On War (Carl von Clausewitz)
Problem
Violence without a clear political purpose can consume resources without producing useful results.
Action
Define the political purpose before deciding how to use force.
Outcome
Military action stays connected to the result the government seeks.
Chapter: Book One: On the Nature of War - What is War?
Problem
A military effort can fail when its scale does not fit its purpose.
Action
Choose forces and methods that are sufficient for the intended political result.
Outcome
The campaign uses enough strength without wasting effort.
Chapter: Book One: On the Nature of War - Purpose and Means in War
Problem
Commanders must decide before they have complete or reliable information.
Action
Build knowledge, courage, and presence of mind through study and experience.
Outcome
Leaders make sound decisions despite confusion and pressure.
Chapter: Book One: On the Nature of War - On Military Genius
Problem
Danger can distort judgment and weaken deliberate action.
Action
Train under realistic pressure so people can think while afraid.
Outcome
Units continue to act with discipline when lives are at risk.
Chapter: Book One: On the Nature of War - On Danger in War
Problem
Fatigue reduces judgment, speed, and fighting ability.
Action
Set realistic demands and protect the force from needless exhaustion.
Outcome
The force preserves its ability to act at critical moments.
Chapter: Book One: On the Nature of War - On Physical Effort in War
Problem
Reports in war are often incomplete, late, or false.
Action
Compare several sources and separate confirmed facts from uncertain claims.
Outcome
Decisions depend less on rumor and mistaken assumptions.
Chapter: Book One: On the Nature of War - Intelligence in War
Problem
Small difficulties combine to disrupt even simple plans.
Action
Keep plans simple and include time, supplies, and authority for unexpected problems.
Outcome
The force can continue when events depart from the plan.
Chapter: Book One: On the Nature of War - Friction in War
Problem
War changes through political direction, uncertain events, and human emotion.
Action
Review plans against all three forces throughout the conflict.
Outcome
Strategy remains realistic as the character of the war changes.
Chapter: Book One: On the Nature of War - Concluding Observations on Book One
Problem
Confusing support activities with combat hides their different requirements.
Action
Organize preparation, movement, supply, and fighting as distinct but connected functions.
Outcome
Each part of the war effort receives suitable methods and attention.
Chapter: Book Two: On the Theory of War - Classifications of the Art of War
Problem
Fixed rules cannot account for every condition found in war.
Action
Use theory to understand relationships while adapting decisions to the situation.
Outcome
Commanders gain direction without becoming trapped by formulas.
Chapter: Book Two: On the Theory of War - On the Theory of War
Problem
War involves both measurable conditions and choices that resist exact calculation.
Action
Apply factual knowledge through judgment that responds to people and circumstances.
Outcome
Decisions reflect both practical evidence and the unique situation.
Chapter: Book Two: On the Theory of War - Art of War or Science of War
Problem
Routine saves effort but can become harmful when conditions change.
Action
Standardize repeated tasks while allowing leaders to adjust their use.
Outcome
The force acts efficiently without becoming rigid.
Chapter: Book Two: On the Theory of War - Method and Routine
Problem
Results alone can make a sound decision appear foolish, or a poor decision appear wise.
Action
Evaluate each choice using the information and options available at the time.
Outcome
Analysis produces fairer and more useful lessons.
Chapter: Book Two: On the Theory of War - Critical Analysis
Problem
Historical examples mislead when they are incomplete or removed from context.
Action
Choose well-documented cases and explain why each case supports the principle.
Outcome
Past events become practical evidence instead of decoration.
Chapter: Book Two: On the Theory of War - On Historical Examples
Problem
Separate victories have little value when they do not serve the purpose of the war.
Action
Arrange engagements so their combined effects advance the main objective.
Outcome
Tactical success produces useful strategic results.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Strategy
Problem
Military results depend on physical, moral, mathematical, geographical, and statistical conditions.
Action
Assess all major elements before choosing a strategic course.
Outcome
The plan reflects the full situation rather than a single favored factor.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Elements of Strategy
Problem
Numbers and equipment do not show courage, trust, fear, or determination.
