The Strategy Of Indirect Approach

Certainly, Capt. Liddel Hart has not been the inventor of this military operation, successful in many instances at various unit levels from platoon-, brigade- and to army size, and applying to sea- and land-warfare as well. Nevertheless, he seems to have been one of the few historians to present a thorough account of essentially its application, success and effect in the course of history with regard to peoples and their leaders. From ancient warfare up to the advent of Hitler - before Stalingrad - and exempt the large scale landing operations of WWII, nor further into our times.

Wars have been mainly decided in battles, mostly head-on clashes boasting superiority or last-stand situations and very often resulting in bilateral attrition and stalemate. More elegant solutions in warfare have been brought about through strategic by-pass operations, employing human intelligence and resulting in the avoidance of human losses on both sides.

The success of the "Indirect Approach" in warfare is due to a factor of surprise and of the "unexpected". What happens, usually? When the hostile lines of least resistance are overcome or by-passed, the main defensive positions are surrounded and collapse, resulting in a dislocation of military balance, and a disruption of enemy communications and logistics. Even the refusal to accept premature battle is considered a matter of Indirect Approach. In the course of warfare often the weaker party in a confrontation employed this method suggesting greater flexibility in leadership.

The author does not limit his chronicle of research to the specific "Indirect Approach" alone, but for complete understanding rather dwells on the entire war history, the impartial repetition of which is of value to the reader’s memory. Some chapters specifically analyse and discuss the application of the Indirect Approach at war in theory. The index of personalities and military campaigns makes this book an indispensable work of reference. Due to the reprint, there are some minor printing flaws, and two maps are distorted and / or lack in their visibility, but do not otherwise affect the original text.

 Capt. Liddel Hart has conceived the idea for this unique topic already in 1929, which now as a historic reprint is recommended for research to historians and historically interested readers alike.

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