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On War

On War

by Carl von Clausewitz

Carl von Clausewitz defines war as the exercise of force to attain political objectives, unrestrained by any law other than expediency. This philosophical analysis examines the nature of conflict as a force inherent in nations, providing a foundational framework for understanding the military and political history of modern Europe.

Languages
English·Español
License
Public Domain
Originally published
1832
Latest release
Oct 8, 2026
Pages
1027
Format
6 × 9 in (152 × 229 mm)
Book type
Paperback nonfiction
Read
Public page

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Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Preface to the First Edition
  3. Notice
  4. The Introduction of the Author
  5. Brief Memoir of General Clausewitz
  6. CHAPTER I. What is War?
  7. CHAPTER II. Ends and Means in War
  8. CHAPTER III. The Genius for War
  9. CHAPTER IV. Of Danger in War
  10. CHAPTER V. Of Bodily Exertion in War
  11. CHAPTER VI. Information in War
  12. CHAPTER VII. Friction in War
  13. CHAPTER VIII. Concluding Remarks
  14. CHAPTER I. Branches of the Art of War
  15. CHAPTER II. On the Theory of War
  16. CHAPTER III. Art or Science of War
  17. CHAPTER IV. Methodicism
  18. CHAPTER V. Criticism
  19. CHAPTER VI. On Examples
  20. CHAPTER I. Strategy
  21. CHAPTER II. Elements of Strategy
  22. CHAPTER III. Moral Forces
  23. CHAPTER IV. The Chief Moral Powers
  24. CHAPTER V. Military Virtue of an Army
  25. CHAPTER VI. Boldness
  26. CHAPTER VII. Perseverance
  27. CHAPTER VIII. Superiority of Numbers
  28. CHAPTER IX. The Surprise
  29. CHAPTER X. Stratagem
  30. CHAPTER XI. Assembly of Forces in Space
  31. CHAPTER XII. Assembly of Forces in Time
  32. CHAPTER XIII. Strategic Reserve
  33. CHAPTER XIV. Economy of Forces
  34. CHAPTER XV. Geometrical Element
  35. CHAPTER XVI. On the Suspension of the Act in War
  36. CHAPTER XVII. On the Character of Modern War
  37. CHAPTER XVIII. Tension and Rest
  38. CHAPTER I. Introductory
  39. CHAPTER II. Character of a Modern Battle
  40. CHAPTER III. The Combat in General
  41. CHAPTER IV. The Combat in General
  42. CHAPTER V. On the Signification of the Combat
  43. CHAPTER VI. Duration of Combat
  44. CHAPTER VII. Decision of the Combat
  45. CHAPTER VIII. Mutual Understanding as to a Battle
  46. CHAPTER IX. The Battle
  47. CHAPTER X. Effects of Victory
  48. CHAPTER XI. The Use of the Battle
  49. CHAPTER XII. Strategic Means of Utilising Victory
  50. CHAPTER XIII. Retreat After a Lost Battle
  51. CHAPTER XIV. Night Fighting
  52. CHAPTER I. General Scheme
  53. CHAPTER II. Theatre of War, Army, Campaign
  54. CHAPTER III. Relation of Power
  55. CHAPTER IV. Relation of the Three Arms
  56. CHAPTER V. Order of Battle of an Army
  57. CHAPTER VI. General Disposition of an Army
  58. CHAPTER VII. Advanced Guard and Out-Posts
  59. CHAPTER VIII. Mode of Action of Advanced Corps
  60. CHAPTER IX. Camps
  61. CHAPTER X. Marches
  62. CHAPTER XI. Marches ( Continued )
  63. CHAPTER XII. Marches ( continued )
  64. CHAPTER XIII. Cantonments
  65. CHAPTER XIV. Subsistence
  66. CHAPTER XV. Base of Operations
  67. CHAPTER XVI. Lines of Communication
  68. CHAPTER XVII. On Country and Ground
  69. CHAPTER XVIII. Command of Ground