Action
Include morale and leadership in every estimate of combat power.
Outcome
Plans better reflect how forces will actually perform.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Moral Factors
Problem
An army weakens when command ability, military character, or public commitment is absent.
Action
Develop capable commanders, disciplined troops, and support for the common purpose.
Outcome
The force gains stronger moral power in difficult campaigns.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - The Principal Moral Elements
Problem
Units can lose order when danger and hardship break ordinary habits.
Action
Train discipline, mutual trust, and pride under demanding conditions.
Outcome
The army remains cohesive during severe stress.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Military Virtues of the Army
Problem
Excessive caution gives the enemy time and freedom to respond.
Action
Take decisive risks when the possible gain justifies the danger.
Outcome
The force can seize opportunities before they disappear.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Boldness
Problem
Friction and uncertainty can make a sound course appear hopeless.
Action
Hold to the objective until clear evidence requires a change.
Outcome
Temporary difficulties do not destroy a viable strategy.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Perseverance
Problem
Small advantages scattered across many places rarely decide a contest.
Action
Create the strongest possible advantage where the main decision will occur.
Outcome
Available numbers produce their greatest practical effect.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Superiority of Numbers
Problem
An informed enemy can prepare against an expected action.
Action
Hide intentions and move quickly toward a vulnerable point.
Outcome
The enemy has less time to organize an effective response.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Surprise
Problem
Complex deception can consume more resources than it gains.
Action
Use simple measures that shape enemy expectations at low cost.
Outcome
The enemy makes harmful choices while your main force stays strong.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Cunning
Problem
Dispersed forces cannot support one another at the critical location.
Action
Concentrate combat power where the main result must be achieved.
Outcome
The force gains local strength against the enemy.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Concentration of Forces in Space
Problem
Unused forces cannot influence a decision after the opportunity has passed.
Action
Coordinate units so they contribute during the decisive period.
Outcome
The full force affects the result when its impact matters most.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Unification of Forces in Time
Problem
A large strategic reserve with no defined use weakens the main effort.
Action
Hold back forces only for a specific foreseeable need.
Outcome
More strength supports the decision without leaving real risks uncovered.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - The Strategic Reserve
Problem
Idle or misused units reduce strength at important points.
Action
Assign each available unit to a task that supports the main effort.
Outcome
Limited forces create the greatest combined effect.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Economy of Force
Problem
Lines, angles, and distances can distract leaders from combat power and purpose.
Action
Use geographical relationships only when they create a practical advantage.
Outcome
The position supports the strategy without blindly controlling it.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - The Geometrical Factor
Problem
Periods without combat can benefit one side more than the other.
Action
Rest, gather resources, and strengthen conditions during every useful pause.
Outcome
Inaction becomes preparation for a better next move.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - The Suspension of Action in War
Problem
Political systems and social conditions change how nations wage war.
Action
Study the present enemy and society before applying lessons from earlier wars.
Outcome
Strategy fits the actual character of the conflict.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - The Character of Contemporary Warfare
Problem
Continuous effort drains strength until effective action becomes impossible.
Action
Use quiet periods to restore people, supplies, and readiness.
Outcome
The force can generate strong effort when tension rises again.
Chapter: Book Three: On Strategy in General - Tension and Rest
Problem
Strategic plans become empty when they ignore the possibility of combat.
Action
Connect every movement and position to its intended effect on an engagement.
Outcome
Operations remain grounded in the actual use of force.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - Introduction
Problem
Modern battle unfolds through many connected actions rather than one brief collision.
Action
Plan command, reinforcement, and endurance for a long, evolving engagement.
Outcome
The force can maintain direction throughout the battle.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - The Nature of Battle Today
Problem
Combat without a clear purpose can cost lives without strategic value.
Action
State the specific military result required from each engagement.
Outcome
Fighting effort remains tied to a useful objective.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - The Engagement in General
Problem
Capturing ground or destroying units may not be the true aim of an engagement.
Action
Measure success by whether the engagement achieves its assigned strategic function.
