Clausewitz's Concept of CPV (Culminating Point of Victory) in the North African Campaigns of Rommel and Montgomery

Abstract

This paper examines Clausewitz's concept of the culminating point of victory (CPV) to analyze the World War II North African campaigns of Rommel and Montgomery. The goal of the paper was to determine how CPV is seen in the conditions under which these commanders waged their campaigns. A framework of analysis, based largely upon the ideas of Clausewitz and to a much lesser extent on Rommel, was developed to determine the status of CPV for each major battle. This framework consisted of ascertaining the state of (1) personnel, (2) fixed assets, (3) ground, (4) supplies, (5) cohesion, (6) allies, (7) morale, (8) leadership, (9) vigor, and (10) time at appropriate periods. For the campaigns under analysis, vigor and supplies were found to be the most critical variables- -with supply having the greatest influence upon the outcome in North Africa.