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Index
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Editor's Note
Introductory Essays
The Genesis of "On War"
The Influence of Clausewitz
The Continuing Relevance of "On War"
BOOK ONE - On the Nature of War
CHAPTER ONE - What Is War?
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DEFINITION
3. THE MAXIMUM USE OF FORCE
4. THE AIM IS TO DISARM THE ENEMY
5. THE MAXIMUM EXERTION OF STRENGTH
6. MODIFICATIONS IN PRACTICE
7. WAR IS NEVER AN ISOLATED ACT
8. WAR DOES NOT CONSIST OF A SINGLE SHORT BLOW
9. IN WAR THE RESULT IS NEVER FINAL
10. THE PROBABILITIES OF REAL LIFE REPLACE THE EXTREME AND THE ABSOLUTE ...
11. THE POLITICAL OBJECT NOW COMES TO THE FORE AGAIN
12. AN INTERRUPTION OF MILITARY ACTIVITY IS NOT EXPLAINED BY ANYTHING YET SAID
13. ONLY ONE CONSIDERATION CAN SUSPEND MILITARY ACTION, AND IT SEEMS THAT IT ...
14. CONTINUITY WOULD THUS BE BROUGHT ABOUT IN MILITARY ACTION AND WOULD AGAIN ...
15. HERE A PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY IS PROPOSED
16. ATTACK AND DEFENSE BEING THINGS DIFFERENT IN KIND AND UNEQUAL IN STRENGTH, ...
17. THE SUPERIORITY OF DEFENSE OVER ATTACK OFTEN DESTROYS THE EFFECT OF ...
18. A SECOND CAUSE IS IMPERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE SITUATION
19. FREQUENT PERIODS OF INACTION REMOVE WAR STILL FURTHER FROM THE REALM OF THE ...
20. THEREFORE ONLY THE ELEMENT OF CHANCE IS NEEDED TO MAKE WAR A GAMBLE, AND ...
21. NOT ONLY ITS OBJECTIVE BUT ALSO ITS SUBJECTIVE NATURE MAKES WAR A GAMBLE
22. HOW IN GENERAL THIS BEST SUITS HUMAN NATURE
23. BUT WAR IS NONETHELESS A SERIOUS MEANS TO A SERIOUS END: A MORE PRECISE ...
24. WAR IS MERELY THE CONTINUATION OF POLICY BY OTHER MEANS
25. THE DIVERSE NATURE OF WAR
26. ALL WARS CAN BE CONSIDERED ACTS OF POLICY
27. THE EFFECTS OF THIS POINT OF VIEW ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF MILITARY HISTORY ...
28. THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEORY
CHAPTER TWO - Purpose and Means in War
CHAPTER THREE - On Military Genius
CHAPTER FOUR - On Danger in War
CHAPTER FIVE - On Physical Effort in War
CHAPTER SIX - Intelligence in War
CHAPTER SEVEN - Friction in War
CHAPTER EIGHT - Concluding Observations on Book One
BOOK TWO - On the Theory of War
CHAPTER ONE - Classifications of the Art of War
CHAPTER TWO - On the Theory of War
ORIGINALLY THE TERM “ART OF WAR” ONLY DESIGNATED THE PREPARATION OF THE FORCES
TRUE WAR FIRST APPEARS IN SIEGE WARFARE
NEXT THE SUBJECT WAS TOUCHED ON BY TACTICS
THE ACTUAL CONDUCT OF WAR OCCURRED ONLY INCIDENTALLY AND INCOGNITO
REFLECTIONS ON THE EVENTS OF WAR LED TO THE NEED FOR A THEORY
EFFORTS TO FORMULATE A POSITIVE THEORY
LIMITATION TO MATERIAL FACTORS
NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY
SUPPLY
BASE
INTERIOR LINES
ALL THESE ATTEMPTS ARE OBJECTIONABLE
THEY EXCLUDE GENIUS FROM THE RULE
PROBLEMS FACING THEORY WHEN MORAL FACTORS ARE INVOLVED
MORAL VALUES CANNOT BE IGNORED IN WAR
PRINCIPAL PROBLEMS IN FORMULATING A THEORY OF THE CONDUCT OF WAR
FIRST PROPERTY: MORAL FORCES AND EFFECTS - HOSTILE FEELINGS
THE EFFECTS OF DANGER - COURAGE
EXTENT OF THE INFLUENCE EXERCISED BY DANGER
OTHER EMOTIONAL FACTORS
INTELLECTUAL QUALITIES
THE DIVERSITY OF INTELLECTUAL QUALITY RESULTS IN A DIVERSITY OF ROADS TO THE GOAL
SECOND PROPERTY: POSITIVE REACTION
THIRD PROPERTY: UNCERTAINTY OF ALL INFORMATION
A POSITIVE DOCTRINE IS UNATTAINABLE
ALTERNATIVES WHICH MAKE A THEORY POSSIBLE - THE DIFFICULTIES VARY IN MAGNITUDE
THEORY SHOULD BE STUDY, NOT DOCTRINE
THIS POINT OF VIEW MAKES THEORY POSSIBLE AND ELIMINATES ITS CONFLICT WITH REALITY
THEORY THUS STUDIES THE NATURE OF ENDS AND MEANS - ENDS AND MEANS IN TACTICS
FACTORS THAT ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THE APPLICATION OF THE MEANS
TERRAIN
TIME OF DAY
WEATHER
ENDS AND MEANS IN STRATEGY
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE APPLICATION OF THE MEANS
THESE FACTORS FORM NEW MEANS