Outcome
Local actions support the wider campaign.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - The Engagement in General - Continued
Problem
An enemy may yield because battle is possible even when no fighting occurs.
Action
Position forces so that a credible engagement supports the desired result.
Outcome
Military power can influence the enemy without unnecessary combat.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - The Significance of the Engagement
Problem
Long engagements exhaust forces and change the value of reinforcements.
Action
Commit strength according to the expected length and stages of the fight.
Outcome
The force preserves enough power for the decisive period.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - Duration of the Engagement
Problem
Continuing after the enemy is broken wastes time and strength.
Action
Watch morale, order, reserves, and ground for signs of a true decision.
Outcome
Commanders can exploit success at the right moment.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - Decision of the Engagement
Problem
An engagement usually occurs only when both sides accept its immediate risk.
Action
Offer or avoid battle according to the advantage it provides.
Outcome
The force does not enter combat merely because the enemy is near.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - Mutual Agreement to Fight
Problem
A battle remains undecided while the enemy still expects a favorable result.
Action
Apply pressure until the enemy's order, reserves, and confidence collapse.
Outcome
The enemy abandons the contest.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - The Battle: Its Decision
Problem
A defeated force often loses confidence faster than it loses physical strength.
Action
Press the enemy while disorder and doubt remain strong.
Outcome
Victory produces effects beyond the immediate battlefield losses.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - The Battle - Continued: The Effects of Victory
Problem
Avoiding decisive combat can leave the enemy's main strength intact.
Action
Use battle to destroy or disable the enemy force serves the political aim.
Outcome
The campaign gains a result that fewer actions cannot provide.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - The Battle - Continued: The Use of Battle
Problem
A defeated enemy can recover if pressure ends after the battle.
Action
Use pursuit and rapid advance to deepen the enemy's disorder.
Outcome
A battlefield victory becomes a larger strategic success.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - Strategic Means of Exploiting Victory
Problem
A defeated army can collapse when retreat becomes an uncontrolled flight.
Action
Set clear routes, rally points, and protective forces before withdrawing.
Outcome
The army preserves enough cohesion to fight again.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - Retreat after a Lost Battle
Problem
Darkness increases confusion and weakens coordination.
Action
Use night operations only with simple plans and well-prepared troops.
Outcome
Surprise is gained without creating unmanageable disorder.
Chapter: Book Four: The Engagement - Night Operations
Problem
Combat power weakens when organization, movement, supply, and terrain are considered separately.
Action
Plan these elements as connected parts of the same military force.
Outcome
The army operates with greater unity and endurance.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - General Survey
Problem
An army cannot be planned apart from its theater and campaign.
Action
Set force tasks according to the assigned area and campaign objective.
Outcome
Military organization fits the actual operation.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - The Army, the Theater of Operations, the Campaign
Problem
Total numbers can hide the balance at the decisive place and time.
Action
Compare forces that can actually reach and influence the contest.
Outcome
Commanders base their decisions on effective strength.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Relative Strength
Problem
Each service branch has weaknesses that another branch can reduce.
Action
Mix infantry, cavalry, artillery, and support according to their complementary strengths.
Outcome
The force performs better across varied conditions.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Relationship between the Branches of the Service
Problem
A confused order of battle slows decisions and weakens coordination.
Action
Create stable formations with clear leaders and responsibilities.
Outcome
Orders and support move through the army more reliably.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - The Army's Order of Battle
Problem
Poor disposition leaves units isolated or unable to act quickly.
Action
Place formations where they can support one another and reach likely objectives.
Outcome
The army responds faster without losing cohesion.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - General Disposition of the Army
Problem
An army without forward security can be surprised before it is ready.
Action
Use advance guards and outposts to observe threats and delay contact.
Outcome
The main force gains time to prepare.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Advance Guard and Outposts
Problem
A detached forward corps can be destroyed when its task exceeds its support.
Action
Send an advanced corps only when its mission and withdrawal options are clear.
Outcome
Forward action gains information or time without needless isolation.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Operational Use of Advanced Corps
Problem
A comfortable camp can leave an army exposed or slow to assemble.