  70. CHAPTER I. Offence and Defence
  71. CHAPTER II. The Relations of the Offensive and Defensive to Each Other in Tactics
  72. CHAPTER III. The Relations of the Offensive and Defensive to Each Other in Strategy
  73. CHAPTER IV. Convergence of Attack and Divergence of Defence
  74. CHAPTER V. Character of the Strategic Defensive
  75. CHAPTER VI. Extent of the Means of Defence
  76. CHAPTER VII. Mutual Action and Reaction of Attack and Defence
  77. CHAPTER VIII. Methods of Resistance
  78. CHAPTER IX. Defensive Battle
  79. CHAPTER X. Fortresses
  80. CHAPTER XI. Fortresses ( Continued )
  81. CHAPTER XII. Defensive Position
  82. CHAPTER XIII. Strong Positions and Entrenched Camps
  83. CHAPTER XIV. Flank Positions
  84. CHAPTER XV. Defence of Mountains
  85. CHAPTER XVI. Defence of Mountains ( Continued )
  86. CHAPTER XVII. Defence of Mountains ( continued )
  87. CHAPTER XVIII. Defence of Streams and Rivers
  88. CHAPTER XIX. Defence of Streams and Rivers ( continued )
  89. CHAPTER XX. A. Defence of Swamps
  90. B. Inundations
  91. CHAPTER XXI. Defence of Forests
  92. CHAPTER XX. The Cordon
  93. CHAPTER XXIII. Key to the Country
  94. CHAPTER XXIV. Operating Against a Flank
  95. CHAPTER XXV. Retreat into the Interior of the Country
  96. CHAPTER XXVI. Arming the Nation
  97. CHAPTER XXVII. Defence of a Theatre of War
  98. CHAPTER XXVIII. Defence of a Theatre of War—( continued )
  99. CHAPTER XXIX. Defence of a Theatre of War ( continued ) Successive Resistance.
  100. CHAPTER XXX. Defence of a Theatre of War ( continued ) When no Decision is Sought for.
  101. CHAPTER I. The Attack in Relation to the Defence
  102. CHAPTER II. Nature of the Strategical Attack
  103. CHAPTER III. Of the Objects of Strategical Attack
  104. CHAPTER IV. Decreasing Force of the Attack
  105. CHAPTER V. Culminating Point of the Attack
  106. CHAPTER VI. Destruction of the Enemy’s Armies
  107. CHAPTER VII. The Offensive Battle
  108. CHAPTER VIII. Passage of Rivers
  109. CHAPTER IX. Attack on Defensive Positions
  110. CHAPTER X. Attack on an Entrenched Camp
  111. CHAPTER XI. Attack on a Mountain
  112. CHAPTER XII. Attack on Cordon Lines
  113. CHAPTER XIII. Manœuvring
  114. CHAPTER XIV. Attack on Morasses, Inundations, Woods
  115. CHAPTER XV. Attack on a Theatre of War with the View to a Decision
  116. CHAPTER XVI. Attack on a Theatre of War without the View to a Great Decision
  117. CHAPTER XVII. Attack on Fortresses
  118. CHAPTER XVIII. Attack on Convoys
  119. CHAPTER XIX. Attack on the Enemy’s Army in its Cantonments
  120. CHAPTER XX. Diversion
  121. CHAPTER XXI. Invasion
  122. CHAPTER XXII. On the Culminating Point of Victory(*)
  123. CHAPTER I. Introduction
  124. CHAPTER II. Absolute and Real War
  125. CHAPTER III. A. Interdependence of the Parts in War
  126. B. On the Magnitude of the Object of the War, and the Efforts to be Made.
  127. CHAPTER IV. Ends in War More Precisely Defined Overthrow of the Enemy
  128. CHAPTER V. Ends in War More Precisely Defined ( continued ) Limited Object
  129. CHAPTER VI. A. Influence of the Political Object on the Military Object
  130. B. War as an Instrument of Policy
  131. CHAPTER VII. Limited Object—Offensive War
  132. CHAPTER VIII. Limited Object—Defence
  133. CHAPTER IX. Plan of War when the Destruction of the Enemy is the Object
  134. Notes