“The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy.”
- July 1, 1780 – November 16, 1831
- Born in the Kingdom of Prussia (now Germany)
- Military officer and military theorist
- In his book On War, he stated that “war is an extension of politics by other means,” which had a major impact on modern military studies.
Quote
“The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy.”
Explanation
Clausewitz’s statement emphasizes the essential elements of surprise in military strategy: speed and secrecy. The ability to execute a plan with both swift action and undetected movement can disorient and overwhelm an enemy, creating an advantage that can turn the tide of battle. Surprise is a force multiplier—when an enemy is caught off guard, they are less likely to mount an effective defense, and their decision-making process is thrown into disarray. The fusion of speed and secrecy means that the attacking force can strike before the enemy has time to react or adjust, exploiting their vulnerability.
This principle has been illustrated in numerous historic campaigns. The Blitzkrieg tactics used by Nazi Germany during World War II are a prime example. The combination of fast-moving armored divisions, air support, and the secrecy of the attack’s timing and direction allowed German forces to overwhelm much larger and more fortified armies, particularly during the invasions of France and Poland. Similarly, in modern warfare, the use of special forces or precision airstrikes relies heavily on both speed and secrecy to strike swiftly and decisively, often leaving the enemy with little time to mount a coordinated defense.
The idea of combining speed with secrecy is also crucial in the modern intelligence operations, where cyber warfare, espionage, and covert operations often hinge on the ability to move quickly and keep actions hidden. In cyber-attacks, for instance, the speed of deploying malicious software and the secrecy in which it is done can enable an attacker to inflict significant damage before the target is aware of the breach. Clausewitz’s insight underscores that surprise is not merely about catching the enemy off guard; it is about doing so with such speed and discretion that they cannot recover or counter the action before it has achieved its objective.
