Clausewitz, << KLOW zuh vihts, >> Karl von (1780-1831), was a Prussian army officer and military theorist. His theories and observations about war, published in the book On War (1832-1834), continue to influence military strategy.
Clausewitz was born on June 1, 1780, in Burg, Prussia. He joined the army in 1792 and fought in numerous battles against the French armies of Emperor Napoleon I. These battles included the campaign of 1815, when Napoleon was finally defeated. In 1818, Clausewitz became director of the War College in Berlin.
In his writings, Clausewitz observed that armies of citizens fighting for their nation showed greater determination than professional soldiers fighting only for territory. Clausewitz’s most original contribution was his analysis of the close relationship between the army and the nation. To Clausewitz, war was merely “the pursuit of diplomacy by other means.” Thus, it was necessary to consider the political interests of the nation as more important than military goals. He also stressed that a nation at war must take risks and act boldly to obtain a decisive and total victory. He died on Nov. 16, 1831.
