From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Total war (not: totalitarian war) is a method of warfare where anything connected to one's enemy is attacked. The object of total war is to demoralize the enemy so that he surrenders or the absolute destruction of the enemy. This necessarily includes all means available to the opponents including indiscriminate bombing of civilian centers and targets of opportunity regardless of military value. Strategic bombing is usually a major part of total war by technologically advanced states. Total war has sometimes been compared to state terrorism. The effectiveness of the total war strategy is doubtful, considering that few nations have surrendered before they were soundly defeated militarily, despite possibly massive civilian deaths. Damage to civilian infrastructure is usually either ignored or even bolsters the morale of the defending nation, counter productive to the total war strategy.
The concept of total war was put forth in writing in Karl von Clausewitz' posthumously published book On War (1832). It was used in the Spanish Civil War and World War II (Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels infamously asked a select audience "Do you want total war?" in his Sportpalast speech). In response the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 is intended to protect civilians during time of war.
See also Scorched earth.
Total war is also used to describe devoting all of a nation's resources to fighting a war. Production of civilian products and luxuries are minimized to concentrate on the war effort.
Michael Ledeen, a neo-conservative thinker and a strong influence on the Project for a New American Century, defines it as follows:
"Total war not only destroys the enemy's military forces, but also brings the enemy society to an extremely personal point of decision, so that they are willing to accept a reversal of the cultural trends... The sparing of civilian lives cannot be the total war's first priority ..." (see collateral damage).
"The purpose of total war is to permanently force your will onto another people."
