TOA Theorist Briefing: Hans Delbrück MAJ Constance Quinlan, Seminar 6 July 27, 2015

Founder of modern military history 1.Contextualizes military events within politics, economics, society. 2.Universal methods of analysis re material and technical aspects of armies. 3.Part of a public discourse. “A great pioneer military historian, Hans Delbrück in Germany in the last century, demonstrated that it was possible to prove many traditional accounts of military operations pure nonsense by mere intelligent inspection of the terrain.” ~ John Keegan on the deficiencies of military history in The Face of Battle He argued that there are two distinct strategies/theories of war: annihilation versus attrition/exhaustion. Why Hans Delbrück?

Biography Historical context of the time during which he worked Content of his work and theories Delbrück’s impact at the time Delbrück’s impact today Sources Agenda

“I derived from official and scholarly circles, on my mother’s side from a Berlin family; I had war service and was a reserve officer; For five years I lived at the court of Emperor Frederick, when he was Crown Prince. I was a parliamentarian; As editor of the Preussische Jahrbücher, I belonged to the press; I became an academic teacher.” ~Autobiographical sketch, 1920 “I sought the truth. I loved my country.” ~Epitaph Biography Context Theory Impact B: November 11, 1848 in Bergen D: July 14, 1929 in Berlin

Franco-Prussian War (July 1870 – May 1871) Creation of the German Empire as a unified nation-state Otto von Bismarck becomes first Chancellor of Germany Era of Helmuth von Moltke (the Elder) as Chief of Prussian General Staff World War I Delbrück becomes journalist and political commentator as editor of Preussische Jahrbücher. History and Military History Military history belongs to the general staff. Academia wants no part of it. Annihilation is the only acceptable strategy/form of war. Clausewitz wrote it, and Frederick the Great lived it. Romanticized concept of war. Armies won because of their genius leaders. Theory Impact Biography Context Historical context

Theory of the study of warfare – “Sachkritik” “if one knows the armament and the manner of fighting of the contending armies, then the terrain is such an important and eloquent authority for the character of a battle, that one may dare, provided there is no doubt as to the outcome, to reconstruct its course in general outline.” ~Delbrück Example findings: Greeks usually outnumbered Persians. Herodotus described impossible tactics. Discipline enabled Rome to conquer the world through superior tactical bodies. Evolution in military science ceased between fall of Rome and Renaissance. Impact Biography Context Theory Content of Delbrück’s work

Strategy of Annihilation One pole – battle Directly attack and destroy enemy forces Wrestling metaphor – win by pinning Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon Strategy of Attrition/Exhaustion Bipolar – battle and maneuver Indirectly attack and destroy enemy will to fight Wrestling metaphor – win by points Pericles, Belisarius, Wallenstein, Gustavus Adolphus, Frederick the Great Content of Delbrück’s work (cont’) Theory of war – Niederwerfungsstrategie v. Ermattungsstrategie Impact Biography Context Theory

Delbrück as lesser historian (Academia) Delbrück as blasphemer (General Staff) How he interpreted Clausewitz His analysis of Frederick the Great, Moltke as different strategists Accusing general staff of revisionist history Delbrück as traitor (WWI) Criticizing political and military strategy Advocating peace talks Theory Biography Context Impact Impact on doctrine then

Joint Publication 1, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States Chapter 1 Theory and Foundations, Section A. Theory, Paragraph 2. War: “g. Strategy in War. The two fundamental strategies in the use of military force are strategy of annihilation and strategy of erosion. (1) The first is to make the enemy helpless to resist us, by physically destroying his military capabilities... (2) The second approach is to convince the enemy that accepting our terms will be less painful than continuing to aggress or resist...” Theory Biography Context Impact Impact on doctrine now

Craig, Gordon A. “Delbrück: The Military Historian.” In Makers of Modern Strategy from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age, edited by Peter Paret, Princeton: Princeton University Press, Delbrück, Hans. Delbrück’s Modern Military History. Edited and translated by Arden Bucholz. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, —. History of the Art of War Within the Framework of Political History. Translated by Walter J. Renfroe, Jr. 4 vols. Westport: Greenwood Press, Questions? Major sources referenced (not all-inclusive)

One more legacy… Immortalized by Mel Brooks in Young Frankenstein