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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Guderian's story about the Court of Honor, what happened to the soldier, which gave the other soldier the chance to kill himself?

2. The OKW was created to act as which of the following?

3. What German forces were engaged in the Ardennes Offensive?

4. Guderian advocated what defensive strategy for the Eastern front?

5. Which of the following does Guderian NOT cite as a reason for Hitler's declining capabilities?

Short Essay Questions

1. What special authority did Guderian seek from general Schmundt?

2. What problems did the German General Staff face in the inter-war period?

3. Describe the political structure of Germany during the war, according to Guderian.

4. What personal danger did Guderian face in Chapter 12?

5. What faults did Guderian credit for Hitler's declining capabilities?

6. What happened when the Russians invaded German-allied Romania?

7. What rumor did Guderian hear about Field Marshal von Kluge on July 18th?

8. What kind of audience did Guderian seek in Chapter 12?

9. What problem limited production in Germany in 1943?

10. What defensive mistake did Rommel make in dealing with the allied landings at Normandy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After dealing with France, Hitler turned his attention to Russia. He devised another daring plan for quickly annexing an entire nation through a focus on mobile warfare and rapid advances. The initial attacks took the Russian completely by surprise and resulted in huge territorial gains by the Germans. However, the Russians quickly reorganized and began to push the German army back.

1) Explain Hitler's plan for attack against Russia. What were the major strategic goals of the plan? How did Hitler intend to overcome the massive Russian advantage in manpower? What were to be the final goals of the invasion?

2) Summarize the course of the invasion of Russia.

3) Discuss the important strategic decision whether to attack Moscow or Kiev first. What has Hitler's final decision, and what motivated it?

4) Discuss the impact of the T34 tank on the war. How did the Germans respond to this threat?

5) Explain some of the major factors that led to the turn-around of Germany's success in Russia.

Essay Topic 2

Coming from an unimportant family and rising out of the junior officer corps, Guderian did not have a long-standing relationship with Hitler. However, Guderian's natural talents eventually caused him to be drawn into the Fuhrer's inner circle. Guderian developed strong feelings about Hitler as a leader and his influence on the war and the German people.

1) Trace the course of Guderian and Hitler's relationship through the end of the war. Describe how Guderian was first introduced to this leader and how he gained Hitler's confidence.

2) Explain in detail the major conflicts that occurred between these individuals.

3) Discuss what Guderian believed to be Hitler's most important strengths and weaknesses.

Essay Topic 3

Germany's war on the Eastern front quickly became a defensive battle after the stalled offensives of the first winter there and the disasters at Stalingrad and Kursk. However, Hitler failed to adapt to the demands of this style of warfare and the German army suffered significant setbacks as a result. The German army was never able to effectively defend against the advancing Russians.

1) Explain the strategic situation on the Eastern front when Germany went on the defensive.

2) Discuss the recommendations made by Guderian and other German military leaders for the defense of the Eastern front, and explain why Hitler refused to adopt these recommendations.

3) Describe some of the consequences of Hitler's mistakes on the Eastern front, including the loss of German divisions, vital resources, and strategic losses, such as the impact on morale and organization.

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