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Go to My LibraryOn War (Three Volumes in One)
- Language
- English
- Published in
- Publisher
- Cosimo Classics
- Pages
- 588
- ISBN
- 9781646792849
This third volume, translated from the German by J.J. Graham, extends Clausewitz's comprehensive analysis into specific strategic considerations. It examines the diminishing power of the offensive, detailing factors like the necessity to secure occupied territory and the impact of losses. Readers encounter Clausewitz's insights on the attack of fortified positions and cordon lines, alongside a deep exploration of the "moral factors" in warfare, including the skill and spirit of commanders and troops. This volume also reflects on the transformative impact of the "nation at arms" during the French Revolution on military affairs, providing a perspective on the evolving character of conflict that continues to inform strategic thought.
Subjects
Original edition details
Other editions (126)
On War (Royal Collector's Edition) (Annotated) (Case Laminate Hardcover with Jacket)
2020 • Engage Books
English
On War (Annotated) (1000 Copy Limited Edition)
2015 • Engage Books
English
On War (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading)
2009 • Barnes & Noble
English
On War General Carl Von Clausewitz
1968 • Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.
English
Carl von Clausewitz's On War: A modern-day interpretation of a strategy classic
2010 • Infinite Ideas
English
Other editions
On War (Royal Collector's Edition) (Annotated) (Case Laminate Hardcover with Jacket)
2020 • Engage Books
English
On War (Annotated) (1000 Copy Limited Edition)
2015 • Engage Books
English
On War (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading)
2009 • Barnes & Noble
English
On War General Carl Von Clausewitz
1968 • Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.
English
Carl von Clausewitz's On War: A modern-day interpretation of a strategy classic
2010 • Infinite Ideas
English
On War
1992 • Marboro Books
English
On War
1982 • National Geographic Books
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War
1997 • Wordsworth Editions
English
On War: Complete and Unabridged
2022 • Unabridged Publications
English
On War Complete First Four Unabridged Books
2017 • Innovative Eggz LLC
English
On War (100 Copy Collector's Edition)
2019 • Engage Books
English
On War (100 Copy Limited Edition)
2018 • Engage Books
English
On War (100 Copy Limited Edition)
2019 • Engage Books
English
On War (1000 Copy Limited Edition)
2019 • Engage Books
English
On War (Mint Editions (Historical Documents and Treaties))
2021 • Mint Editions
English
On War
1984 • Princeton University Press
English
On War Tr. by J. J. Graham. 3 Vols. Complete In 1
2018 • Creative Media Partners, LLC
English
On War (Complete Edition Translated by J. J. Graham)
2018 • Digireads.com Publishing
English
On War Tr. by J. J. Graham. 3 Vols. Complete In 1
2018 • Creative Media Partners, LLC
English
On War Introduction by Michael Howard
1993 • National Geographic Books
English
On War Volume III
2020 • Cosimo, Incorporated
English
Clausewitz on Strategy Inspiration and Insight from a Master Strategist
2001 • John Wiley & Sons
English
On War
2013 • Simon and Schuster
English
On War
2021 • Mint Editions
English
On War
2011 • Empire Books
English
Vom Kriege hinterlassenes Werk ; ungekürzter Text
1998 • Ullstein
German
On War (Three Volumes in One)
2020 • Cosimo Classics
English
On War
2011 • Bottom of the Hill Publishing
English
On War
2007 • Editorial Benei Noaj
English
On War
2017 • Lulu.com
English
On War
2013 • Blackstone Audiobooks
English
On War
2004 • Kessinger Publishing, LLC
English
On War
2002 • Indypublish.Com
English
On War
2014 • CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
English
On War
1968 • Penguin Books
English
On War V. 3. Tr. fr. German J.J. Graham
1962 • Routledge
English
On War
2013 • Skyhorse
English
On War
2010 • Blackstone Audiobooks
English
On War
2010 • CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
English
On War
1993 • David Campbell
English
On War
2008 • BN Publishing
English
On War
2007 • Pearson Education, Limited
English
On War
1997 • Wordsworth Classics
English
On War
1997 • Blackstone Pub
English
Von Clausewitz, On War
2004 • Routledge
English
On War
2012 • CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
English
On War
2010 • FAB Press
English
On War
2019 • Watkins Media
English
On War (Oxford World's Classics)
