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