Clausewitz

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Pages: 3

First World War generated a prolonged and bloody stalemate due largely to the theories proposed by Carl Von Clausewitz. The popularity and widespread use of Clausewitz’s theories influenced the course, and level of violence, realized during the war. War is not only a political act but also an instrument of politics, continuing policy by other means according to Clausewitz.
The theorist who best characterized the nature of World War I was Clausewitz because of his argument that defense is the stronger form of war and his views of war as an extension of politics. Clausewitz argued defense is the stronger form of war. Clausewitz has been noted for his position of defense within battle as being essential for victory and it is easier to
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The advent of tanks in the war, which had the capability to cross trench lines and survive machine gun fire and artillery failed to break the bloody stalemate that existed between late 1914 and the end of the war in 1918. In addition, when one has used defensive measures successfully, a more favorable balance of strength is usually created; thus, the natural course in war is to begin defensively and end up attacking. Clausewitz also viewed views of war as an extension of politics. Clausewitz saw war as
“suspended between three magnets,” policy, probability, and passion. Also recognition that war can vary in its forms depending on the changing nature of policy and of the society within which it is waged. He viewed war as being “politics by other means,” perhaps his most famous formulation. Clausewitz felt his theory of war as an extension of politics was the relationship of war and policy during the First World War. The overall relationship between the Germany General staff and the politician was never on the same page in drawing up campaign plan. Many theorists can clearly tell the difference between plans of war, which political act and