Transcript Causes, Practices, and effe
Causes, Practices, and effects of War
What is War?
• “
War therefore is an act of violence intended to compel our opponents to fulfill our will.”
• On War - Carl Von Clausewitz – 1780 to 1831 • “
Warfare is the greatest affair of state, the basis of life and death, the way
(Tao)
to survival or extinction. It must be thoroughly pondered and analyzed.”
• The Art of War Sun-Tzu – 5 th century b.c.
Why do we fight?
• The political objective –
“War is a mere continuation of policy by other means.”
-– Von Clausewitz • Economic motive – We want what our neighbors have – – Class warfare - Marxist point of view – Includes wars of liberation • Honor, fear and interest – Thucydides – Kagan explains • Human nature - Aristotle
Why should we study war
• Prevention –
idealistic
- human nature can be changed • So we can win –
realistic
- we will always fight so lets make sure we come out on top • We can minimize the inevitable by reducing the likelihood of war and its impact
neo-realist or soft realist.
Types of War
•
I.
Total War
– Examples • World War I 1914 to 1918 • World War II 1939 to 1945 – Characteristics • Entire population mobilized for war effort • Complete defeat of enemy- unconditional surrender
• Civil War – Characteristics • 1.
• 2.
Fought between forces of one nation Two sides vying for power • 3.
Sometimes involves separatists- independence movement • 4.
Foreign support for one side or both is common – Examples • 1.
Spanish Civil War 1935 – 1938 • 2.
• 3.
Chinese Civil War 1946 – 1949 Mexican Revolution 1911-1920
• Limited War – Characteristics • 1.
• 2.
• 3.
Post WWII – Nuclear threat Limited objectives – avoid escalation Use of Proxy forces – no national mobilization – Examples Korean War 1950 to 1953 Vietnam War 1964 to 1973
•
I.
Guerrilla War
• A. Characteristics – 1.
Strong vs. Weak/Oppressor vs. Oppressed/Regular vs. irregular – 2.
wars Associated with independence movements and civil – 3.
– 4.
Can be used in all sorts other wars.
Depends on indigenous population for concealment • B.
Examples – 1.
– 2.
– 3.
Vietnam war
1960 to 1968
Cuban Revolution 1956 to 1959 Partisans in Europe during WWII •
• • •
Terrain
Open Plains
– Favors Mechanized Infantry, Armor, Airpower - Hard to defend, poor for guerilla Warfare
Desert
– Same as open Plains but logistics critical
Mountain
– Favors Infantry, Airpower, - Easy to defend – poor for Mechanized, and Armor • •
Forest/Jungle –
Favors Infantry, Guerilla tactics – Poor for Mechanization and Armor
Urban
– Favors Infantry , guerrilla tactics–– Poor for Armor
Key Technological innovations during War in the 20
th
century.
• Tank – British – WWI – ended Trench Warfare • Airplane – WWI - Many different reasons Added 3 rd dimension • Jet Engine – Germans - WWII – Changed Airpower • Radar – British- WWII - Early detection, helped win Battle of Britain
• Aircraft Carrier – US/Japan - WWII – Changed Naval Combat • Ballistic Missile – Germans - WWII – Unstoppable and long range • Nuclear Bomb – US –WWII - Most Bang for the Buck • Helicopter – US –Korean War - Resurrected Cavalry, Saved a lot of lives.
Military Terms
• Military organization led by – Army – Corp – Division depends on need Gen.
many divisions Gen.
2 to 3 Brig./Batts. Gen.
– Brigade – Battalion 2 batts. + 1 comp. 4 to 5 companies Col Maj.
– Company – Platoon 3 platoons 3 squads Capt Lt.
– Squad 10 men – Sgt(NCO)
• • •
Army Officers
– General – Colonel – Major – Captain – Lieutenant
Enlisted
– Sergent (NCO) – Corporal – Private
Military Ranks
Navy Officers
Admiral Captain Commodore Commander Lieutenant Ensign
Enlisted
Petty Officer(NCO) Seaman/sailor
• Strategy – The big picture…. overall plan for a war or battle • Tactics – The methods used to implement the strategy – Smaller scale • Flanking – attacking from the side or rear • Logistics – getting people and supplies to the battle or war.
• Reconnaissance – scouting and spying, finding out where the enemy is
• Infantry – foot soldiers • Armor – Tanks, Armored Personal Carriers(APC) • Artillery – big cannons or rockets, shot from a long distance usually • Ballistic Missile – guided and self powered projectile – usually rocket powered • Capitol ships – biggest vessels in navy used to project power