Which Theorist Best Characterizes the Nature of World War I-Jomini or Clausewitz?
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- Category: History: World Wars
- Date Submitted: 05/09/2016 07:16 AM
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The Swiss Antoine-Henri Jomini and the Prussian Carl von Clausewitz were two important military theorists emerged from the wars of the French Revolustion and Napoleon. Clausewitz explained military theory and war in relative terms, ever changing standards, and values with unknown outcomes. In contrast, Jomini's view of the military theory was static and simplistic with predicted outcomes. 1
World War I was the most disastrous war ever fought in history with 13 million estimated death from 1914 to 1918. 2 Loss of life, and destruction of property were so immense that no side could declare clear victory at the conclusion of the war. Clausewitz’ military theory best characterized the nature of World War I better than Jomini’s. Clausewitz’s military theory of war better suited to describe the strategic, operational, tactical aspects of World War I, and its outcome.
The Great War came close to what Clausewitz called an “absolute war.” The scale and the cost of the war was unprecedented. Clausewitz suggested that the application of force in war has no logical limit. 1 (On War pp 75,77) The extent and direction of the Great War far exceeded the prediction. Clausewitz explained this based on uncertainty, chance and probability of warfare in his “Parodoxical Trinity”, and maintained that in war a certain measure of uncertainty would always exist.2 For example, Germans believed that this war would be short and limited with moderate casualties and decisive results. All of the prediction came out to be incorrect. Clausewitz’ military theory of complex, dynamic, every changing strategic environment with measure of uncertainty in warfare best summarized the nature of The Great War compared to Jomini’s simplistic view of warfare.
World War I was Clausewitzian in so far as the way it was fought. World War I was a war of what Clausewitz referred to as attrition. It involved all levels of society both military and civilians. Both side fought to drain their economic...
World War I was the most disastrous war ever fought in history with 13 million estimated death from 1914 to 1918. 2 Loss of life, and destruction of property were so immense that no side could declare clear victory at the conclusion of the war. Clausewitz’ military theory best characterized the nature of World War I better than Jomini’s. Clausewitz’s military theory of war better suited to describe the strategic, operational, tactical aspects of World War I, and its outcome.
The Great War came close to what Clausewitz called an “absolute war.” The scale and the cost of the war was unprecedented. Clausewitz suggested that the application of force in war has no logical limit. 1 (On War pp 75,77) The extent and direction of the Great War far exceeded the prediction. Clausewitz explained this based on uncertainty, chance and probability of warfare in his “Parodoxical Trinity”, and maintained that in war a certain measure of uncertainty would always exist.2 For example, Germans believed that this war would be short and limited with moderate casualties and decisive results. All of the prediction came out to be incorrect. Clausewitz’ military theory of complex, dynamic, every changing strategic environment with measure of uncertainty in warfare best summarized the nature of The Great War compared to Jomini’s simplistic view of warfare.
World War I was Clausewitzian in so far as the way it was fought. World War I was a war of what Clausewitz referred to as attrition. It involved all levels of society both military and civilians. Both side fought to drain their economic...