Fog of War

Definition

Though Clausewitz rarely uses the phrase Nebel des Krieges literally, he repeatedly describes war as conducted in twilight, in which three-fourths of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty. The commander must act on imperfect information; certainty is impossible.

Primary Chapters

  • Book 1 Ch 3
  • Book 2 Ch 2 — On the Theory of War

See Also