Russian view of M. I. Dragomirov on the Italian campaign of 1859

Abstract

The article examines M. I. Dragomirov’s original view of the Italian campaign of 1859. The Ministry of War sent Dragomirov, a young graduate of the General Staff Academy, to Italy to observe the armed conflict unfolding in the Apennines. While at the headquarters of the King of Sardinia Victor Emmanuel II, he, as a military attaché, studied the tactics and strategy of the opposing sides and monitored the interaction of various branches of the armed forces. The author concludes that the Russian officer’s research went far beyond a simple description of military operations. Dragomirov focused on the analysis of the moral aspects of war and assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the clashing armies. His publications contain profound reflections on the role of the human factor in war.