How did interpretations of Clausewitz change after the world wars and the development of nuclear weapons?

Following the two world wars and the advent of nuclear weapons, interpretations of Carl von Clausewitz underwent a significant reversal.1

For decades, 19th-century readers—influenced by the German Wars of Unification—had focused on Clausewitz’s emphasis on total war, the decisive battle, and the complete overthrow of the enemy. However, the disillusionment with total war following the 20th-century world wars, combined with the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons, led to a "Clausewitz renaissance".1

Strategic thinkers shifted their attention to the later portions of his work, On War, which emphasize the subservience of war to politics and the legitimacy of limited conflict. This interpretation highlights his famous dictum that "war is a continuation of state policy with the admixture of other means," prioritizing careful political direction over the unrestrained destruction associated with total war. Consequently, modern strategic thought moved away from the pursuit of absolute victory toward the concept of deterrence and the rational management of conflict to prevent catastrophic escalation.1234