Action
Select camp locations that support protection, supply, and rapid movement.
Outcome
The army rests without sacrificing operational readiness.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Camps
Problem
Movement can scatter and exhaust an army before contact.
Action
Set routes and schedules that keep formations organized for possible battle.
Outcome
The army arrives with usable fighting power.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Marches
Problem
Columns on different roads can become unable to support one another.
Action
Set distances and meeting points that preserve mutual support.
Outcome
The army gains the ability to move without dangerous separation.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Marches - Continued
Problem
Baggage, artillery, and delayed units can expose the whole column.
Action
Assign guards and movement order according to likely threats.
Outcome
The army moves with fewer disruptions and losses.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Marches - Concluded
Problem
Wide lodging areas improve comfort but weaken readiness and security.
Action
Keep billeted units close enough to assemble and support one another.
Outcome
Troops recover while remaining available for action.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Billets
Problem
An army loses freedom when food and equipment cannot keep pace with its movements.
Action
Build supply methods around the campaign's distance, speed, and local resources.
Outcome
The force sustains operations without avoidable pauses.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Maintenance and Supply
Problem
A poorly placed base makes reinforcement and supply vulnerable.
Action
Choose a base that connects the army to dependable resources and routes.
Outcome
Operations rest on a stable source of support.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Base of Operations
Problem
Broken routes can separate an army from orders, supplies, and reinforcements.
Action
Secure the routes that connect the force to its base.
Outcome
The army maintains support and freedom of action.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Lines of Communication
Problem
Terrain has no value unless it affects movement, observation, protection, or combat.
Action
Choose ground according to the practical benefit it gives the mission.
Outcome
Geography strengthens action instead of merely shaping the map.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - Terrain
Problem
High ground can restrict movement despite its view and defensive strength.
Action
Occupy heights when observation or combat advantage exceeds the cost.
Outcome
Elevation serves the mission without becoming a burden.
Chapter: Book Five: Military Forces - The Command of Heights
Problem
Defense can resist effectively but cannot achieve a positive result on its own.
Action
Use defensive strength to prepare for the right moment to launch an offensive.
Outcome
Protection becomes the basis for gaining the initiative.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Attack and Defense
Problem
An attacker must move and expose itself before striking a prepared force.
Action
Use cover, preparation, and chosen ground to absorb the attack.
Outcome
The defender gains greater effect from available combat power.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - The Relationship between Attack and Defense in Tactics
Problem
Strategic defense fails when it only waits for the enemy.
Action
Use territory and time to weaken the attack before countering it.
Outcome
The defender creates better conditions for decisive action.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - The Relationship between Attack and Defense in Strategy
Problem
A converging attack can gain strength while exposing routes and flanks.
Action
Position defensive forces to unite against vulnerable parts of the advance.
Outcome
The attack faces pressure beyond its chosen point.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Convergence of Attack and Divergence of Defense
Problem
Passive resistance lets the attacker choose every important action.
Action
Combine protection with counterattacks and threats against enemy weaknesses.
Outcome
The defender preserves strength while contesting the initiative.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - The Character of Strategic Defense
Problem
A defender who relies only on battle ignores valuable sources of strength.
Action
Combine terrain, fortresses, popular support, time, and counterattack.
Outcome
The defense becomes harder to overcome.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Scope of the Means of Defense
Problem
Every offensive move creates a defensive response that alters the situation.
Action
Reassess both sides after each major action.
Outcome
Plans adapt to the conflict's continuing interaction.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Interaction between Attack and Defense
Problem
Not every defense requires an immediate decisive battle.
Action
Select battle, delay, withdrawal, or local resistance according to the purpose.
Outcome
Defensive effort serves the strategic need.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Types of Resistance
Problem
Simply holding ground leaves victory dependent on endless resistance.
Action
Receive the attack in strength and preserve force for a counterattack.
Outcome
The defender can turn enemy exhaustion into a decision.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - The Defensive Battle
Problem
A fortress has limited value when it does not affect enemy choices.
