The Prussian military theorist who is widely acknowledged as the most important of the major strategic theorists. Even though he's been dead for over a century and a half, he remains the most frequently cited, the most controversial, and in many respects the most modern. His most notable work, Vom Kriege (On War), was unfinished at his death.
"To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power and movement, the enemy's centre of gravity." - Carl von Clausewitz
by Dancing with Fire October 11, 2011
Clausewitz was a Prussian soldier, military historian, a prominent thinker, and a military theorist. He is most famous for his military treatise Vom Kriege, translated into English as On War. He stated that warfare is a human activity and therefore it is imperfect, thus it cannot be broken down into a narrow set of rules. He also stated that war and battle are filled with the unexpected. He called these unplanned variables and surprises, "friction.” Only the general who had the genius for flexibility and strategy could minimize the impact of friction, but not completely. He suggested that war was not end itself, but rather a means to an end. Clausewitz also believed that the more serious the objective, the more serious the soldier’s mindset would become, resulting in more violence and bloodshed during a battle. One of his central themes is focusing on the opponents “center of gravity.” The center of gravity could be the enemy’s armed forces, or it could be public opinion depending on the nature and objectives of the war. Just like Jomini, Clausewitz preferred the offensive instead of the defensive. He also said that the best general was the one who remained calm during the chaos of a battle.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ December 1, 2009
Extreme tiredness and fatigueness caused by playing videogames (such as Hearts of Iron IV and Stellaris) designed in the Clausewitz Engine.
Yesterday I experienced hallucinations and was extremely tired. I think i've got the Clausewitz Effect.
by AHELLOA April 7, 2023