2007 • Oxford University Press
English
Von Clausewitz On War Vol1
2004 • Routledge
English
On War Vol 1
1962 • Routledge
English
On War, Volume 1
2002 • IndyPublish
English
De la guerra
2005 • La Esfera de los Libros
Spanish
Von Clausewitz On War Vol2
2004 • Routledge
English
Vom Kriege
2004 • Area
German
On War
2008 • Wilder Publications
English
De la guerra
2003 • Distal
Spanish
On War
2007 • Kessinger Pub
English
On War
1968 • Penguin
English
On War
2009 • Wildside Press
English
On War
2010 • CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
English
On War
2017 • CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
English
On War
2013 • Simon and Schuster
English
Vom Kriege
1992 • Rowohlt
German
de La Guerra-Naturaleza, Teoria Estrategica
2006 • Distal
Spanish
On War
2017 • Lulu.com
English
On War
2013 • Skyhorse
English
On War
2011 • TREDITION CLASSICS
English
On War
2010 • Lits
English
De la guerre
1999 • Perrin
French
De la guerra
1999 • Idea Books
Spanish
Vom Kriege
2008 • Nikol
German
De la guerra
2004 • Agebe
Spanish
On War
2007 • Oxford University Press, Incorporated
English
On War
2007 • Kessinger Pub
English
On War
2004 • Taylor & Francis
English
On War
2020 • Wyatt North
English
On War Tr. by J. J. Graham. 3 Vols. Complete In 1
2022 • Creative Media Partners, LLC
English
On War (Complete Edition Translated by J. J. Graham)
2020 • Independently Published
English
On War
2016 • Dead Authors Society
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War
2008 • Princeton University Press
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2022 • Independently Published
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War
2021 • Digireads.com Publishing
English
On War
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War; Volume 1
2022 • Legare Street Press
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War; Volume 1
2018 • Franklin Classics Trade Press
English
On War: Annotated
2017 • CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
English
On War
2021 • Wyatt North
English
On War
2020 • Antiquarius
English
On War
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War; Volume 1
2018 • Franklin Classics Trade Press
English
Vom Kriege.
2003 • Ullstein Tb
German
On War
2007 • Echo Library
English
On War, Volume I
2020 • Cosimo Classics
English
Vom Kriege
2000 • Mundus Verlag
German
On War
2006 • Dodo Press
English
On War
2021 • Digireads.com
English
On War
2014 • BookRix
English
On War
1997 • Great Commanders. Collector's Reprints, Pennington, NJ
English
On War, Vol 1
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War
2000 • The Editorium, LLC
English
On War Volume I
2020 • Cosimo Classics
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2022 • Independently Published
English
On War Volume II
2020 • Cosimo Classics
English
On War Volume II
2020 • Cosimo Classics
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz: Illustrated Edition
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War; Volume 1
2022 • Legare Street Press
English
Von Clausewitz, on War
2016 • Taylor & Francis Group
English
On War Tr. by J. J. Graham. 3 Vols. Complete In 1
2018 • Creative Media Partners, LLC
English
On War Volume III
2020 • Cosimo, Incorporated
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz (illustrated Edition)
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz (illustrated Edition)
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War
2020 • Gece Kitapligi Yayinlari
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz Illustrated Edition
2021 • Independently Published
English
On War Tr. by J. J. Graham. 3 Vols. Complete In 1
2018 • Creative Media Partners, LLC
English
On War; Volume 1
2018 • Creative Media Partners, LLC
English
de La Guerra (Spanish Edition)
1997 • Need. Negocios editoriales
Spanish
On War Vol 1
2020 • Independently Published
English
Consider the offensive, the very act of seeking out and engaging the enemy. While defense often involves a patient waiting, the offensive demands a swift decision, though haste carries its own perils of wasted strength. In the heart of an offensive battle, the defensive posture of the foe often melts away, leaving the attacker to press forward with their inherent aggression. Tactical advantages emerge in the enveloping of lines, in striking at the enemy's flanks, though the precise positioning of the adversary often remains shrouded in the fog of war, demanding a constant, uncertain probing.
