Accession Number:

ADB006028

Title:

The Origins and Adaptations of the Principles of War

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS

Personal Author(s):

• Alger, John I.

Report Date:

1975-06-06

Pagination or Media Count:

130.0

Abstract:

The origins and adaptation of principles of war into the doctrine of certain western powers has been shrouded in doubt and confused by widely-held misconceptions. By examining the military thought, as expressed in books and articles on the theory of war, in lectures delivered at prominent schools of war, and in official publications of France, Germany, Great Britain and the United States, the varying concepts of principles of war held by these nations can be viewed, and the forces which influenced their development can be, in some cases identified, and in others suggested. The prevailing modern view of principles of war, that they are few in number and can be easily expressed, originated in the Napoleonic era, but until the revision of service manuals in the post-World War I era, the principles were rarely expressed as definite lists of aphorisms.

Descriptors:

• *TACTICAL WARFARE
• METHODOLOGY
• COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS
• MILITARY STRATEGY
• STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
• THESES
• FIELD ARMY
• UNITED KINGDOM
• DOCTRINE
• MANUALS
• FRANCE
• HISTORY
• TACTICAL ANALYSIS
• MILITARY TACTICS

Subject Categories:

• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE