Napoleon and the Operational Art of War

Napoleon and the Operational Art of War
Author:
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 569
Release: 2016-02-02
Genre: History
ISBN: 9004310037

In Napoleon and the Operational Art of War, the leading scholars of Napoleonic military history provide the most authoritative analysis of Napoleon’s battlefield success and ultimate failure. Napoleon’s development and mastery of the operational art of warfare is revealed as each chapter analyzes one Napoleonic war or major campaign of a war. To achieve this, the essays conform to the common themes of Napoleon’s planning, his command and control, his execution of plans, and the response of his adversaries. Napoleon's sea power and the British response to the French challenge at sea is also investigated. Overall, this volume reflects the finest scholarship and cutting-edge research to be found in Napoleonic Military History. Contributors include Jonathan Abel, Robert M. Citino, Huw Davies, Mark T. Gerges; John H. Gill; Jordan Hayworth, Kenneth G. Johnson, Michael V. Leggiere, Kevin D. McCranie, Alexander Mikaberidze, Frederick C. Schneid, John Severn, Dennis Showalter, Geoffrey Wawro, and John F. Weinzierl.

Napoleon and the Operational Art of War

Napoleon and the Operational Art of War
Author:
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 635
Release: 2020-11-23
Genre: History
ISBN: 9004438408

In Napoleon and the Operational Art of War, the leading scholars of Napoleonic military history provide the most authoritative analysis of Napoleon’s battlefield success and ultimate failure in a work that features the very best of campaign military history.

The Evolution of Operational Art

The Evolution of Operational Art
Author: John Andreas Olsen
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2011
Genre: History
ISBN: 0199599483

Broadly defined as the grey area between strategy and tactics, operational art spans the theory and practice of planning and conducting campaigns and major operations aimed at accomplishing strategic and operational objectives in a given theatre of operations. An intermediate link between strategy and tactics has always existed, but a distinct concept that encompasses a systematic and deliberate plan of campaign for major operations is a mere two hundred years old. Based on country specific case-studies, this book describes how the concepts that underpin operational art originated, how they received practical expression in various campaigns, and how they developed over time. The point of departure is the campaigns of 'the God of War', Napoleon Bonaparte. The book then proceeds with chapters on the evolution of operational art in Prussia / Germany, the Soviet Union / Russia, the United Kingdom, United States, Israel, and China. The final chapter deals with the future of operational art in irregular warfare. Theory is critical to refining and improving existing methods of applying operational warfare, and its importance cannot be overstated; however, to be useful, theory and its accompanying vocabulary must be combined with a proper examination of historical trends and practical experience. The present volume attempts to achieve that combination. This book is a project of the Oxford Leverhulme Programme on the Changing Character of War.

Napoleon

Napoleon
Author: Napoleon Bonaparte
Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
Total Pages: 150
Release: 2023-10-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1398839051

Napoleon Bonaparte's ascent to power was meteoric. Ever the outsider and regarded by many as an upstart, his extraordinary determination, courage, and tactical skill saw him rise from ordinary beginnings to become the greatest military commander of his age. A brigadier general by the age of 24, crowned Emperor of France by age 35, he had conquered most of the countries of Europe by the time he was 45. Napoleon's maxims for conduct on the battlefield gives a fascinating insight into his knowledge, intuition, and resourcefulness. His ideas have shaped the opinion of generations of military strategists, politicians, and business entrepreneurs, and are still relevant today. The translation, by British army officer Colonel George D'Aguilar, contains notes exploring the background to Napoleon's theories of war and the leaders who inspired him. This edition also contains an historical introduction by Frederick C. Schneid, Professor of History at High Point University, North Carolina.

The Evolution of Operational Art, 1740-1813

The Evolution of Operational Art, 1740-1813
Author: Claus Telp
Publisher: Psychology Press
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2005
Genre: Europe
ISBN: 9780714657226

This book is a new look at the evolution of operational art and its complex roots in history.

Napoleonic Warfare

Napoleonic Warfare
Author: John T. Kuehn
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2015-05-05
Genre: History
ISBN: 1440833087

This carefully researched book provides an operational level analysis of European warfare from 1792 to 1815 that includes the tactics, operations, and strategy of major conflicts of the time. 2015 marks the 200th anniversary of the famous Waterloo campaign, sparking a renewed interest in Napoleon's prowess as a military leader and acumen as a strategist. This in-depth analysis scrutinizes the complex campaigns and strategies of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, looking at how military genius—referred to in the book as "operational art"—shaded the panorama of 18th-century warfare. Drawing upon familiar battles as well as lesser-known campaigns, this sweeping reference uses 20th-century military theory to explain 19th-century events. Author John T. Kuehn discusses joint warfare and strategy found in the military movements of Marshal Suvorov in Italy and Switzerland in 1799; the early and later campaigns of Napoleon and Nelson; and the Duke of Wellington's campaigns in Spain, Portugal, and Belgium. The work also includes an entire chapter on theory and history of operational art spanning a variety of perspectives—from theorist Carl von Clausewitz to American air force pilot John Boyd. This book is a must-have for any military history collection.

