Battle Studies
Описание книги
Although not known and recognized during his lifetime, this book has earned Ardant du Picq a place in the ranks of great military theorists. Du Picq's work attempts to deal with the principles of warfare as an empirical study, based on case studies of battles, most influential ancient battles and modern warfare. Battle Studies became a key textbook in the French Army's École de Guerre His analyses stressed the vital importance, especially in contemporary warfare, of discipline and unit cohesion. The theme of the book is that «moral force» is the most powerful element in the strength of armies and the preponderating influence in the outcome of battles. In general form, he states: The goal of the army Combat is the object, the cause of being, and the supreme manifestation of an army. Every measure that does not keep combat as the object of the army is fatal. All the resources accumulated in time of peace, all the training, and all the strategic calculations must have the goal of combat. Man in combat The human element is more important than theories. War is still more of an art than a science. One popular quote demonstrating this conclusion drawn from numerous battle studies states, «Nothing can wisely be prescribed in any army… without exact knowledge of the fundamental instrument, man, and his state of mind, his morale, at the instant of combat.» Great strategists and leaders of men are marked by inspiration. «Generals of genius draw from the human heart ability to execute a surprising variety of movements which vary the routine; the mediocre ones, who have no eyes to read readily, are doomed to the worst errors.»
Оглавление
Charles-Jean-Jacques-Joseph Ardant du Picq. Battle Studies
Battle Studies
Table of Contents
PREFACE
TRANSLATORS' NOTE
INTRODUCTION
A MILITARY THINKER
RECORD OF MILITARY SERVICE OF COLONEL ARDANT DU PICQ
CAMPAIGNS AND WOUNDS
DECORATIONS
EXTRACT FROM THE HISTORY OF THE 10TH INFANTRY REGIMENT
CAMPAIGN OF 1870
PART ONE. ANCIENT BATTLE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I. MAN IN PRIMITIVE AND ANCIENT COMBAT
CHAPTER II. KNOWLEDGE OF MAN MADE ROMAN TACTICS. THE SUCCESSES OF HANNIBAL, THOSE OF CAESAR
CHAPTER III. ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF CANNAE
CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF PHARSALUS, AND SOME CHARACTERISTIC EXAMPLES
CHAPTER V. MORALE IN ANCIENT BATTLE
CHAPTER VI. UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS REAL COMBATANTS ARE OBTAINED AND HOW THE FIGHTING OF OUR DAYS, IN ORDER TO BE WELL DONE, REQUIRES THEM TO BE MORE DEPENDABLE THAN IN ANCIENT COMBAT
CHAPTER VII. PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WHAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE IT
PART II. MODERN BATTLE
CHAPTER I. GENERAL DISCUSSION
CHAPTER II. INFANTRY
CHAPTER III. CAVALRY
CHAPTER IV. ARTILLERY
CHAPTER V. COMMAND, GENERAL STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER VI. SOCIAL AND MILITARY INSTITUTIONS. NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
APPENDIX I
APPENDIX II
Отрывок из книги
Charles-Jean-Jacques-Joseph Ardant du Picq
Ancient and Modern War
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Such are the basic elements of strategy and tactics!
There is danger in theoretical speculation of battle, in prejudice, in false reasoning, in pride, in braggadocio. There is one safe resource, the return to nature.
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