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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. What fortress was the new commander of Army Group Vistulla ordeedr to relieve?

2. What new commander of Army Group Vistula was ordered to relieve a surrounded fortress?

3. Why was Guderian interrogated following the evacuation of Warsaw?

4. When Guderian was promoted to Inspector-General of the Armored Troops, the German infantry largely lacked what vital weapon?

5. During Germany's final collapse, Guderian sought an audience with Hitler and what other major leader?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is the role of the "Court of Honor"?

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

5. How did Guderian quickly create an effective staff for his new command as Inspector-General of the Armored Troops?

6. What major attack did Hitler order for Army Group Vistula during the events of Chapter 12?

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

8. What war did the tradition of the German General Staff date back to?

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

10. According to Guderian, how did Hitler come to power?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The July 20th assassination plot against Hitler ended with the killing of several top German military leaders, the light wounding of the Fuhrer, and the execution of most of the conspirators. The German officers who carried out the assassination attempt believed they could end the war by killing Hitler, but Guderian expressed doubt that Hitler's death would mean anything for Germany.

1) Explain the July 20th plot, including the people involved, the plan for the assassination, how the attack was carried out, and how successful the plan was.

2) Discuss the motivations of the conspirators and explain what they hoped to achieve through their actions.

3) Describe Guderian's attitude towards the assassination attempt, including a discussion of his criticisms of the methods used by the conspirators and their morals.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Germany's sudden invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939 opened the second World War. The effectiveness and speed of the German advances shocked the world and changed military strategy and tactics instantly. Germany's quick occupation of Poland established it as a prime military power not to be trifled with. Further, it established the tank and the Panzer division as major weapons in this new type of warfare.

1) Explain why Germany went to war with Poland.

2) Discuss the German plan of attack on Poland. What were Germany's specific strategic goals?

3) Discuss Guderian's involvement in the invasion and assess how successful Guderian was as a military leader during this campaign.

4) Describe the importance of the tank and the Panzer division in this invasion.

5) Summarize some of the results of the invasion.

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