Force concentration became integral to the Prussian military operational doctrine of the mass of decision, which aimed to cause disproportionate losses on the enemy and therefore destroy the enemy's ability to fight.
From an empirical examination of past battles, the Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) concluded: [..] we may infer, that it is very difficult in the present state of Europe, for the most talented General to gain a victory over an enemy double his strength.