of Borodino.

The beginning of theoretical studies

Since 1818, the military theoretician worked as director of the military school in Berlin. At the same time, he conducts thorough theoretical studies of military affairs. More than 130 wars and collisions - this is the total amount of material that Karl von Clausewitz studied at the time.

"On the war" - the most ambitious product of the military commander, although in addition to this work, he wrote a number of studies. In his main work Clausewitz considered such concepts as the purpose of the war, its content, ways of conducting, victory and defeat. Clausewitz is the first researcher who drew attention to the moral factor during the war.

It was Carl von Clausewitz who introduced the notion of "military operation". By this term the theorist understood the chain of battles, as well as the movement of troops for the realization of a specific plan. Clausewitz was able to prove that during the war a battle is inevitable - an armed clash of two opposing forces. The various tricks of the commanders and tactical moves can only slightly affect the overall outcome of the war, which is ultimately determined by the correlation of forces.

"About war" - the main work of the great general

Clausewitz's main work saw the light after his death (the warlord died of cholera). The Treatise on the War, printed in 1832, is an unfinished study. During his life, the general changed some views, but did not have time to redo the work.

It is known that the main theorist who influenced the worldview of many commanders at the turn of the XIX - XX centuries is Karl von Clausewitz. The books he wrote in addition to his main work are the Principles of Warfare, Napoleon Bonaparte's Italian Campaign, and German Military Thought. The work on this main research - "On the War" - Clausewitz continued throughout his life.

In his works, the military leader was mostly interested in armed clashes of the last century and a half. It was he who managed to show the futility of the so-called cabinet wars that occurred in the XVII - XVIII centuries. This confrontation, he was able to oppose the lightning conquest of Napoleon. Their ultimate task was not to smash the enemy, but to destroy it quickly. The main task of his work "On the War" Clausewitz saw the disclosure of the secrets of the quick victories of Napoleon.

Clausewitz's relation to Russia

During his stay in the Russian Empire, Clausewitz was never able to fall in love with the Russian people nor learn Russian - what distinguished himself from his compatriot Empress Catherine II. Despite this, his theoretical studies in the Russian Empire for a long time played a much greater role than in his native Germany. The image of this general was used by Lev Tolstoy himself in the famous novel "War and Peace". But there were those servicemen for whom Clausewitz was just a narrowly thinking German, from whom they could hardly have gained new knowledge.

Karl von Clausewitz: quotations that are needed not only in war

Many researchers believe that Clausewitz's views are applicable not only in military affairs, but also in such industries as marketing, brand wars, political confrontations. "The purpose of the war is to achieve peace on conditions that are beneficial to the victor" - this is one of the main provisions of Clausewitz, which can be applied in other areas besides military affairs.

Clausewitz strongly rejected popular ideas at that time, expressed by the military writer Heinrich Jomini, who reduced military science to theoretical postulates and formulas. "The pursuit of the enemy," wrote Karl von Clausewitz, "is the second act of victory, and in most cases it is more important than the victory itself." Clausewitz considered the moral element-the strength of the spirit-to be the main element of success in any confrontation and confusion. "Without bravery, an outstanding military leader is unthinkable ... "- noted in his writings commander.

Clausewitz also warned: "People who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it." War, as the military leader believed, is not just a clash of two opposing forces - in itself it is a continuation of politics.

After the work "On War" became the reference book of the then famous military theorist Helmut von Moltke, Clausewitz became the most famous author in Europe. Many outstanding military leaders were guided precisely by his works.