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[[Image:Clausewitz.jpg|right|thumb|Carl von Clausewitz]]

[[Image:Clausewitz.jpg|right|thumb|Carl von Clausewitz]]

'''Carl Phillip Gottfried von Clausewitz''' (1780-1831), also known as: Carl Maria von Clausewitz, Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz, Karl von Clausewitz; was a native of [[Prussia]].  He was a professional soldier, a master strategic theorist and a renowned military philosopher.<ref>Blaschke, R., Carl von Clausewitz, der soldat und kriegsphilosoph. 1936, Leipzig,: P. Reclam jun. 78 p.</ref><ref>Aron, R., Clausewitz, philosopher of war. 1st Touchstone ed. 1986, New York: Simon & Schuster. xi, 418 p.</ref> He was both a valiant warrior and a brilliant intellectual. He belongs to the exclusive group of the very few extraordinary military thinkers - who have truly left the impression of their genius on the centuries to come. Even today he is unquestionably the most frequently quoted and the most revered strategist. Despite the fact that his major work was published over two centuries ago - it remains to be a very much modern treatise on military and general strategy. His major opus "On War" (original German title: "Vom Kriege") has been translated into every major language, and it continues to have an impact on modern military, business and political strategists.

'''Carl Phillip Gottfried von Clausewitz''' (1780-1831)<ref> also known as: Carl Maria von Clausewitz, Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz, Karl von Clausewitz</ref> was an influential Prussian military theorist. His major work ''On War'' remains an influential treatise on military and general strategy.  

Von Clausewitz was a Prussian [[patriot]] - who had and continues to have tremendous influence on the [[American]] military and business schools of thoughts. "On War" is a required reading in all American military academies. It is also taught with an increasing frequency in civilian strategic studies and business programs in America and all over the world.

Clausewitz stressed the moral and political aspects of war. His great work ''On War'' was unfinished at his death. He used a romantic or Hegelian conception of warfare, stressing the dialectic of how opposite factors interact, and noting how unexpected new developments unfolded under the "fog of war" and called for rapid decisions by alert commanders. Clausewitz saw history as a complex check on abstractions that did not accord with experience. In opposition to his great intellectual rival [[Antoine-Henri Jomini]] he argued war could not be quantified or graphed or reduced to mapwork and graphs.  Clausewitz had many aphorisms, of which the most famous is, "War is not merely a political act, but also a political instrument, a continuation of political relations, a carrying out of the same by other means," a working definition of war which has won wide acceptance.  

In 1806, he fought [[France|French]] invaders in the tragic Jena Campaign. He was captured by enemy forces after a defeat of the Prussian Army and spent two years as a prisoner of war in France and Switzerland. In year 1808 he was released by the French Army and came back to Prussia. After his return von Clausewitz was immediately appointed by his former mentor General von Scharnhorst as a military assistant to Prussian Army Chief of Staff. He worked with an exemplary dedication reorganizing and modernizing the Prussian Army. In year 1810, in recognition of his service he was appointed as a professor at the War Academy and assigned the prestigious task of military education of the Prussian Crown Prince.<ref>Parkinson, R., Clausewitz : a biography. 1st Cooper Square Press ed. 2002, New York: Cooper Square Press. 352 p.</ref><ref>Hahlweg, W., Carl von Clausewitz. 1957, Göttingen,: Musterschmidt-Verlag. 111 p.</ref><ref>Scholtz, G., et al., Carl von Clausewitz : Bildnis eines deutschen Soldaten. 1936, Berlin: Frundsberg-Verlag. 143, [1] p.</ref> Same year he married Marie von Brühl. Von Clausewitz spent the next two years advancing not only his military career but also advancing his scholarly studies, interacting with many prominent Berlin intellectuals.  

Carl von Clausewitz was born in 1780 in Burg, Kingdom of Prussia, in a middle-class family. Although not rich his family had claims to noble origins which eventually have been officially recognized. At 12 years old the boy entered Prussian army as a cadet in 34th Infantry Regiment. At age 13 he participated in his first military campaign fighting against revolutionary French forces; he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant at age 15. He entered the Berlin War Academy at the age of 21, where his influential mentor General Gerhard von Scharnhorst was director. Clausewitz studied history and philosophy – especially ideas of Immanuel Kant. After graduation in 1804 he became a military assistant (aide-de-camp) to Prussian Prince August. In the same year he met his future wife - a prominent Berlin’s socialite Marie von Brühl.  

