Generations Of War

Periods where different strategies made sense

• First Generation: Line And Column tactics, from Peace Of Westphalia through American Civil War. Culture of order, but order on the battlefield began to decay in the face of large armies and technological advancement.
• Second Generation: French Army after World War I - deal with increasing disorder by trying to impose order. Aka firepower/attrition warfare. Inward focus, imposed discipline, synchronization. Still largely the American way of war.
• Third Generation: German Army during World War II - more Adaptive, rely on speed and tempo; Non-Linear; StormTroop/BlitzKrieg/Maneuver Warfare. Outward focus, initiative, Self Discipline.
• Fourth Generation (FourGW): loyalties have transferred from the State to Non-State Actors: Tribalism, Monotheism, gangs, etc. A "war" involves many multiple entities, using multiple means, for multiple goals.