BARON ANTOINE-HENRI DE

JOMINI

Seminar Alpha
SCOPE OF PRESENTATION

Background
Key Concepts of Jomini to
Continental Strategy
Jomini’s Ideas and their
Validation on the Nature of
Warfare
Contributions in Advancing
Strategic Art: Its Formulation
and Practice
Other Significant Information
that Impact the Conduct of
BACKGROUND

Swiss general and military

writer
General in the French and
later the Russian service,
and
One of the most celebrated
writers on the Napoleonic
Art of War
Organized the militia of the
Helvetic Republic ib 1799
After 1804 served as staff
officer in the French Army
BACKGROUND

Rose to high rank in Russia,

THOUGHTS ON becoming a celebrated
STRATEGY
Authority on Strategy
"That strategy is the key His works include:
to warfare; that all
strategy is controlled by Campaigns of Frederick the
invariable scientific Great;
principles; and that Treatise on Grand Military
these principles Operations;
perscribe offensive
action to mass forces the French Revolutionary
against weaker enemy Wars; and
forces at some decisive The Art of War.
point if strategy is to
lead to victory." Emphasized the capture of
- major points and the
JOMINI-
KEY CONCEPTS

Jomini’sviews, like
Clausewitz, strongly
THOUGHTS ON WAR
influenced by Napoleonic
wars and Prussian military
“In all military doctrine.
operations there is
always some The French revolutionized
imperfection or weak warfare and enjoyed
point; but in judging
operations we must
unprecedented results.
apply principles with the Command was
objective in mind, and decentralized, the force
ask whether a given
operation offers the best
was largely conscripted,
chance for victory” and power, political and
-JOMINI- military, was vested in one
KEY CONCEPTS

Acquisition of territory is
Strategy Tactics, & secondary
Logistics Observation of Napoleon's
Fundamental Principles
of War battle strategy strongly
influenced Jomini's theory
Simplicity and became the foundation
Mass & Concentration
Offensive action of his greatest work, 1836's
Decisive points Precis de l'artde la guerre,
Interior and Exterior The Art of War, written to
Lines
Speed and Maneuver provide military instruction
Economy of Force for the Grand Duke of Russia,
Leadership the future Nicholas I.
Theater of Operation

-JOMINI-
KEY CONCEPTS

Precis defined for the first

time 3 main categories of
military activity - strategy,
tactics, and logistics - and
postulated "Fundamental
Principle of War"
His works - oriented toward
a common theme:
conduct of war governed by
fixed principles
the most important were:
1. one should seek a line of

operations capable of
threatening the
communications of the enemy
 KEY CONCEPTS

1. To maneuver the mass of the

army, successively upon
decisive points of a theater of

W l i's
o f t a in war, and attack the enemy's
lines of communication as
e en m

frequently as possible while

pl m o

”
still protecting one’s own;
ar
ci a f J
i n nd o

2. To quickly maneuver and

Pr Fu ms

engage fractions of the enemy's

army with the majority of one's
i
ax

own;
M
"

To focus the attack on a

4

3.

"decisive point," such as weak

or undefended areas in the
enemy lines; and
KEY CONCEPTS

Use of turning movement

and hot pursuit/exploitation
Reduce War to its Leadership as a prime
Fundamental requirement for military
Combinations
success
“All Strategic A winning general would be
combinations are faulty
if they do not conform to
the combination of intellect
operating with the and natural leadership.
greatest possible force
in a combined effort
Simplicity and praised the
against the decisive Napoleonic strategy of a
point” quick victory gained by
-JOMINI-
quickly massing troops, and
the objective of capturing
capital cities as a signal of
KEY CONCEPTS

Military/Government
Relationship
Early definitions for modern
concepts such as the
“A government should "theater of operation."
choose its ablest
military commander, Cared little for political
then leave him free to niceties of war; in his view
wage war according to
scientific principles.
govts choose the best
Governments should not commander possible, then
neglect their armed free that person to wage war
forces, but they must
not meddle in matters
as he deems appropriate.
that only educated and Maxim’s usefulness depends
experienced officers
understand”
on the degree one is capable
-JOMINI- of finding this decisive point.
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE
Jomini's25 translated works,
influenced military leaders in
both Europe and North
America for much of the 19th
century.
Sought to codify the basic
tenets of modern war in
terms of a small number of
timeless principles.
Stressed the following:
advantages of fighting on interior
lines;
maintaining secure
communications while seeking to
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE
Stressed the following:
His work suggested that the
chaos and uncertainty of war
could be mastered by means
of a positivistic social
science, and
the precise mental habits
and systematic approach of
the engineer and the
industrial manager could find
a use on the battlefield.
His ideas permeated the
curriculum of the USMA in
the antebellum era, and
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE

No modern army could

dispense the enduring
Principles of War for the
conduct of operations and
the education of officers.
In this respect, Jomini
remains among the most
influential of modern military
theorists.
However, recent scholars
have viewed Jominias a
chronicler of pre-modern
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE
As a military strategist, often
compared with Prussian
contemporary Karl Marie von
Clausewitz (1780-1831), and
his 1833 treatise Vom Kriege
(On War).
Unlike Clausewitz, Jominiwas
vague on the importance of
genius. Like Clausewitz,
however, his focus remained
on the Napoleonic "great
battle" rather than the more
modern war of multiple
armed encounters.
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE
In his time, Jomini had a much
greater impact on doctrine
than Clausewitz-
the American Civil War
strategies employed by both
sides were heavily influenced
by Jominiantheory.
Alfred Thayer Mahan uses
Jomini'sconcept of land warfare
to build his conception of naval
strategy.
Modern operational art owes
much to Jomini'stactical and
operational thinking.
Jomini, a practical-minded
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE
JOMINI vs CLAUSEWITZ
SIMILARITIES
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE
JOMINI vs CLAUSEWITZ
DIFFERENCES
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE
JOMINI vs CLAUSEWITZ
DIFFERENCES
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE
JOMINI vs CLAUSEWITZ
DIFFERENCES
VALIDATION OF JOMINI’S IDEAS ON
THE NATURE OF WARFARE

