INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL

• “Clausewitz and His Works.” A contemporary introduction by Christopher Bassford
(updated 2012)

• Preface to the First Edition by Marie von Clausewitz

• Notice

• The Introduction of the Author

• 1908 Introduction by Colonel Frederick N. Maude

• Information on the 1873 Translator, Colonel J.J. Graham

• Some Notes on This Translation

 

BOOK I: ON THE NATURE OF WAR

• 1. What is War?

• 2. Ends and Means in War

• 3. The Genius for War

• 4. On Danger in War

• 5. On Bodily Exertion in War

• 6. Information in War

• 7. Friction in War

• 8. Concluding Remarks

 

BOOK II: ON THE THEORY OF WAR

• 1. Branches of the Art of War

• 2. On the Theory of War

• 3. Art or Science of War

• 4. Methodicism

• 5. Criticism

• 6. On Examples

 

BOOK III: OF STRATEGY IN GENERAL

• 1. Strategy

• 2. Elements of Strategy

• 3. Moral Forces

• 4. The Chief Moral Powers

• 5. Military Virtue of an Army

• 6. Boldness

• 7. Perseverance

• 8. Superiority of Numbers

• 9. The Surprise

• 10. Stratagem

• 11. Assembly of Forces in Space

• 12. Assembly of Forces in Time

• 13. Strategic Reserve

• 14. Economy of Forces

• 15. Geometrical Element 

• 16. On the Suspension of the Act in War

• 17. On the Character of Modern War

• 18. Tension and Rest

 

BOOK IV: THE COMBAT

• 1. Introductory

• 2. Character of a Modern Battle

• 3. The Combat in General

• 4. The Combat in General (continuation)

• 5. On the Signification of the Combat

• 6. Duration of Combat

• 7. Decision of the Combat

• 8. Mutual Understanding as to a Battle

• 9. The Battle

• 10. Effects of Victory

• 11. The Use of the Battle

• 12. Strategic Means of Utilising Victory

• 13. Retreat After a Lost Battle

• 14. Night Fighting

 

BOOK V: MILITARY FORCES

• 1. General Scheme

• 2. Theatre of War, Army, Campaign

• 3. Relation of Power

• 4. Relation of the Three Arms

• 5. Order of Battle of an Army

• 6. General Disposition of an Army

• 7. Advanced Guard and Out-Posts

• 8. Mode of Action of Advanced Corps

• 9. Camps

• 10. Marches

• 11. Marches (continued)

• 12. Marches (continued)

• 13. Cantonments

• 14. Subsistence

• 15. Base of Operations

• 16. Lines of Communication

• 17. On Country and Ground

• 18. Command of Ground

 

BOOK VI: DEFENCE

• 1. Offence and Defence

• 2. The Relations of the Offensive and Defensive to Each Other in Tactics

• 3. The Relations of the Offensive and Defensive to Each Other in Strategy

• 4. Convergence of Attack and Divergence of Defence

• 5. Character of Strategic Defensive

• 6. Extent of the Means of Defence

• 7. Mutual Action and Reaction of Attack and Defence

• 8. Methods of Resistance

• 9. Defensive Battle

• 10. Fortresses

• 11. Fortresses (continuation)

• 12. Defensive Position

• 13. Strong Positions and Entrenched Camps

• 14. Flank Positions

• 15. Defence of Mountains

• 16. Defence of Mountains (continued)

• 17. Defence of Mountains (continued)

• 18. Defence of Streams and Rivers

• 19. Defence of Streams and Rivers (continued)

• 20.A. Defence of Swamps

• 20.B. Inundations

• 21. Defence of Forests

• 22. The Cordon

• 23. Key of the Country

• 24. Operating Against a Flank

• 25. Retreat into the Interior of the Country

• 26. Arming the Nation

• 27. Defence of a Theatre of War

• 28. Defence of a Theatre of War (continued)

• 29. Defence of a Theatre of War (continued)—Successive Resistance

• 30. Defence of a Theatre of War (continued) When No Decision is Sought For

 

SKETCHES FOR BOOK VII: THE ATTACK

• 1. The Attack in Relation to the Defence

• 2. Nature of the Strategical Attack

• 3. On the Objects of Strategical Attack

• 4. Decreasing Force of the Attack

• 5. Culminating Point of the Attack

• 6. Destruction of the Enemy’s Armies

• 7. The Offensive Battle

• 8. Passage of Rivers

• 9. Attack on Defensive Positions

• 10. Attack on an Entrenched Camp

• 11. Attack on a Mountain Range

• 12. Attack on Cordon Lines

• 13. Maneuvering

• 14. Attack on Morasses, Inundations, Woods

• 15. Attack on a Theatre of War with the View to a Decision

• 16. Attack on a Theatre of War without the View to a Great Decision

• 17. Attack on Fortresses

• 18. Attack on Convoys

• 19. Attack on the Enemy’s Army in its Cantonments

• 20. Diversions

• 21. Invasion

• 22. On the Culminating Point of Victory

 

SKETCHES FOR BOOK VIII: PLAN OF WAR

• 1. Introduction

• 2. Absolute and Real War

• 3.A. Interdependence of the Parts in a War

• 3.B. On the Magnitude of the Object of the War and the Efforts to be Made

• 4. Ends in War More Precisely Defined—Overthrow of the Enemy

• 5. Ends in War More Precisely Defined (continuation)—Limited Object

• 6.A. Influence of the Political Object on the Military Object

• 6.B. War as an Instrument of Policy

• 7. Limited Object—Offensive War

• 8. Limited Object—Defence

• 9. Plan of War When the Destruction of the Enemy is the Object

 

END MATTER

• Index to the 1873 Edition of Graham’s Translation of On War