The Karl von Clausewitz reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Karl von Clausewitz

Carl Phillip Gottlieb von Clausewitz (June 1, 1780 - November 16, 1831) was a Prussian military thinker.

His Father was a Prussian Officer and he entered the army at the age of 12. He attained the rank of Major-General in the Prussian Military, and is famous for writing the military strategy book Vom Kriege (On War), first published in 1832.

Despite his death before quite completing On War, his ideas have been widely influential in military theory. One idea, that actual war includes "friction" which deranges, to a greater or lesser degree, all prior arrangements, has become common currency in other fields as well (i.e. business strategy).

He married Countess Marie von Brühl.

Table of contents

1 Quotation 2 External link 3 Further reading

Quotation

"War is nothing but the continuation of policy by other means," is perhaps his is most oft-quoted point. The idea that war -- violent military action -- is only the "strong arm" of diplomacy, utilized when more peaceful means of persuasion are not sufficient.

"No Battle Plan Survives First Contact With the Enemy". "War is very simple, but in War the simplest things become very difficult"

See also: Famous military writers

External link

• http://www.clausewitz.com/CWZHOME/CWZBASE.htm

Further reading

• Clausewitz, Karl Von. Edited with introduction by Anatol Rapoport. On War. Viking Penguin, 1982. Paperback, 464 pages. ISBN 0140444270.
• Clausewitz, Carl von. Col. J. J. Graham, translator. Vom Kriege. On War — Volume 1, Project Gutenberg eBook.

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