The Evolution of Military Art

The large-scale fundamental scientific work "The Evolution of Military Art" by the domestic commander and outstanding theorist A.A. Svechin (1878-1938) is dedicated to military art and consists of two volumes, which explore its development from Ancient Greece to World War I. The publication contains a detailed exposition of the stages of the formation of combat strategy through examples of the largest battles of different periods. In this context, the history of military affairs is presented as part of the history of society, and alongside that, it serves as the foundation for the education of future officers. The author himself writes that the study of the art of war emerged only in the late 18th century and highlights the works of H. Delbrück as one of the best historians in this field in the 19th century. The theoretical material is accompanied by an analysis of the largest world battles in terms of the decisions made by military leaders. The book contains much material on the implementation of internal security plans and on methods of military management. The influence of politics, diplomacy, and economics on the course and outcome of wars is examined. The main motif of A.A. Svechin's research is that military art and the army invariably reflect the specific societies and states and depend on their level of development.
This work remains relevant even today and is intended not only for military personnel and politicians, for students, teachers, and listeners of military educational institutions, but also for all those interested in history and the problems of modern strategic thought.