STRATEGY DERIVES THE MEANS AND ENDS TO BE EXAMINED EXCLUSIVELY FROM EXPERIENCE
HOW FAR SHOULD AN ANALYSIS OF THE MEANS BE CARRIED?
SUBSTANTIAL SIMPLIFICATION OF KNOWLEDGE
THIS SIMPLIFICATION EXPLAINS THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF GREAT COMMANDERS, AND WHY ...
KNOWLEDGE WILL BE DETERMINED BY RESPONSIBILITY
THE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED IN WAR IS VERY SIMPLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT IS NOT ...
THE NATURE OF SUCH KNOWLEDGE
KNOWLEDGE MUST BECOME CAPABILITY
CHAPTER THREE - Art of War or Science of War
USAGE IS STILL UNSETTLED - ABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE. THE OBJECT OF SCIENCE IS ...
THE DIFFICULTY OF SEPARATING PERCEPTION FROM JUDGMENT ART OF WAR
WAR IS AN ACT OF HUMAN INTERCOURSE
DIFFERENCE
CHAPTER FOUR - Method and Routine
CHAPTER FIVE - Critical Analysis
CHAPTER SIX - On Historical Examples
BOOK THREE - On Strategy in General
CHAPTER ONE - Strategy
POSSIBLE ENGAGEMENTS ARE TO BE REGARDED AS REAL ONES BECAUSE OF THEIR CONSEQUENCES
THE TWOFOLD OBJECT OF THE ENGAGEMENT
EXAMPLES
IF THIS VIEW IS NOT ADOPTED, OTHER MATTERS WILL BE INACCURATELY ASSESSED
CHAPTER TWO - Elements of Strategy
CHAPTER THREE - Moral Factors
CHAPTER FOUR - The Principal Moral Elements
CHAPTER FIVE - Military Virtues of the Army
CHAPTER SIX - Boldness
CHAPTER SEVEN - Perseverance
CHAPTER EIGHT - Superiority of Numbers
CHAPTER NINE - Surprise
CHAPTER TEN - Cunning
CHAPTER ELEVEN - Concentration of Forces in Space
CHAPTER TWELVE - Unification of Forces in Time
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - The Strategic Reserve
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Economy of Force
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - The Geometrical Factor
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - The Suspension of Action in War
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - The Character of Contemporary Warfare
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Tension and Rest
THE DYNAMIC LAW IN WAR
BOOK FOUR - The Engagement
CHAPTER ONE - Introduction
CHAPTER TWO - The Nature of Battle Today
CHAPTER THREE - The Engagement in General
CHAPTER FOUR - The Engagement in General—Continued
CHAPTER FIVE - The Significance of the Engagement
CHAPTER SIX - Duration of the Engagement
CHAPTER SEVEN - Decision of the Engagement
CHAPTER EIGHT - Mutual Agreement to Fight
CHAPTER NINE - The Battle: Its Decision
CHAPTER TEN - The Battle—Continued: The Effects of Victory
CHAPTER ELEVEN - The Battle—Continued: The Use of the Battle
CHAPTER TWELVE - Strategic Means of Exploiting Victory
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Retreat after a Lost Battle
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Night Operations
BOOK FIVE - Military Forces
CHAPTER ONE - General Survey
CHAPTER TWO - The Army, the Theater of Operations, the Campaign
1. THEATER OF OPERATIONS
2. THE ARMY
3. THE CAMPAIGN
CHAPTER THREE - Relative Strength
CHAPTER FOUR - Relationship between the Branches of the Service
CHAPTER FIVE - The Army’s Order of Battle
CHAPTER SIX - General Disposition of the Army
CHAPTER SEVEN - Advance Guard and Outposts
CHAPTER EIGHT - Operational Use of Advanced Corps
CHAPTER NINE - Camps
CHAPTER TEN - Marches
CHAPTER ELEVEN - Marches—Continued
CHAPTER TWELVE - Marches—Concluded
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Billets
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Maintenance and Supply
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Base of Operations
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Lines of Communication
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Terrain
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - The Command of Heights
BOOK SIX - Defense
CHAPTER ONE - Attack and Defense
1. THE CONCEPT OF DEFENSE
2. ADVANTAGES OF DEFENSE
CHAPTER TWO - The Relationship between Attack and Defense in Tactics
CHAPTER THREE - The Relationship between Attack and Defense in Strategy
