PHILOSOPHY OF WAR

As part of the "Philosophy of War" series, we present a summary of the two-volume work of the outstanding military commander Antoine Henri Jomini "Essays of the Art of War", published in 1840, and which, in our deep conviction, is relevant to this day.

Having systematized and generalized the lessons of the centuries-old military art history, he built on this basis his theory of military art. The author has analyzed in detail the causes and main types of warfare, especially the features of the initial/preparatory stage and forms of warfare. Of the types of combat, Jomini unconditionally prefers the offensive, noting that it involves the pursuit of the enemy, which should continue until the enemy is completely defeated and destroyed. And defense is nothing more than a kind of preparatory stage for the offensive.

The first theoretical works of Jomini brought the author such recognition that even the military successes of Marshal Ney were regarded not by the latter's talent, but by the direct fruit of Jomini's theoretical positions.


Published: 19/11/23