Avoiding a contest of strength, or direct attack is the cornerstone of liddell hart s approach. In the circumstances of world war ii, the pursuit of triumph was foredoomed to turn into tragedy, and futility. His work influenced neville chamberlain and may have even accidentally influenced the german armys blitzkrieg tactic in wwii whats beautiful about harts writing is his insight into human nature as seen through. Aug 19, 2017 liddell hart published an excellent book on strategy suggesting the indirect approach as a preferable method. Second revised edition meridian by b h liddell hart abebooks. His general approach, which he has developed through many earlier studies, is that frontal assaults and massive showdowns are to be avoided. Liddell hart find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The indirect approach, is recognized as a seminal work of military history. Notes on bh liddell hart s classic strategy by bh liddell hart. Better to search instead for a particular book title, author, or synopsis. He introduced 8 maxims, or guidelines, to follow when developing your tactics and. Topics generalities publisher faber and faber limited london collection universallibrary contributor braou language.
Providing searing insights and drawing on an unparalleled knowledge of tactics and strategy, it is the culmination of a lifetimes analysis and study. In this book, he continuously demonstrates to the reader. Sir basil liddell hart british military historian britannica. His theories of strategy and mobile warfare influenced generals on both sides in the second world war. Was hitler the genius of strategy he seemed to be at first. Furthermore, while the horizon of grand strategy is bounded by the war, grand strategy looks beyond the war to the subsequent peace. Martinez entrep f10 slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Make no mistake, strategy is an extended argument for liddell hart s indirect approach, using disruptive attacks or actions with the intent of creating psychological dislocation to set conditions for a main effort. The german generals who survived hitlers reich talk over world war ii with capt. Pdf on jan 1, 2015, hasan deniz peksen and others published 11th. He saw that in most military campaigns dislocation of the enemys psychological and physical balance is. In 1920 he wrote the armys official infantry training manual that.
Dec 25, 2011 strategy by b h liddell hart, 9781607960843, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Liddell hart is often considered one of the foremost mid20th century scholars on military history. Liddell hart, was a british soldier, military historian and military theorist. Make no mistake, strategy is an extended argument for liddell harts indirect approach, using disruptive attacks or actions with the intent of creating psychological dislocation to set conditions for a main effort. In his book strategy 1960, hart argues that the best approach to win is the indirect approach. Liddell harts thesis on indirect strategy has always been grounded on two things. Liddell hart stressed movement, flexibilty, surprise. Synopsis first published in 1970, the year after his death, liddell harts history of the second world war is a highly acclaimed account by one of the greatest military writers of the twentieth century. The maxims in the table below are adapted from chapter xx pp.
He saw that in most military campaigns dislocation of the enemys psychological and physical balance is prelude to victory. Lidell hart spent a lifetime writing about the history of military strategy and war. Featured classic of strategy and diplomacy kim by rudyard kipling 1901 rudyard kipling, winner of the nobel prize for literature in 1907, is known today as the poet laureate of british imperialism and of the white mans burden titles. Liddell hart and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Liddell hart set out following world war i to address the causes of the wars high casualty rate. He arrived at a set of principles that he considered the basis of all good strategy. He summarized the many lessons in his writings in a little book called why dont we learn from history the book is meant as a summary of the history of. Liddell hart was an advocate of the notion that it was easier to succeed in war when an indirect approach was used. These eight maxims of strategy are drawn from chapter xx pp. Sherman like greene, hart has the ability to communicate and. Liddell hart was considered one of the worlds foremost military thinkers. They speak as professional soldiers to a man they know and respect. Liddell hart, was an britishsoldier, military historian and military theorist.
Avoiding a contest of strength, or direct attack is the cornerstone of liddell harts approach. In the 1920s and later he wrote a series of military histories that proved influential among strategists. The first edition obviously contained none of the chapters on or discussion of ww2. For the first time, answers are revealed to many questions raised during the war. Liddell hart s thesis on indirect strategy has always been grounded on two things. This indirect strategy is predicated on his firm belief that warsbattles should be won quickly, decisively, and with the least amount of casaulties. Liddell hart s jaunt through time is intended to support one basic thesis. Liddell harts jaunt through time is intended to support one basic thesis. Through a systematic examination of every major conflict throughout human history, liddell hart attempts to show that all major victories are achieved through use of what he terms the indirect approach, and conversely, that every loss is due to the errors of a direct approach.
Following world war ii, he was a proponent of the west german rearmament and the moral rehabilitation of the german wehrmacht. To move along the line of natural expectation consolidates the opponents balance and thus increases his resisting power. While not his first attempt at sharing his insights regarding the indirect approach to strategy, it is certainly liddell hart s best known and most relevant. Liddell hart published an excellent book on strategy suggesting the indirect approach as a preferable method.
Liddell hart believed the failure to act upon these principles which was the case for nearly all commanders in world war i led to the high casualty rate. He summarized the many lessons in his writings in a little book called why dont we learn from history the book is meant as a summary of the history of warfare, but its much more than that. The books genesis goes back further, however, to 1929, when it was published as the decisive wars of history. In what is clearly intended as a major treatise on military strategy captain liddell hart undertakes to draw from an examination of historical experience the fundamentals of strategic theory.
Frederick praeger, 1968 18 when, in the course of studying a long series of military campaigns, i first came to perceive the spueriority of the indirect over the direct approach, i was looking merely for light upon strategy. The original study of the strategy of indirect approach was written in 1929. Liddell hart stressed movement, flexibility, and surprise. Armor explained to cushman privately that he liked the book but thought liddell harts arguments essentially the same as clausewitzs. His work influenced neville chamberlain and may have even accidentally influenced the german armys blitzkrieg tactic in wwii. I recommend all of harts books, from strategy to why dont we learn from history to his excellent biographies of strategic geniuses like william t. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Liddell hart is considered by some to be the clausewitz of the 20th century, and his most important book, strategy.
Liddell hart 18951970 was many things, but above all, he was a military historian. Basil henry liddell hart was born in paris 1n 1895, the son of an english clergyman then ser11ng a parish of expatriates. The indirect approach clearly owes its origins to sun tzu and is essentially a theory of maneuver, which makes strategy valuable reading for maneuver warfare theorist and professional warrior. To attack where the opponent expects, as liddell hart explained, made the task of winning harder. He wrote tracts on sherman, scipio, rommel, and on military strategy itself. Fact monster people biography of sir basil henry liddell hart. Sir basil henry liddell hart, commonly known as captain b. Liddell hart was considered one of the worlds foremost military thinkersa man generally regarded as the clausewitz of the 20th century. While not his first attempt at sharing his insights regarding the indirect approach to strategy, it is certainly liddell harts best known and most relevant. In 1954, liddell hart published a book simply titled strategy.
The role of grand strategy higher strategy is to coordinate and direct all the resources of a nation, or band of nations, towards the attainment of the political object of the war the goal defined by fundamental policy. Liddell hart, noted british miltary strategist and writer. Presented on wednesday, november 3rd, 1920, at 3 p. Hart died in 1970 but his books on military strategy and strategist remain popular among military historians. Liddell hart, was an english soldier, military historian, military theorist, and author of many books, including strategy, the german generals talk, the memoirs of captain liddell hart, and history of the second world. Liddell hart s indirect approach is one which offers to effectively meld the disparate elements into a national counternarcotic strategy. He argued that frontal assault was a strategy that was bound to fail at great cost. A complete overthrow of germanys power of resistance was bound to. Adjust your end to your means clear sight and cool calculation should prevail.
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