As an honest and deeply patriotic man von Clausewitz profoundly resented French political and cultural domination of Prussia.<ref>Blaschke, R., Carl von Clausewitz, der soldat und kriegsphilosoph. 1936, Leipzig,: P. Reclam jun. 78 p.</ref><ref>Heyck, H., Clausewitz; ein Lebens- und Zeitbild. 1968, Leoni am Starnberger See,: Druffel-Verlag. 976 p.</ref><ref>Scholtz, G., et al., Carl von Clausewitz : Bildnis eines deutschen Soldaten. 1936, Berlin: Frundsberg-Verlag. 143, [1] p.</ref> His dissatisfaction with French influences culminated in the year 1812, when he defiantly refused to collaborate with France. Given no other option he left Prussia to serve in the Russian Army in accordance with the principle that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." However, before this forced exile von Clausewitz left the manuscript of his first major work "Principles of War" with the Prussian Crown Prince as a tutorial.<ref>Blaschke, R., Carl von Clausewitz, der soldat und kriegsphilosoph. 1936, Leipzig,: P. Reclam jun. 78 p.</ref><ref>Heyck, H., Clausewitz; ein Lebens- und Zeitbild. 1968, Leoni am Starnberger See,: Druffel-Verlag. 976 p.</ref> Von Clausewitz fought bravely through the Russian Campaign. He played instrumental role in orchestrating defection of troops led by Prussian Field Marshal Hans Yorck von Wartenburg from loyal to Napoleon Prussian Army.<ref>Rose, O., Carl von Clausewitz : Wirkungsgeschichte seines Werkes in Russland. Beiträge zur Militärgeschichte ;. 1995, München: R. Oldenbourg. vi, 275 p.</ref> This was a turning point in the history of Prussia, which ultimately paved a road to massive insurgency against [[Napoleon]]. Subsequently, von Clausewitz became Russian liaison officer with the headquarters of Field Marshal Blücher, and ultimately was appointed chief of staff of the German-Russian legion. In the year 1814 von Clausewitz was fully reinstated with all honors in the Prussian Army. A year later he fought in the bloody Waterloo campaign serving as a chief of staff to General von Thielmann's III Prussian Army Corps.<ref>Blaschke, R., Carl von Clausewitz, der soldat und kriegsphilosoph. 1936, Leipzig,: P. Reclam jun. 78 p.</ref><ref>Heyck, H., Clausewitz; ein Lebens- und Zeitbild. 1968, Leoni am Starnberger See,: Druffel-Verlag. 976 p.</ref><ref>Clausewitz, K.v. and W.M. Schering, Carl von Clausewitz: Geist und Tat. 1941, Stuttgart,: A. Kröner. xxxv, 382 p.</ref> His personal participation in the famous Battles of Ligny and Wavre had a deep influence on von Clausewitz's understanding of the strategic Arcanum.<ref>Blaschke, R. and C.v. Clausewitz, Carl von Clausewitz, ein Leben im Kampf. 1934, Berlin,: Junker und Dünnhaupt. 313 p.</ref>  In both those battles Prussian Army was greatly outnumbered and overwhelmed by French forces, and was eventually forced into the retreat. Nevertheless, those battles were hollow victories for French and major strategic victories for Prussians. Prussian Army was able to engage French forces long enough to prevent their entry into the Waterloo battlefield. This ultimately resulted in Napoleon’s defeat.

In 1806, he fought French invaders in the failed Jena Campaign. He was captured spent two years as a prisoner of war in France. After his return von Clausewitz was immediately appointed by his former mentor General von Scharnhorst as a military assistant to Prussian Army Chief of Staff. He worked with an exemplary dedication reorganizing and modernizing the Prussian Army. In year 1810, in recognition of his service he was appointed as a professor at the War Academy and assigned the prestigious task of military education of the Prussian Crown Prince.<ref>Parkinson, R., Clausewitz : a biography. 1st Cooper Square Press ed. 2002, New York: Cooper Square Press. 352 p.</ref><ref>Hahlweg, W., Carl von Clausewitz. 1957, Göttingen,: Musterschmidt-Verlag. 111 p.</ref><ref>Scholtz, G., et al., Carl von Clausewitz : Bildnis eines deutschen Soldaten. 1936, Berlin: Frundsberg-Verlag. 143, [1] p.</ref> Same year he married Marie von Brühl. Von Clausewitz spent the next two years advancing not only his military career but also advancing his scholarly studies, interacting with many prominent Berlin intellectuals.

 

As an honest and deeply patriotic man von Clausewitz profoundly resented French political and cultural domination of Prussia. His dissatisfaction culminated in the year 1812, when Prussia allied with Napoleon and Clausewitz defiantly refused to collaborate with France. He left Prussia to serve in the Russian Army. However, before this forced exile von Clausewitz left the manuscript of his first major work "Principles of War" with the Prussian Crown Prince as a tutorial. He fought for Russia against Napoleon. When Prussia switched to become an ally of Russia against Napoleon, he became Russian liaison officer with the headquarters of Prussian Field Marshal Blücher, and ultimately was appointed chief of staff of the German-Russian legion. In the decisive 1815 Waterloo campaign he served as a chief of staff to General von Thielmann's III Prussian Army Corps.  

