Lieutenant von Clausewitz (Problem)
Decision-Forcing Case
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On 3 December 1803, Lieutenant Colonel von Scharnhorst poses the following problem.
How does the [officer commanding] the garrison of Berlin, on the night of the 2nd to the 3rd [of December] determine whether the enemy has occupied positions at [the villages of] Panko and Gesundbrunnen?
As soon as it is dark, two stealthy patrols move out. The first, which consists of one NCO and two hand-picked men of the infantry, leaves from the Oranienburger Gate in order to reconnoitre Gesundbrunnen. It has the following instructions …
In the role of Lieutenant von Clausewitz, please provide:
Instructions for the first patrol
The composition of the second patrol
Instructions for the second patrol
Be prepared to explain the logic behind any (or all) of your decisions.
Source: This problem can be found in Werner Hallweg, editor, Schriften, Aufsätze, Studien, Briefe (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Rupprecht, 1966), Volume I, pages 57 and 58.
After engaging the problem, and composing your solution, you can use the link below to discover the solution arrived at by Lieutenant von Clausewitz.
1. Instructions for the first Patrol:
a. Situation. Enemy forces of unknown size and composition are suspected to be present in the villages of Gesundbrunnen and Panko, located to the north of Berlin.
b. Mission. Conduct a nighttime reconnaissance of Gesundbrunnen in order to determine if enemy forces have indeed occupied positions in an around that town and report back to the commander of the Berlin Garrison. This is a reconnaissance mission and all information is vital - most particularly the presence, location, size, composition, disposition and activity. However, reporting back is of paramount importance.
c. Execution. Move from the Oranienburger Gate to Gesundbrunnen. Assume that the enemy has sentries, vedettes and patrols out, so move as quickly as you can while staying unobserved. Upon first contact with enemy forces, and if undetected, send one man back to the Oranienburger Gate immediately to report with as much information as you have at that time. Wait 15 minutes after that man departs and then continue on to
Gesundbrunnen to gather additional information while remaining unobserved and avoiding all contact with anyone. Once you have gathered as much information as you can and no later than 2 hours before dawn, return to the Oranienburger Gate with your report. If detected, return as a group to the Oranienburger Gate as fast as possible with your report. If no enemy forces are encountered by the time you reach the northern outskirts of Gesundbrunnen, return directly to the Oranienburger Gate with that report.
d. Additional information and instructions. I as the mission commander will be at the Oranienburger Gate. Sentries at the gate and on the wall will be on watch for you throughout the night. The challenge is “Der König von Frankreich” and the reply is “hat keine Pferde”.
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Logic. If enemy forces are in the area, any report, even if only partial, is vital. Additional patrols can be sent if required to further develop the situation after the alert has been raised and additional forces mobilized.
2. Composition of the second patrol. As Panko is further away, I would send 2 NCOs and 4 specially selected soldiers in two 3 man teams, traveling by different routes if possible.
3. Instructions for the second patrol. The same as for the first patrol, substituting Panko for Gesundbrunnen, and for the same reasons, but with two other changes:
a. The patrol would return to the Oranienburger Gate no later than 3 hours before dawn.
b. The challenge will stay the same as for the first patrol, but the reply will be “Ist sehr alt und hässlich”