'Do not despair at your fate' : Carl von Clausewitz in French captivity, 1806-1807
Abstract
Carl von Clausewitz’s time in French captivity is well documented, but has never been studied in its own right. However, it is both fascinating and relevant, as Clausewitz’s experience of captivity took place against the backdrop of the nationalization of war and the concomitant politicization of prisoners in war. Clausewitz framed his observations by contrasting the ‘French’ and the ‘German’ national characters. While Germany as a political identity ceased to play a role for Clausewitz after his return to Prussia, he held on to his characterization of the French as a politically backward society and, ultimately, as an empire in decline.
Citation
Scheipers , S 2019 , ' 'Do not despair at your fate' : Carl von Clausewitz in French captivity, 1806-1807 ' , War in History , vol. OnlineFirst . https://doi.org/10.1177/0968344518804840
Publication
War in History
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0968-3445Type
Journal article
Collections
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