ABSTRACT
The First World War was a common experience for both Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler. The cognitive map of a political leader, what Alexander George has called the Operational Code, is a key ingredient in examining how Churchill and Hitler approached the elements of the Clausewitzian trinity in leading their nations through total war. Both Churchill and Hitler were very much concerned as modern warlords with the interaction of the elements of Clausewitz's remarkable trinity. In the end, the elements of the trinity held for both leaders: Churchill in victory, Hitler in the Gotterdmmerung of defeat in total war. The central roles of Churchill and Hitler in deception plans were typical of their involvement in all facets of military operations. The German experience with the relationship between the government and the military was not unique as at the beginning of the conflict political leaders throughout Europe attempted to come to grips with the new demands of total war.