The advance into hostile territory brings with it a complex interplay of gains and losses. As armies push deeper, they acquire resources and land, yet they also stretch their lines of communication, suffer losses from combat and disease, and must dedicate forces to guarding the conquered ground. There is a crucial point in every attack, a "culminating point," beyond which the offensive force, having expended its initial impetus, risks becoming vulnerable. To recognize this moment, where the psychological and physical superiority begins to wane, requires a keen judgment. Victory, in the end, is not merely about seizing land, but about the overwhelming preponderance of all combined powers, both physical and moral.
Yet, for all the talk of offense, it must be understood that defense inherently possesses a greater strength. To defend is to hold one's ground, to make the enemy pay a disproportionate price for every advance. Even a seemingly passive defense, particularly for a weaker party, is never truly without purpose; it aims to gain time, to repel partial assaults, and to seize opportunities for small, localized offensive actions. Such a strategic passiveness seeks to wear down the attacker, to wait for a shift in circumstances or a moment of vulnerability to be exploited.
The grand plan of war, the overarching strategy, must therefore be crafted with a clear understanding of its political object. It is a systematic attempt to organize the entirety of military force towards the overthrow of the enemy, typically by destroying their armed forces. This plan is inextricably linked to foreign policy, international relations, and the very character of both one's own nation and the adversary's. It is a delicate balance, where the means and the ends of warfare must align, and where the ultimate objective of policy guides every strategic decision.
The true nature of war, however, is never purely rational or predictable. It is a dynamic interplay of three powerful tendencies: the primal force of hatred and enmity, the unpredictable realm of chance and uncertainty, and the calculating domain of reason and political objective. Moral forces - the genius of the commander, the virtues of the army, the spirit of the people - exert immense influence, often outweighing mere physical superiority. Friction, the countless minor incidents that impede action, danger, and the sheer physical and mental exertion demanded of all participants, are constant companions on the battlefield, making any overly detailed planning quickly obsolete.
Ultimately, war plans must embrace a single, unifying objective, reconciling all individual aims within its scope. The decision to embark upon war, and the subsequent goals beyond mere battlefield triumph, are fundamentally political in nature. It is through this lens that the entire tapestry of conflict must be viewed, not as an isolated act, but as a severe, yet integral, extension of the ongoing political dialogue between nations.
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Rating Sources
Reviewers widely praise this book as a timeless and influential masterpiece that offers profound insights into the nature of conflict. Its core philosophy, particularly the idea of war as a continuation of policy, is considered enduringly relevant and has significantly shaped strategic thought for centuries. The work is lauded for its deep exploration of intangible factors in warfare, such as the role of human psychology, the impact of friction and uncertainty, and the crucial importance of political judgment in military endeavors. Many consider it an indispensable resource for understanding strategy, applicable not only to military leaders but also to politicians and those interested in broader strategic thinking. Specific editions are also highlighted for their excellent translations and supplementary materials, which enhance readability and provide invaluable historical context.
Despite its intellectual depth, the book is frequently described as a challenging and often tedious read. Reviewers note its dense, abstract, and sometimes disjointed prose, characterized by repetitive explanations of straightforward concepts at considerable length. The author's style, while aiming for theoretical precision, can feel wordy and obscure, leading to frustration for many readers. Some aspects of the book, particularly detailed tactical discussions, are considered outdated due to their reliance on Napoleonic-era military practices, limiting their appeal to dedicated history buffs. Furthermore, the work is acknowledged to be an unfinished manuscript, resulting in some chapters feeling underdeveloped or lacking full analytical treatment.
Ultimately, this work stands as a foundational classic in military theory, recognized for its monumental impact despite its stylistic and structural imperfections. While it demands significant time and intellectual effort, readers who persevere are rewarded with a deeper comprehension of conflict's complexities. It is highly recommended for military professionals, political leaders, and serious students of history, strategy, and political science. However, it is generally not advised for casual readers seeking an entertaining or easily digestible account of warfare, as its academic and philosophical nature requires a committed and patient approach.
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