Strategic Studies

Evolution of Military Strategy

Learning Objectives
To understand the evolution of military strategy
To comprehend Clausewitz and Jominis art of war To comprehend the importance assigned by Clausewitz to

moral force vice physical force

To know and describe the wide spectrum of approaches by

Clausewitz & Jomini on war To comprehend and contrast the present day acceptance of Clausewitzs dicta to those of Jominis
To know and describe Jominis contribution to the theory

of war fare, especially his discovery of the fundamental principles of war

EVOLUTION OF MILITARY STRATEGY

1. Early military strategy
Sun Tzu, Genghiz Khan, Gustav II Adolph of Sweden (30 years war), Frederick The Great (7 Years War)

2. 18th Century Europe -age of limited wars

3. 19th to 20th Century - sought the same basic end To Concentration Strong Forces Against Weaker Ones

War In The Age Of Reason

In our discussion, we will touch on several

name, include : Antoine Henri de Jomini Clausewitz Vauban Mackinder Douhet Montecuccolli Miklos Zrinyi (Hungary)

Nepoleon Bonaparte
Nepoleonic War- levee en masse. Involvement of entire population
Jomini Clausewitz

Jomini
Overview Ideal Military Force Strategic Principles
Winning Territory Task of the Commanding General Jominis Principles of War

Summary

Jomini : Overview
dealt mainly with operational strategy, planning &

intelligence, the conduct of the campaign, "generalship" rather than "statesmanship".

Was the pre-eminent interpreter of Nepoleonic warfare, in

which incremental military innovations in tactics, gun founding, logistics and map making, combined with social & political dynamism of France Revolution to instill European warfare with a decisiveness.
He proposed that victory could be achieved by occupying

the enemy's territory rather than destroying his army.

Jomini - Nature of Approach

Took up the study of warfare
Approach was that of scientist and tried to create a

formula. Endeavored to demonstrate that there are fundamentals and unchanging principles which determine wars outcome and that the only reasonable theory of war was that which admitted the existence of precepts, but still left room for natural genius.

Jomini : Ideal Military Force

Leadership trained for political as well as

military responsibilities A high state of readiness both personnel and material Continued study of military science at all levels of leadership An esteemed position for the military profession Peacetime planning Operational planning compatible with war aims (National Objectives) Contingency planning, strategic intelligence, adequate budget

Jomini : His Concepts

Winning Territory
1) Each military operation will take place within a definite zone of operations
Regarded the zone as a field with 4 sides Two of these sides occupied by opposing force

2) The Task of Commanding General

Choose the line of operations to effectively dominate three sides of the zone Enemy will be crushed or forced out of the zone

Jomini
Strategic Principles
Winning Territory : Conceptual
D1 D2 D1 D2
Opposition will be forced to retreat & surrender

Attack & Control A1 A2 A1

Attacker must Try to control 3 sides to win the war

A2

Jomini
Jominis Principles of War
1. Successive massing the army on strategic

points and communication lines.

2. Engage factions with large force.

3. Throw mass of forces on decisive points.

4. Selection of proper timing for the action.

Jomini - Strategic Principles

1. In battle, by tactical maneuvers, bringing ones major forces to bear on the decisive area of the battlefield or on the part of the enemys lines which is important to overwhelm. 2. Arranging matters in such a fashion that these masses of men not only brought to bear at the decisive place but they be put into action speedily and together, so that they may make a simultaneous effort

Jomini Strategic Principles

3. Based on Napoleons campaigns
Bringing, by strategic measures, majority of forces successfully upon the decisive areas and upon the enemys comm. W/O compromising ones own.

4.

Maneuvering as to engage ones major forces against parts of those of the enemy.
Majority of your forces at the right time and place against the enemys line where it is important to overwhelm Bring them together rapidly for a simultaneous effort.

Principles of War - Jomini

Concentrate forces at decisive areas and Avoid Strength attack weakness (strike the weaker) Swift actions & actions of the various elements of each force acting synchronously Do not separate forces unless absolutely necessary Surprise The strategic initiative is very important (to control strategic area) A beaten foe should be pursued and destroyed

Clausewitz
Believing in the Napoleonic concept of

victory through battle and destruction of the opposing force, at any cost.
However, he also recognized that limited

warfare could influence policy by wearing down the opposition through a "strategy of attrition".

CLAUSEWITZ
Life History
Key Concepts
War is an act of force to compel the enemy to our will. Defence as the selected form of warfare. War is a continuation of policy by other means. Centre of gravity theory.

Acts important to the defeat of the enemy

1. Destruction of his army. 2. Seizure of his capital. 3. Delivery of effective blow to his (strong) ally.

Clausewitz
War is nothing but a continuation of political

intercourse with a mixture of other means Clausewitz

War is a trinity of violence, chance and reason

Absolute war Similar to total war Peoples war Vietnam and Afghanistan

Clausewitz
The Purpose of War
War is an act of force to compel the

enemy to our will Primary Objectives of War :

To conquer and destroy the armed power of the enemy To take possession of his material and other sources of strength To gain public opinion

Principles
The principles which should be followed to

attain the objectives

To employ all the forces which we can make available with the utmost energy To concentrate our force as much as possible at the point where the decisive blows are to be struck

Principles (cont)
Not to lose time by rapidity many measures of the enemy are nipped in the bud and public opinion is gained in our favor surprise is the most powerful element of victory Lastly, to follow up the success we gain with the utmost energy.

The pursuit is the only means of gathering up the fruits of victory

Moral Force
Morale to the physical as 3 is to 1
Courage, audacity, and self-sacrifice Shinning blade

Clausewitz
Center of Gravity (COG) .. Hub of all movement, on which everything depends. That is the point against all our energies should be directed. If the enemy is thrown off balance, he must not be given time to recover. Blow after blow must be aimed in the same direction. . The victor must strike with all his strength and not just against a fraction of the enemyonly by seeking out the center of his power (Clausewitz, On War)

Clausewitz
Principle of Destruction :

Acts important to the defeat of the enemy

Destruction of his army. (The bloody solution of the crisis, the effort for the destruction of the enemy's forces, is the first-born son of war) 2. Seizure of his capital. 3. Delivery of effective blow to his (strong) ally.
1.

Principle of Destruction : Physical & Spiritual

Evolution
Helmuth von Molke - Prussian CoS (1857-

1886). Influenced by Clausewitz earlier thinking.

Charles Ardant du Picq - emphasised on

morale.

Evolution
Shock defeat of French by Prussian in 1870.

The logic of strategy: Si vis pacem para bellum. (If you want peace prepare for war).
Dimensions of strategy: The term 'strategy'

needs continual definition.

Evolution
Operational.

Emphasized on effort on the battlefield.

Social.

Internal and external support, Legitimacy.

Technological.

Steamship, Machine gun, amour, wireless, nuclear, weapons etc. Booby traps in CIW.

Strategy in WW1, WW2 & up

WW1 (1870 up) - offensive thinking
Strategy of attrition Technological advances

In 1918 at Cambrai (Mechanize armor)

WW2 - grand strategy of a coalition of nations

Strategy of Attrition : Verdun (1916)

Continued
WW2 :- Blitzkrieg (employed by Germany)

winning in short time mechanize troops for rapid movement

Strategic bombing (Douhet) Cold War :- nuclear warfare deterrent concept Post Cold War Strategy hyperpower

unilateralism - unipolar