The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon

The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon
Author: Gunther E. Rothenberg
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Total Pages: 296
Release: 1980
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780253202604

Some 12 years ago it was estimated that well over 300,000 works existed on this period and since then several thousand more have appeared. Therefore, it might be reasonably argued that there is little room for another volume. Nonetheless, this vast outpouring of literature has usually dealt with major leaders, specific battles or campaigns, and with certain branches of the service. Moreover, at least in English, the literature tends to concentrate primarily on the French or British armies. There appears to be a lack of works combining a description of the major changes and trends in the art of war, especially at the cutting edge of events, with a discussion of the French military establishment and the armies of the major opponents, British as well as continental. And while this book is only a brief survey, I do believe that it may serve as a contribution towards filling this gap in our historical knowledge of military institutions and fighting men.

Napoleon on the Art of War

Napoleon on the Art of War
Author: Jay Luvaas
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2001-07-11
Genre: History
ISBN: 0743216849

Napoleon. The passage of time has not dimmed the power of his name. A century and a half after his death, Napoleon remains the greatest military genius of the modern world. Yet unlike Machiavelli, Clausewitz, or Sun Tzu, his name has not crowned any single literary work. The subject of thousands of biographies and treatises on warfare, he is the author of none. Until now. The great general and conqueror of Europe may not have written any books, but he was a prolific writer. Thousands of his missives to subordinates survive, and these documents reflect the broad range of a fearless and incisive mind. From them, military historian Jay Luvaas has wrought a seamless whole. Luvaas has spent decades culling, editing, and arranging Napoleon's thoughts into coherent essays and arguments. In the remarkable result. Napoleon speaks without interruption in a work that will forever change the way we view him. Luvaas covers every subject Napoleon wrote about, from the need for preparation -- "Simply gathering men together does not produce real soldiers; drill, instruction, and skill is what makes real soldiers." -- to the essence of victory -- "To win is not enough: It is necessary to profit from success." On education, leadership, strategy and history, Napoleon speaks with an authority unique to those who have ruled a continent. In these pages lies the wisdom of a giant who knew life's greatest achievements and its lowest lows: triumph and conquest, exile and disgrace. Whether you are a student of military strategy or a business professional eager to learn from the greatest manager of personnel that the world has ever known, Napoleon on the Art of War has something for you. From the specifies of Napoleon's use of cavalry and unique reliance upon artillery to an all-encompassing vision of life from a man of supreme confidence and success, you'll find it here. This is the only straightforward explanation of Napoleon's campaigns and philosophy by the man himself.

On Operations

On Operations
Author: Brett Friedman
Publisher: Naval Institute Press
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2021-10-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 168247707X

On Operations: Operational Art and Military Disciplines traces the history of the development of military staffs and ideas on the operational level of war and operational art from the Napoleonic Wars to today, viewing them through the lens of Prussia/Germany, the Soviet Union, and the United States. B. A. Friedman concludes that the operational level of war should be rejected as fundamentally flawed, but that operational art is an accurate description of the activities of the military staff, an organization developed to provide the brainpower necessary to manage the complexity of modern military operations. Rather than simply serve as an intercession between levels, the military staff exists as an enabler and supporting organization to tacticians and strategists alike. On Operations examines the organization of military staffs, which has changed little since Napoleon’s time. Historical examinations of the functions staffs provided to commanders, and the disciplines of the staff officers themselves, leads to conclusions about how best to organize staffs in the future. Friedman demonstrates these ideas through case studies of historical campaigns based on the military discipline system developed.

The Art of Strategy: Napoleon's Maxims of War + Clausewitz's On War

The Art of Strategy: Napoleon's Maxims of War + Clausewitz's On War
Author: Carl von Clausewitz
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 835
Release: 2023-12-20
Genre: History
ISBN:

In 'The Art of Strategy: Napoleon's Maxims of War + Clausewitz's On War', readers are presented with a compelling compilation that bridges the tactical genius of Napoleon Bonaparte and the strategic depth of Carl von Clausewitz, offering a panoramic view of military strategy across the tumult of European history. This anthology juxtaposes the concise, pragmatic wisdom of Napoleons military maxims against the philosophical, in-depth analysis provided by Clausewitz in 'On War', creating a rich tapestry of military thought. The diversity of literary styles from the aphoristic to the analytical adds a dynamic layer to the reading experience, facilitating a deeper understanding of warfares complexities and the strategic mind. The contributing authors, Napoleon and Clausewitz, are monumental figures in military history and theory, hailing from distinct yet overlapping eras. Napoleon, an emperor and military commander whose campaigns are studies in operational brilliance, and Clausewitz, a Prussian general and military theorist known for his profound philosophical insights into war, together encapsulate the evolution of early modern European military thought. Their writings, rooted in the Napoleonic Wars, reflect the pivotal shift from the age of linear tactics to the onset of total war, offering readers a nuanced perspective of military strategy through the lens of those who lived it. 'The Art of Strategy' is an indispensable read for those keen on exploring the intricate dance of warfare and strategy through the ages. This anthology not only serves as a bridge connecting the tactical acumen of Napoleon with the strategic profundity of Clausewitz but also invites readers into a dialogue with historys most revered military minds. For students of military history, enthusiasts of strategic thought, and scholars alike, this collection offers a unique chance to engage with the timeless lessons of war, distilled through the experiences and reflections of two of its greatest exponents.