Episode 33: Karl Von Clausewitz

Profiles in Strategy

In this episode, Jon O’Gorman hosts Vanya Bellinger in discussing the author of "On War." First, we discuss if Clausewitz was a product or a critic of the Prussian military reform movement. We then move to the importantance of studying Clausewitz's experience as an officer and military practitioner to understand his theory. We talk about Clausewitz relationship to mentor Prussian Gen. Scharnhorst. We also speak about the Prussian military reform school that helped beat Napoleon and why the same school failed so spectacularly in the first half of the twentieth century with the Schlieffen Plan. Lastly, we talk about Marie Von Clausewitz and her relationship with her husband and the book On War.