Strategic Studies

Evolution of Military Strategy

Learning Objectives To understand the evolution of military strategy To comprehend Clausewitz and Jomini’s 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

Clausewitz’s dicta to those of Jomini’s To know and describe Jomini’s 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 BonaparteNepoleonic War- levee en masse. Involvement of entire population

– Jomini

– Clausewitz

– Overview– Ideal Military Force – Strategic Principles

• Winning Territory• Task of the Commanding

General • Jomini’s Principles of War

– Summary

Jomini

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 war’s outcome and that the only reasonable theory of war was that which admitted the existence of precepts, but still left room for natural genius.

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 : Ideal Military Force 

Winning Territory1) 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 : His Concepts

Strategic Principles Winning Territory :

Conceptual

Jomini

D1 D2

A1 A2

D1 D2

A1 A2

Attack & Control

Opposition will be forcedto retreat & surrender

Attacker must Try to control3 sides to win

the war

JominiJomini’s 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 Principles1. In battle, by tactical maneuvers, bringing

one’s major forces to bear on the decisive area of the battlefield or on the part of the enemy’s 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 Principles3. Based on Napoleon’s campaigns

Bringing, by strategic measures, majority of forces successfully upon the decisive areas and upon the enemy’s comm. W/O compromising one’s own.

4. Maneuvering as to engage one’s major forces against parts of those of the enemy.

– Majority of your forces at the right time and place against the enemy’s 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 People’s 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 enemy…only by seeking out the center of his power…

(Clausewitz, On War)

ClausewitzPrinciple of Destruction : Acts important to the defeat of the enemy

1. 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.

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