CHAPTER FOUR - Convergence of Attack and Divergence of Defense
CHAPTER FIVE - The Character of Strategic Defense
CHAPTER SIX - Scope of the Means of Defense
CHAPTER SEVEN - Interaction between Attack and Defense
CHAPTER EIGHT - Types of Resistance
CHAPTER NINE - The Defensive Battle
CHAPTER TEN - Fortresses
CHAPTER ELEVEN - Fortresses—Continued
CHAPTER TWELVE - Defensive Positions
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Fortified Positions and Entrenched Camps
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Flank Positions
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Defensive Mountain Warfare
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Defensive Mountain Warfare—Continued
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Defensive Mountain Warfare—Concluded
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Defense of Rivers and Streams
CHAPTER NINETEEN - Defense of Rivers and Streams—Continued
CHAPTER TWENTY
A. Defense of Swamps
B. Inundations
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Defense of Forests
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - The Cordon
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - The Key to the Country
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - Operations on a Flank
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - Retreat to the Interior of the Country
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - The People in Arms
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - Defense of a Theater of Operations
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - Defense of a Theater of Operations—Continued
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - Defense of a Theater of Operations—Continued: Phased Resistance
CHAPTER THIRTY - Defense of a Theater of Operations—Concluded: Where a ...
BOOK SEVEN - The Attack
CHAPTER ONE - Attack in Relation to Defense
CHAPTER TWO - The Nature of Strategic Attack
CHAPTER THREE - The Object of Strategic Attack
CHAPTER FOUR - The Diminishing Force of the Attack
CHAPTER FIVE - The Culminating Point of the Attack
CHAPTER SIX - Destruction of the Enemy’s Forces
CHAPTER SEVEN - The Offensive Battle
CHAPTER EIGHT - River Crossings
CHAPTER NINE - Attack on Defensive Positions
CHAPTER TEN - Attack on Entrenched Camps
CHAPTER ELEVEN - Attack on a Mountainous Area
CHAPTER TWELVE - Attack on Cordons
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Maneuver
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Attacks on Swamps, Flooded Areas, and Forests
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Attack on a Theater of War: Seeking a Decision
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Attack on a Theater of War: Not Seeking a Decision
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Attack on Fortresses
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Attack on Convoys
CHAPTER NINETEEN - Attack on an Enemy Army in Billets
CHAPTER TWENTY - Diversions
EXECUTION
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Invasion
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - The Culminating Point of Victory
BOOK EIGHT - War Plans
CHAPTER ONE - Introduction
CHAPTER TWO - Absolute War and Real War
CHAPTER THREE
A. Interdependence of the Elements of War
B. Scale of the Military Objective and of the Effort To Be Made
CHAPTER FOUR - Closer Definition of the Military Objective: The Defeat of the Enemy
CHAPTER FIVE - Closer Definition of the Military Objective—Continued: Limited Aims
CHAPTER SIX
A. The Effect of the Political Aim on the Military Objective
B. War Is an Instrument of Policy
CHAPTER SEVEN - The Limited Aim: Offensive War
CHAPTER EIGHT - The Limited Aim: Defensive War
CHAPTER NINE - The Plan of a War Designed to Lead to the Total Defeat of the Enemy
A COMMENTARY
Index of Names and Places
Chronological Index of Wars, Campaigns and Battles
Notes
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