Action
Place and support fortresses to protect routes or to delay major forces.
Outcome
Fixed defenses influence the wider campaign.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Fortresses
Problem
Maintaining fortresses without clear purposes consumes troops and supplies.
Action
Keep only fortresses that support a defined theater objective.
Outcome
Fixed defenses provide value equal to their cost.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Fortresses - Continued
Problem
Strong ground can become a trap when it prevents movement.
Action
Choose positions with protection, communication, and room for counterattack.
Outcome
The force gains defensive strength without losing flexibility.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defensive Positions
Problem
Entrenchments can encourage passivity and allow the enemy to act elsewhere.
Action
Use fortified positions as support for mobile forces.
Outcome
Protection increases without surrendering operational freedom.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Fortified Positions and Entrenched Camps
Problem
A flank position can threaten the enemy while exposing its own communications.
Action
Occupy it only when routes, timing, and supporting forces make it sustainable.
Outcome
The position disrupts the enemy without isolating the defender.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Flank Positions
Problem
Trying to defend every mountain passage spreads forces too thinly.
Action
Hold routes that directly affect the main objective.
Outcome
Limited troops protect the most important movement corridors.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defensive Mountain Warfare
Problem
Mountain barriers can separate defenders as easily as attackers.
Action
Maintain connections and reserves behind the critical passes.
Outcome
Defensive forces can reinforce threatened areas.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defensive Mountain Warfare - Continued
Problem
A force fixed on a ridge may lose room to recover after penetration.
Action
Prepare positions and forces in depth behind the mountains.
Outcome
One broken pass does not decide the defense.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defensive Mountain Warfare - Concluded
Problem
A long river line invites dangerous dispersion.
Action
Observe widely but concentrate combat power near likely crossings.
Outcome
The defender can strike while the enemy is divided by the river.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defense of Rivers and Streams
Problem
Holding the riverbank too rigidly can expose defenders to surprise and isolation.
Action
Keep mobile forces behind the line to respond to actual crossings.
Outcome
The defense adapts without abandoning the river's advantage.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defense of Rivers and Streams - Continued
Problem
Swamps restrict defenders as well as attackers when occupied carelessly.
Action
Control the usable routes around and through the wet ground.
Outcome
The obstacle channels the enemy into predictable approaches.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defense of Swamps
Problem
Flooding can damage friendly movement and resources, along with enemy access.
Action
Create inundations only where their defensive value exceeds their local cost.
Outcome
Water strengthens the position without causing greater harm.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Inundations
Problem
Dense woods reduce observation and coordinated control.
Action
Secure key paths, clearings, and exits instead of occupying every part.
Outcome
The defender controls movement with manageable forces.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defense of Forests
Problem
A continuous thin line is weak at every point.
Action
Use observation along the front and concentrate forces behind it.
Outcome
The defense can respond strongly to actual threats.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - The Cordon
Problem
Calling one place the key to a country can oversimplify the campaign.
Action
Judge each location by its effect on forces, routes, and political objectives.
Outcome
Strategic attention goes to places with real importance.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - The Key to the Country
Problem
Flank operations can endanger the defender's own communications.
Action
Move against the enemy's side only with secure routes and sufficient strength.
Outcome
The operation creates pressure without risking isolation.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Operations on a Flank
Problem
Defending every border position can preserve ground while destroying the army.
Action
Retreat inward when distance and resistance will reduce the attacker's strength.
Outcome
The defender gains time and better conditions for recovery.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Retreat to the Interior of the Country
Problem
Uncoordinated public resistance is vulnerable to organized military power.
Action
Use local fighters to disrupt the enemy while regular forces sustain the main contest.
Outcome
The whole country increases the cost of occupation.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - The People in Arms
Problem
Separate local defenses can fail even while each protects its own ground.
Action
Coordinate armies, fortresses, routes, and terrain around the theater objective.
Outcome
Defensive actions reinforce one another.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defense of a Theater of Operations
Problem
Trying to hold every important place can divide the army.
Action
Accept local losses when concentration protects the main defensive strength.
