CSI Reprint: The Evolution of a Revolt

by T.E. Lawrence

The Combat Studies Institute provides a wide range of military, historical, and educational support to the Combined Arms Center, Training and Doctrine Command, and the United States Army. The Combat Studies Institute researches, writes, and publishes original interpretive works on issues of relevance to the US Army.

The Combat Studies Institute (CSI) publication collection contains reports and books pertaining to American history, military guidelines, foreign affairs, and more. Titles featured in this collection Art of War Protecting, Isolating, and Controlling Behavior, Law of Can 20th Century Standards Apply to the Global War on Terrorism? and Traditions, Changes, and Military Operations and the Middle Eastern City. This title is one of many in the Combat Studies Institute collection.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History

28 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1920

About the author

Thomas Edward Lawrence, British soldier, adventurer, and writer, who, known as "Lawrence of Arabia," from 1916 led the revolt against the Turks to 1918 and later wrote The Seven Pillars of Wisdom , an account of his adventures, in 1926.

The professional world came for Thomas Edward Lawrence. In 1922, he used John Hume Ross, the name, to enlist in the royal air force, which discovered and forced him. Afterward, he took T.E. Shaw to join the tank corps in 1923. The royal air force in 1925 eventually let him back.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._E._L...

Reviews

[Dimitris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ενδιαφέρον. Μου φάνηκε πολύ προσωπικό για να ήταν λήμα Εγκυκλοπαίδειας ομολογώ.

Ένας άλλος κόσμος, χαμένος. Η Οθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία στα ηδονικά τελευταία της (τρομερό το ότι μόλις 110 χρόνια πριν δεν υπήρχαν ακόμα ούτε ως έννοιες κράτη όπως ο Λίβανος, το Ισραήλ, η Ιορδανία, το Ιράκ, η Σ. Αραβία κι ότι οι Τοιύρκοι έφταναν ώς την Ερυθρά Θάλασσα και την Βαβυλώνα και κατείχαν την Μέκκα!), οι τελευταίες μάχες με καμήλες στην έρημο μαζί με την επέκταση των νέων αμαξοστοιχιών στην Μέση Ανατολή, η είσοδος του πετρελαίου στην πολεμική εξίσωση.

Δεν μου φάνηκε και τόσο καλός άνθρωπος, όπως τον θυμόμουν στην θρυλική ταινία. Πρέπει να την ξαναδώ.

[Bradley Farless · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this as a PDF online. It's a theory-heavy explanation of the tactics that TE Lawrence used while engaged in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. He's essentially describing the theory behind guerrilla warfare. It's an interesting and short read.

[Christos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Πολύ σύντομο ανάγνωσμα όπου ο Τ.Τ Λώρενς περιγράφει την ιδιοφυή τακτική του που επέτρεψε στις φυλές των Βεδουίνων να επικρατήσουν του Οθωμανικού στρατού μετατρέποντας τις αδυναμίες τους σε δύναμη.

[Nate Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Author
T.E. Lawrence was an Oxford-educated archaeologist enlisted by the Arab Bureau of the British Foreign Office who were looking for someone to advise Arab irregulars in an effort to foment trouble for the Ottoman Turks in the Middle East. Lawrence fit the bill, having traveled extensively throughout the region after completing his degree in 1910. War broke out in 1914, he enlisted a couple of months later, was sent immediately to Cairo to work intelligence, and was sent to advise the Arabs (commanded by Emir Faisal) in 1916. The rest is history. He is considered a key contributor to modern guerrilla warfare thought (perhaps even Mao’s inspiration).

The Evolution of a Revolt is essentially the Cliffs Notes version of Larry, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom without the war stories. First printed in 1920 in Army Quarterly, it is a brief summary of the lessons he learned throughout his time fighting in the Arab Revolt. Lawrence originally bought the classic Uncle Carl (heretofore referred to as “CvC”) vision of force-on-force, but through his experiences came to favor a more Sun Tzuvian approach to warfare (pp 3,5), at least in the context of the irregular fight he was in. He came to realize that the key to Arab victory would be a strategy of stick and move aimed at putting the Turks on the defensive – “rearguards modulate the enemy’s action like a pendulum, not by what they do, but by their mere existence” (a lesson learned from CvC) (p 4). The Arab aim was not to “kill Turks,” but to occupy land. If they had to resort to violence, they would, but in a nod to Sun Tzu, he recognized that they’d be just as successful if the Turks would up and leave.
Clearly, he and Fuller had a mind-meld, because he saw both strategy and tactics (“the steps of [strategy’s] staircase”) as composed of three fundamental elements: The algebraic, biological, and psychological (p 7). The algebraic factor accounts for the so-called science and mathematical portions of the battlespace: square miles, terrain, how many men would be needed to defend an area…the physical, “you can count ‘em and measure ‘em” stuff (p 7-8). The biological accounts for the art – it looks a whole lot like CvC’s concept of “genius.” It accounts for the chance portion of the trinity: “Nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books: but the irrational tenth…is the test of generals….It can only be ensured by instinct…” (p 9). Note that in Lawrence’s concept, the biological also includes material and equipment (p 10). His third and final aspect, the psychological, refers to both individual and group morale as well as individual and should be considered in an enemy as well as friendly context (p 11).

His thoughts regarding their need to conduct a “war of detachment” (p 10) and comparison of his operations to naval warfare very much recall Corbett’s “fleet in being” concept as well as his thoughts on concentration as the ability to strategically converge when and where necessary but just as quickly disperse so as to “never [give] the enemy’s soldier a target” (p 10). He notes that in order to do this well, you need really good intelligence (p 10).

Awesome. Short, sweet, and to the point. A whole lot of Lawrence shines through in Mao – positional warfare is no good for irregulars (p 3), mobility and the avoidance of decisive battles (p 4, 13, throughout), and the need for a unified populace (echoing Lawrence’s psychological factor, p 11). While some of his thoughts must remain in the context of guerilla warfare (constant focus on non-engagement, for example), his three factors appear to apply usefully across all forms of warfare.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's only about 20 pages long, but gets right to the point of Lawrence's actions and observations during WWI. An interesting read that you can finish off in one long subway ride.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful reading and the detailing of Lawrence's use of differing tactics from the established and a great insight into the mind of Lawrence himself.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A key part of Middle Eastern History by one of the architects. Lawrence pretty much wrote the book on todays unconventional warfare.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖋️ Very interesting and quick to read. It helped with my understanding of the Middle East in the early twentieth century.

📙Published in 1920.
🟣 Kindle.
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