The Spirit of the Modern System of War (Cambridge Library Collection - Naval and Military History) - Softcover

Bülow, Dietrich Heinrich Von

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1108061575 ISBN 13: 9781108061575

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2013

Synopsis

Dietrich Heinrich von Bülow (1757-1807) served for sixteen years in the Prussian army, but for the remainder of his life lived a varied existence as a theatrical manager, preacher, writer, businessman, debtor and finally prisoner. It was not until after his death that this work, written in 1799 and reissued here in its 1806 English translation, began to find favour. He advocates the use of mathematical principles in devising swift and decisive tactics, and was one of the first theoreticians to regard tactics and strategy as separate concerns. At a time when Germany and Italy were yet to be unified, he writes that expansion to 'optimum' size would result in a Europe of only twelve states. The book's theories were criticised by Napoleon and Clausewitz, but had a considerable influence on the Prussian and Austrian armies of the late nineteenth century, and it is regarded as one of the founding texts of modern geopolitics.

About this title

Book Description:

Published in English in 1806, advocating swift and decisive tactics and mathematical principles to strategy, this work had considerable influence upon Prussian and Austrian military thought in the late nineteenth century, and is regarded as one of the founding texts of modern geopolitics.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1108061575
• ISBN 13: 9781108061575
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368