Do the strategies adopted at Casablanca and their

development throughout 1943 and 1944 offer an

example of Clausewitzian doctrine at work?
The strategies adopted in Casablanca were, broadly speaking, Clausewitzian
doctrine at work.
The adoption of a Europe First Grand Strategy by Roosevelt and Churchill was
reached after several compromises and discussions. Despite reasoned
arguments for Operation BOLERO-ROUNDUP by several advisors, this operation
was tabled in favour of Operation TORCH. This is the dialectical approach
theorised by Clausewitz whereby dissimilar strategies are decided through logical
and reasoned argument. Fatefully, had Operation BOLERO-ROUNDUP proceeded
it would have undoubtedly resulted in an over-extension by Allied Forces; another
Clausewitzian principle of war.
Clausewitz theorised about the importance of an enemies centre of gravity to its
sustainment of a war effort and the detrimental effect this would have were it to
be removed. This was recognised by both Roosevelt and Churchill, hence the
increased Allied bomber offensive was agreed upon in Casablanca. This offensive
was explicitly to attack strategic centres of gravity within the German heartland,
thus allowing the weakening of the Nazi war machine.
Operation OVERLORD was the ultimate end-goal of the European First strategy.
This required significant additional men, machines and supplies for this to be
effective and allow superiority of numbers, concentration of forces and a supply
base. These are all Clausewitzian doctrine at work and were crucial to the
operation.
Perhaps the most striking example of Clausewitzian theory is demonstrated at
the Casablanca conference. It was summit between the British Prime Minister
and the American President, not military Officers. This reveals the doctrine of
war is merely the continuation of policy by other means and the intrinsic
interlinking of these 2 facets that were theorised by Clausewitz.
The unconditional surrender demanded of the Axis powers is one of the first
principles that Clausewitz theorises when defining, What is War?. This is
validated by the following quote from On War, Book 1. The compulsory
submission of the enemy to our will is the ultimate object. This exhibits the
Allied end goal perfectly.