 

Participation in the battles of Ligny and Wavre had a deep influence on von Clausewitz's understanding of the strategic Arcanum. In both those battles Prussian Army was greatly outnumbered and overwhelmed by French forces, and was eventually forced into the retreat. Nevertheless, those battles were hollow victories for French and major strategic victories for Prussians. Prussian Army was able to engage French forces long enough to prevent their entry into the Waterloo battlefield. This ultimately resulted in Napoleon’s defeat.

After the war ended von Clausewitz served for two years on staff of the beloved by Prussians military hero General August von Gneisenau. In a year 1818 von Clausewitz was promoted to Major-General and appointed as a director of the War College in Berlin. He remained at this prestigious post until year 1830 spending his time on research, teaching and writing his scholarly treatises. In 1830 he has been appointed as a Chief of Staff of the Prussian Army. This promotion coincided with an impromptu mobilization of Prussian forces which were rushed to the eastern borders of the Prussian Kingdom. The hasty mobilization and sealing-off Prussian borders was done in an anticipation of possible outbreak of violence - related to a turbulent political situation in the Russian Empire. While staying with his troops von Clausewitz contracted cholera and died in the city of Breslau on November 16, 1831. He was buried in his native city of Burg. Von Clausewitz’s modest tomb has been guarded by the Honorary Military Guard of Kingdom of Prussia, Imperial [[Germany]], [[Weimar Republic]], [[Nazi]] Germany, and communist [[East Germany]].<ref>Förster, G., Carl von Clausewitz : Lebensbild eines patriotischen Militärs und fortschrittlichen Militärtheoretikers. 1. Aufl. ed. Militärgeschichtliche Skizzen. 1983, Berlin: Militärverlag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik. 55 p.</ref> It is now attended by the Honorary Guard of the Federal Army of the United Germany. This is a true testament to the greatness of the man – whose universal thoughts transcended short-lived political fashions and trends. Major works of von Clausewitz including "On War" were published after his death by his widow in [[Berlin]] from 1832 to 1837.<ref>Clausewitz, C.v., Hinterlassene Werke des Generals Carl von Clausewitz über Krieg und Kriegführung. 1832, Berlin,: F. Dümmler. 10 v.</ref><ref>Clausewitz, K.v., Vom kriege. 1832, Berlin,: F. Dümmler. 3 v. in 1.</ref><ref>Clausewitz, K.v., Der feldzug von 1815 in Frankreich. 2. aufl. ed. 1862, Berlin,: F. Dümmler. vi, 194 p.</ref><ref>Schwartz, K., Leben des generals Carl von Clausewitz und der frau Marie von Clausewitz geb. gräfin von Brühl. 1878, Berlin,: F. Dümmler. 2 v.</ref>

After the war ended von Clausewitz served for two years on staff of the beloved by Prussians military hero General August von Gneisenau. In a year 1818 von Clausewitz was promoted to Major-General and appointed as a director of the War College in Berlin. He remained at this prestigious post until year 1830 spending his time on research, teaching and writing his scholarly treatises. In 1830 he has been appointed as a Chief of Staff of the Prussian Army. This promotion coincided with an impromptu mobilization of Prussian forces which were rushed to the eastern borders of the Prussian Kingdom. The hasty mobilization and sealing-off Prussian borders was done in an anticipation of possible outbreak of violence - related to a turbulent political situation in the Russian Empire. While staying with his troops von Clausewitz contracted cholera and died in the city of Breslau on November 16, 1831. He was buried in his native city of Burg. Von Clausewitz’s modest tomb has been guarded by the Honorary Military Guard of Kingdom of Prussia, Imperial [[Germany]], [[Weimar Republic]], [[Nazi]] Germany, and communist [[East Germany]].<ref>Förster, G., Carl von Clausewitz : Lebensbild eines patriotischen Militärs und fortschrittlichen Militärtheoretikers. 1. Aufl. ed. Militärgeschichtliche Skizzen. 1983, Berlin: Militärverlag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik. 55 p.</ref> It is now attended by the Honorary Guard of the Federal Army of the United Germany. This is a true testament to the greatness of the man – whose universal thoughts transcended short-lived political fashions and trends. Major works of von Clausewitz including "On War" were published after his death by his widow in [[Berlin]] from 1832 to 1837.<ref>Clausewitz, C.v., Hinterlassene Werke des Generals Carl von Clausewitz über Krieg und Kriegführung. 1832, Berlin,: F. Dümmler. 10 v.</ref><ref>Clausewitz, K.v., Vom kriege. 1832, Berlin,: F. Dümmler. 3 v. in 1.</ref><ref>Clausewitz, K.v., Der feldzug von 1815 in Frankreich. 2. aufl. ed. 1862, Berlin,: F. Dümmler. vi, 194 p.</ref><ref>Schwartz, K., Leben des generals Carl von Clausewitz und der frau Marie von Clausewitz geb. gräfin von Brühl. 1878, Berlin,: F. Dümmler. 2 v.</ref>