Strategies of Napoleonic General Antoine-Henri Jomini influencing military conflicts in Ukraine - Napoleonic General Antoine-Henri Jomini's strategies shape the conflicts in modern-day Ukraine.
Navigating the Battlefield: Jomini's Impact on the Conflict in Ukraine
by Gernot Kramper** + - 3 Min
Antoine-Henri Jomini's influence on military strategy remains profound, especially in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As a young man, Jomini, a Swiss native, infiltrated Napoleon's inner circle, learning the art of war from one of history's greatest generals.
Though he later served the Tsar, Jomini's name was not as well-known in Germany due to the presence of fellow contemporary, Carl von Clausewitz. Unlike Clausewitz, who was a philosopher of war, Jomini was a pragmatist, focusing on providing texts to guide the military. Although Clausewitz has often overshadowed Jomini, the latter's impact on their shared century is undeniable.
Controlling the Battlefield's Edges
Jomini's theories have become a guiding force in the Ukraine conflict. One of his key concepts, the idea of the four-sided box, is at the core of current military strategies. Jomini proposed that controlling the boundaries of a battlefield, not occupying it, was vital for victory. This idea stemmed from observing that armies tended to occupy two lines at the onset of hostilities, with Jomini advocating that if a third line could be controlled, the campaign would be decisively won.
Strategy of Flanking
The reason behind this, according to Jomini, was the importance of supply lines. By controlling three sides of a battlefield, an army could threaten the enemy's supply lines, forcing them to retreat or leave the area. In the context of Ukraine, this concept has been simplified to controlling rows of trees, hills, and towns, with battalions and assault groups taking the place of armies with tens of thousands of soldiers.
In general, the Russian forces make progress by isolating and weakening enemy positions by controlling three flanking sides, just as Jomini envisioned. However, the application of his principles has been adapted to modern warfare, with firepower attrition and electronic warfare often taking the place of classical flanking maneuvers.
Despite not marching onto the battlefield with Jomini's "Art of War," Russia's strategy reflects the timeless wisdom of this great military mind. In essence, Jomini's influence demonstrates that military principles from centuries past continue to shape modern conflicts, even as the means of warfare evolve.
1. Antoine-Henri Jomini's theories, notably the four-sided box concept, have become a significant influence in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.2. Henri Jomini, a Swiss theorist, proposed that controlling the boundaries of a battlefield, not occupying it, was crucial for victory, a strategy that seems to be relevant in the current Ukraine conflict.3. Modern Russian forces, though using updated tactics, appear to follow Jomini's strategy of isolating and weakening enemy positions by controlling three flanking sides.4. Jomini's timeless military principles, though evident in the war-and-conflicts of centuries past, continue to shape modern warfare, as seen in the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine.