In general, most of what

Jominihad contributed that
was of real value were
absorbed and written in
practical doctrine while
Clausewitz‘s, have not.
Given the brilliance and
subtlety of Clausewitz's
concepts, it is hard to see
them as "conventional
wisdom."
Jomini is important in a purely
historical sense but in
CONTRIBUTIONS IN ADVANCING
STRATEGIC ART
Antoine-Henri Jominiwas
credited with the title of
founder of modern strategy,
though uncertain in the point
of view of some modern
military analysts.
However, it cannot be denied
that he defined the Principle
of War whose concepts have
survived up to this day and
relate the three (3) main
categories of military activity
- strategy, tactics, and
logistics – in warfare.
CONTRIBUTIONS IN ADVANCING
STRATEGIC ART
Although the U.S. Army
presents itself as a
Clausewitzian organization, at
the tactical and operational
levels however, it remains
more firmly rooted in the
ideals of Jomini.
Jomini’s scientific approach
that espouses the collective
genius of good staff work and
the military decision-making
process (MDMP) rather than
the singular genius of mil
comdrembraced by
Clausewitz;
CONTRIBUTIONS IN ADVANCING
STRATEGIC ART
Advocacy on the “offensive-
defensive”, analogous to the
Army’s mobile defense.  Though
Clausewitz also advocate offensive
strategy, he was not to the same
refinement as Jomini. Clausewitz
relied more on maximum exertion of
forces while Jomini required focus
of strength at the decisive point.
US reliance on decisive points
and the scientific application of
military theory to provide the
commander with solutions to
problems in war
Espousal of Lines of Operation.
CONTRIBUTIONS IN ADVANCING
STRATEGIC ART
MDMP’s systemic approach to
problem solving relies on
simple rules governing the
movement of forces,
synchronization of their
effects, and the discerned
application of maximum power
at decisive points on the
battlefield. (Clarity and optimism
that war can be controlled and the
studious theoretician can master
the application of violence)
Recent operations in
Afghanistan demonstrate the
Army’s desire to conform to a
OTHER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION
THAT IMPACT THE CONDUCT OF
French Revolution and
Napoleonic Wars
revolutionized military
strategy. Their impact was still
felt in the American Civil War
and the early phases of World
War I.
With the advent of cheap small
arms and rise of the drafted
citizen soldier, armies grew
rapidly in size to become
massed formations.
Necessitated dividing the army
into divisions and later into
corps. Along with divisions
came divisional artillery; light-
OTHER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION
THAT IMPACT THE CONDUCT OF
Napoleon I of France and the
"strategy of annihilation" to
achieve decision in battle, with
the sole aim of destroying his
opponent, usually achieving
success through superior
maneuver. (As ruler and general
he dealt with the grand strategy as
well as the operational strategy,
making use of political and
economic measures.)
In the Industrial Age, the
evolution of military strategy
continued in the American Civil
War (1861-65). The practice of
strategy was advanced by
OTHER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION
THAT IMPACT THE CONDUCT OF
However, the adherence to the
Napoleonic principles in the
face of technological advances
such as the long-range infantry
rifle led to disastrous
consequences.
Time and space in war also
changed. Railroads enabled swift
movement of large forces but the
maneuvering was constrained to
narrow, vulnerable corridors.
Steam power and ironclads changed
transport and combat at sea.
In the 100 years, which passed
between the end of the
Napoleonic wars and the next
OTHER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION
THAT IMPACT THE CONDUCT OF
A major lesson from
Napoleonic Wars was the
importance of the decisive
battle, but the generals of
World War I were unable to
achieve it.
Indecisive fighting led to
prolonged static warfare.
Jomini’sdefinition of strategy as
the “art of making war upon the
map,” seemed inadequate.
The armies were so large it was
impossible for tactics alone to
crush the enemy and achieve
strategic aims. (Waterloo -
140,000 men faced each other, by
1914 a combined total of 3.3
OTHER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION
THAT IMPACT THE CONDUCT OF

The aftermath of World War I

helped them understand the
impact of expanded
battlefield, industrialization,
and mass armies.
Old framework of strategy and
tactics was inadequate for the
new changes.
This was the genesis of
operational art in the
industrial age and the
foundation of new strategies
OTHER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION
THAT IMPACT THE CONDUCT OF
Nevertheless, the following are
principles of war that have
survived and continued until
the 21st Century that has
bearing on Jominianthoughts,
theories, and practices:
Objective and Offensive (taking
the initiative),
Unity of Command / Unity of
Effort,
focus on Mass and Concentration,
Economy of Force / Economy of
Effort,
Maneuver,
Simplicity (Clarity),
Surprise, and
CONCLUSION

In general, Jomini’sworks on
the Art of War has continued
even to the modern age
though development in
military strategy due to the
evolving changes in warfare
methodologies, the advent of
sea and air power,
technological advancements,
among others have provided
corresponding variations in
strategy.
Nevertheless, war principles
such as offense, mass and
concentration, economy of
CONCLUSION

Jomini like Clauswitz, took no

credit for uniqueness; the
“truths” of his view of war had
already been demonstrated by
the great Commanders. He was
“simply” the “first” to
systematize and codify what
they had done.
Much of what Jomini wrote has
been passé by technological
advances, but his analytical
methodology and his thoughts
on the strategic and policy
level still have applicability.
There is no such thing as the
End of Presentation
Good day!