Outcome
The defender retains the power to contest the campaign.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defense of a Theater of Operations - Continued
Problem
A single defensive line may collapse without providing time for recovery.
Action
Prepare successive positions that impose cost while preserving the force.
Outcome
Resistance continues as the enemy advances.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defense of a Theater of Operations - Continued: Phased Resistance
Problem
A decisive battle can create needless risk when limited resistance suffices.
Action
Use delay, maneuver, and protected positions to deny easy enemy gains.
Outcome
The theater remains contested without staking everything on one battle.
Chapter: Book Six: Defense - Defense of a Theater of Operations - Concluded: Where a Decision Is Not the Objective
Problem
Every attack weakens as it advances and occupies new ground.
Action
Secure gains and prepare to defend before offensive power fades.
Outcome
Captured advantages survive the enemy's response.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack in Relation to Defense
Problem
An offensive loses meaning when it only reacts to enemy movements.
Action
Direct the attack toward a defined objective that changes the strategic situation.
Outcome
Offensive effort produces a concrete advantage.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - The Nature of Strategic Attack
Problem
Capturing places can consume strength without changing the enemy's ability to resist.
Action
Target forces, resources, or positions that support the enemy's war effort.
Outcome
Each gain reduces effective resistance.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - The Object of the Strategic Attack
Problem
Distance, losses, occupation, and supply demands reduce an advancing force.
Action
Recalculate available strength throughout the advance.
Outcome
The commander sees when further movement has become dangerous.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - The Diminishing Force of the Attack
Problem
An advance can reach the point where new gains no longer justify increasing risk.
Action
Set conditions for when to stop or shift to defense before the campaign begins.
Outcome
The army avoids turning success into defeat.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - The Culminating Point of the Attack
Problem
Territory remains insecure while the enemy army can still fight effectively.
Action
Direct major offensive effort against the enemy's organized forces.
Outcome
Other objectives become easier to achieve and hold.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Destruction of the Enemy's Forces
Problem
An offensive battle loses force when its main effort is unclear.
Action
Concentrate strength against the point whose defeat will decide the engagement.
Outcome
The attack creates a focused path to victory.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - The Offensive Battle
Problem
A river crossing divides the attacker, creating a period of extreme weakness.
Action
Concentrate support and move combat power as quickly as possible.
Outcome
The bridgehead becomes secure before the defender can crush it.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - River Crossings
Problem
A direct assault lets prepared defenses use their greatest strength.
Action
Seek exposed flanks, weak connections, or reasons that force the enemy to leave.
Outcome
The position is overcome with less direct cost.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack on Defensive Positions
Problem
Entrenchments multiply defensive power and reduce the attacker's advantages.
Action
Contain, bypass, or compel movement before choosing a direct assault.
Outcome
The attacker avoids spending strength against the enemy's strongest condition.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack on Entrenched Camps
Problem
Mountain terrain separates units and limits reinforcement.
Action
Secure critical passes and connections before extending the advance.
Outcome
The attacking force maintains support across difficult ground.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack on a Mountainous Area
Problem
A cordon covers a wide area by remaining weak in each location.
Action
Concentrate overwhelming force against a selected part of the line.
Outcome
A local breakthrough can unravel the wider defense.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack on Cordons
Problem
Movement without a clear effect wastes time and tires the force.
Action
Maneuver only to improve position, threaten something important, or avoid disadvantage.
Outcome
Movement creates conditions that support the objective.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Maneuver
Problem
Swamps, floods, and forests restrict movement and make attackers predictable.
Action
Control usable routes before committing the main force.
Outcome
The advance keeps enough order and support to fight.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attacks on Swamps, Flooded Areas, and Forests
Problem
Secondary gains can distract forces from defeating the enemy's main strength.
Action
Direct the campaign toward the enemy force or center whose loss decides the theater.
Outcome
Offensive effort produces a decisive result.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack on a Theater of War: Seeking a Decision
Problem
Seeking total defeat can demand more strength than the political aim requires.
Action
Capture a useful objective and preserve enough force to hold it.
