It has been translated into english several times as on war. Clausewitz defined it as the hub of all power and movement, on which everything depends. Its coherence and ambition are unmatched by other military literature. His most notable work, vom kriege on war, was unfinished at his death. May 11, 2017 the center of gravity of an armed force refers to those sources of strength or balance. This term center of gravity schwerpunkt appears about 40 times in clausewitzs book. Viewpoint what clausewitz really meant by centre of gravity. 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. Where those centers of gravity obvious at the beginning of the war or did their identification develop over time. Clausewitz on nature and character of war 1486 words. Clausewitz, on war, excerpts relating to term center s of gravity.
He gained enduring fame for on war, which provides deep insight into the theory and conduct of war. This term center of gravity schwerpunkt appears about 40 times in clausewitz s book, most often with no particular or consistent meaning. Sun tzu teaches a philosophy on war that is elegant and simple. Clausewitz, jomini, and the birth of modern strategy fog. Clausewitz, on war, excerpts relating to term centers of gravity. On war vom kriege formed only the first three of ten volumes of clausewitzs collected writings and even that collection is incomplete. He is most famous for his military treatise vom kriege complete text available here, translated into english as on war complete text available here. According to clausewitz, the center of gravity schwerpunkt is always found where the mass is concentrated most densely. The german and japanese centers of gravity that the u. It is that characteristic, capability, or locality from which the force derives its freedom of action, physical strength, or will to fight.
Why is clausewitz called the father of modern strategy. Some juicy quotations from clausewitz, on war these quotations are taken from the michael howardpeter paret translation, princeton university press, 197684, which is based on the original in german, vom kriege, dummlers verlag, berlin. Over the last 25 years, the center of gravity concept has. 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. Echevarria ii entitled clausewitz s center of gravity. The definition of a cog is the source of power that provides moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act. Disrupting terrorists center of gravity national the. Analysis of clausewitzs interrelationship between writework. In the process, however, each of the servicesshaped. Princeton university press, 1984, particularly if you are using this book for your scholarly or research work.
Continuously emphasizing that war is a continuity of policy by other means, clausewitz, in his 20 years work, has defined perfectly the theory of war, its tactical and strategic purposes. Clausewitz drove to the heart of the matter in chapter 28. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy early military career. He stressed the dialectical interaction of diverse factors, noting how. A major battle in a theater of operations is a collision between two centers of gravity. Stoker does a commendable job of interweaving and referring to the evolution of clausewitzs key ideas on war, including friction 48, 101, center of gravity 100, and defense, including the idea of political defense 97. Grahams translation of the original work is adequate. Essay from the year 20 in the subject politics international politics topic. Mar 29, 2016 it is, however, clausewitzs great intellectual triumph, on war, that permeates the book, as well it should. To understand centers of gravity, one must be grounded in the original context of on war. This essay will attempt to analyze clausewitzs interrelationship between political object and that of military object, and how these concepts fit into his general ideas on war as outlined in book one of on war. Nicholas murray and christopher pringle university press of kansas, 2018. Princeton university press, 1984, particularly if you are using this book for your scholarly or research.
The center of gravity for al qaeda affiliates publish your. Returning to prussia, he assisted in the reform of the prussian army and state. English translation of on war, 144, 151, 331, available as an ebook at. Is the center of gravity cog concept still relevant in todays operational. The center of gravity for al qaeda affiliates publish. 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. Selfreliance is the best defence against the pressures of the moment. In a recent parameters article, us military doctrine and the revolution in military affairs autumn 1994, dr.
Jablonskys discussion of his central subject demonstrated his usual flair and insight. This term center of gravity schwerpunkt appears about 40 times in clausewitzs book, most often with no particular or consistent meaning. 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. Introduction as from the prussian soldiers, clausewitz had become more knowingly as the prussian philosopher. Sun tzu was a prominent military advisor to chinese nobility around 500 b. Strategy and the us civil war, 18611865 oxford university press, 2010, won the prestigious fletcher pratt award, was a main selection of the history. The book has influenced military thinkers and practitioners as diverse as sir julian corbett, vladimir lenin, mao zedong, harry summers, and colin powell. As cited in christopher fowler, center of gravity still relevant after all these years, usawc strategy research project, 2002.
Adorned with many historical examples, this book is certainly historys greatest masterpiece. 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. It is, however, clausewitzs great intellectual triumph, on war, that permeates the book, as well it should. Since the works first appearance in 1832, it has been read throughout the world, and has stimulated generations of soldiers, statesmen, and intellectuals. On war has become one of the most respected classics on military strategy. Nov 26, 2015 disrupting terrorists center of gravity. Center of gravity download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Lieutenant colonel echevarria thus argues, quite persuasively, that the clausewitzian. It looks at the relevance of clausewitz, the general operational plan in iraq, and the vital clausewitzian theories such as the importance of political will, policy makers shaping military strategy, center. It looks at the relevance of clausewitz, the general operational plan in iraq, and the vital clausewitzian theories such as the importance of political will, policy makers shaping military strategy, center of gravity, economy of force, offense, and surprise. Jun 22, 2003 clausewitz drove to the heart of the matter in chapter 28. 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.
His famous book on war is our bible and he is a god among military strategists. Clausewitzs center of gravity its not what we thought lieutenant colonel antulio j. Clausewitz did not perceive the profound impact his book would have. A major battle in a theater of operations is a collision between two centers of. Thus, the center of gravity is usually seen as the source of strength. As systems are dynamic, it would make little sense to call it a center of gravity as it would constantly move and. It is an extraordinary attempt to construct an allembracing theory of how war works.
However, three more specialized discussions appear below. On one particular point, however, his use of clausewitz. Clausewitz was a realist in many different senses and, while in. However, grahams edition only contains the first four books of the work. His life and work oxford university press, 2014, is on the british army professional reading list. It was clausewitz who described the centre of gravity as the hub of all. The man, his theories, and his times princeton university press, 1985.