Carl von Clausewitz - On the nature of war

Prussia has produced notable personalities that influenced history, such as chancellor Bismarck and general Clausewitz. This is the first post in a series that focuses on Carl von Clausewitz's military theory treatise, On War. Here I summarize the contents of the first book, that discusses the nature of war.

Chapter 1: What is war?

• the definition of war
• acknowledges the need for the maximum use of force
• it is through their interaction that warring sides push each other to extremes
• the aim is to overcome or disarm the enemy (making him defenseless)
• was is not an isolated act and it doesn't consist of a single decisive blow
• the result of war is not final
• the similarity between war and a gamble
• war as a means of reaching a political goal

Chapter 2: Purpose and means in war

• the 3 objectives that must be considered: the armed forces, the country, and the enemy's will
• war doesn't involve the notion that the 2 states have relatively equal strength
• methods to increase the cost of the war for the enemy
• combat is the only means of war

Chapter 3: On military genius

• military genius consists of a combination of elements that influence military performance
• war being the realm of chance
• the importance of the intellect in war
• the role of the commander
• temperament and feelings's influence in war
• relationship between warfare and terrain

Chapter 4: On danger in war

• the effect that immediate danger has on the mind of a soldier

Chapter 5: On physical effort in war

• physical effort can't be measured
• hardships are no excuse for a defeat, bu they boost the value of a victory

Chapter 6: Intelligence in war

• the unreliable character of information in war
• most intelligence is false, and reports of bad news multiply easily

Chapter 7: Friction in war

• even the simplest thing is difficult in war
• how performance in war is lowered by many factors 
• habit and experience are essential for sound decision-making

Chapter 8: Concluding observations on Book One

• danger, physical exertion, intelligence, and friction are the elements that impede activity in war. They can be countered by combat experience

Source(s):
On War