Jomini V Clausewitz

In the profession of Arms, military professionals have long debated, argued, cited, and applied the principles of two great theorists from the Napoleonic period, Clausewitz and Jomini.   The theories and teachings of Carl von Clausewitz and Antoine-Henri Jomini are more similar than distinctly different and must coexist for successful implementation of National will in today’s dynamic, geopolitical environment.
Carl von Clausewitz was a great macro level theorist, whose background and philosophy set the stage for the education of military leaders and creative employment of the direct elements of national power.   Carl von Clausewitz spent his entire life in the profession of arms.   He was born in Prussia in 1780 and first served in combat at the age of 12.   He became a Colonel in the Russian Army and culminated his career as the Prussian Corp Chief of Staff at Waterloo.   His greatest contribution and legacy to the profession of arms was his theories and teachings outlined in his final publishing, On War.   His theories continue to be relevant today.   In fact his work is quoted 5 times in military publications.   His theory of the paradoxical trinity and total war concept set his work in On War apart from other more prescriptive works.
Antoine-Henri Jomini’s work, like Clausewitz, is referenced and forms a philosophical basis for current United States military doctrine as evidenced throughout military publications.   Jomini’s writings were more direct, less abstract and therefore more easily understood than readable than Clausewitz.   A large portion of this and the similarity of their work is due to the fact that Jomini’s work was based on the lessons he gleaned from reading and studing Clausewitz.   In his work, Summary of the Art of War, Jomini breaks down and expands on numerous concepts originally laid out in Clausewitz’ On War.   Perhaps a large portion of the similarities exist because Jomini simply clarified much of Clausewitz work.
Jomini and Clausewitz...