Outcome
The campaign gains bargaining value at controlled cost.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack on a Theater of War: Not Seeking a Decision
Problem
Sieges can trap large forces while the enemy acts elsewhere.
Action
Attack, contain, or bypass each fortress according to its strategic importance.
Outcome
Fixed defenses do not divert excessive strength from the main objective.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack on Fortresses
Problem
Convoys are vulnerable but may be too small to affect the campaign.
Action
Attack supply movements that materially support important enemy operations.
Outcome
Disruption weakens the enemy more than it distracts your force.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack on Convoys
Problem
Billeted troops are scattered and slow to form for battle.
Action
Move with secrecy and speed against separated enemy quarters.
Outcome
The attacker can defeat parts before they unite.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Attack on an Enemy Army in Billets
Problem
A diversion can weaken the main effort more than it distracts the enemy.
Action
Commit forces only when the diversion is likely to draw greater enemy strength.
Outcome
The secondary action improves the balance at the main objective.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Diversions
Problem
Deep invasion increases supply demands and hostile pressure.
Action
Advance only as far as the objective and available strength can support.
Outcome
Territorial gains do not destroy the invading army.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - Invasion
Problem
Success can encourage an advance beyond the strength needed to hold it.
Action
Compare remaining power with growing resistance after every major victory.
Outcome
The commander stops before triumph creates the conditions for defeat.
Chapter: Book Seven: The Attack - The Culminating Point of Victory
Problem
Separate campaign plans can conflict when they lack a common political direction.
Action
Connect every theater and campaign to one governing purpose.
Outcome
Military efforts combine toward the intended final result.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - Introduction
Problem
War in theory tends toward extremes that politics and limited resources often prevent.
Action
Base the plan on the actual aims, strengths, and commitment of both sides.
Outcome
The effort matches the war that will truly be fought.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - Absolute War and Real War
Problem
Changes in one theater or objective can alter the value of all others.
Action
Review how forces, campaigns, allies, and political aims affect one another.
Outcome
The war plan works as a coherent whole.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - Interdependence of the Elements of War
Problem
An ambitious objective cannot succeed with limited commitment.
Action
Set the objective and required effort together.
Outcome
Resources and risk remain consistent with the desired result.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - Scale of the Military Objective and of the Effort to Be Made
Problem
The enemy can continue the war as long as its army, capital, and alliances remain effective.
Action
Identify and defeat the main sources of organized resistance.
Outcome
The enemy loses the practical ability to continue on favorable terms.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - Closer Definition of the Military Objective: The Defeat of the Enemy
Problem
Limited objectives fail when their value does not survive enemy pressure.
Action
Select gains that are attainable, defensible, and useful in negotiation.
Outcome
Modest military success creates lasting political leverage.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - Closer Definition of the Military Objective - Continued: Limited Aims
Problem
The same military gain can have different value depending on the political aims.
Action
Increase or limit military effort based on the importance of the political outcome.
Outcome
The cost of war stays proportionate to its purpose.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - The Effect of the Political Aim on the Military Objective
Problem
Military success can become useless when it conflicts with policy.
Action
Judge every major operation by how it serves the political purpose.
Outcome
War remains an instrument for achieving policy.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - War is an Instrument of Policy
Problem
A limited offensive can overextend itself by pursuing gains beyond its purpose.
Action
Capture a valuable objective and shift to defense once it is secured.
Outcome
The attacker gains leverage without accepting unlimited risk.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - The Limited Aim: Offensive War
Problem
A weaker defender may be unable to impose a decisive military defeat.
Action
Preserve the force and make enemy gains too costly or too slow.
Outcome
Continued resistance improves the chance of a favorable political settlement.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - The Limited Aim: Defensive War
Problem
A plan for total victory fails when secondary efforts divide decisive strength.
Action
Direct the main forces against the enemy's central power to resist.
Outcome
All major operations contribute to breaking the enemy's ability and will to continue.
Chapter: Book Eight: War Plans - The Plan of a War Designed to Lead to the Total Defeat of the Enemy