On War

by Carl von Clausewitz

"Anyone who falls into the habit of thinking and expecting the best of his subordinates at all times is, for that reason alone, unsuited to command an army." -Carl von Clausewitz, On War , 1832
On War is Carl von Clausewitz' masterpiece on war and military strategy, which was written between 1816 and 1830 and was published posthumously by his wife Marie von Clausewitz (née von Brühl) in 1832.
Three main concepts of war stand war should be seen as an instrument of politics; the military objectives in war that support one's political objectives fall into two "war to achieve limited aims" and war to "disarm" the enemy; and the course of war will tend to favor the party with the stronger emotional and political motivations, but especially the defender.
This edition is the classical translation of On War (1873) by Col. J.J. Graham, with an introduction and notes by Colonel F.N. Maude, published in three volumes. A must-read for military historians and theorists, policy makers, and anyone interested in understanding the philosophy and concepts of war.

Hardcover

First published November 11, 2004

About the author

Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz was a Prussian soldier, military historian and military theorist. He is most famous for his military treatise Vom Kriege, translated into English as On War.

Clausewitz has served in the Rhine campaign (1793–1794), when the Prussian army invaded France during the French revolution and in the Napoleonic Wars from 1806 to 1815.

Clausewitz helped negotiate the Convention of Tauroggen where Russia, Prussia and the United Kingdom formed an coalition that later defeated Napoleon Bonaparte.