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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. During their first war with Greece, the Persians experienced a revolt in which region?

2. What methods characterized the Wars of Spanish Succession?

3. According to the indirect approach, military strategy needs to include plans to attack in what manner?

4. During William of Normandy's time, what was the state of military strategy?

5. William of Normandy was joined by an allied King from what nation?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Marlborough's style of generalship and why was he not able to fully employ it?

2. What developments in the period between 1854 and 1914 made it more difficult to employ indirect methods?

3. Explain Napoleon's famous quotation regarding moral and physical conditions.

4. What were the results of the Hundred Year's War between England and France?

5. What is the relationship between grand strategy and long-lasting gains?

6. Why was Varro chosen to replace Fabius?

7. Why were decisive results difficult to achieve during the British Civil Wars?

8. What were Prince Edward's accomplishments in the development of military technology and strategy?

9. Why is the indirect method favorable over direct methods?

10. Why are decisive results important in warfare?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The "center" of a military force is a crucially important concept in the indirect approach. The identification and dislocation of the enemy center is the very essence of the strategy laid out and endorsed by the author.

Part 1) What is the "center" of a military force. What factors contribute to this center?

Part 2) How is the center of a military force identified. Cite examples of military forces from the book and explain what or where their centers are.

Part 3) How can the center of a military force be dislocated? What are the results of this dislocation? Does the dislocation always involve the destruction of enemy forces? Cite examples from the book of the consequences of the dislocation of a military force's center.

Essay Topic 2

The War of Spanish Succession is cited as a major setback in military strategy. This war was fought in disparate theaters by nations with no real interest in the territory under dispute and with only the vaguest of grand strategies. The small number of commanders who endorsed a more indirect approach were consistently hindered by the ignorance of their superiors, and the war devolved into a bloody and indecisive war of direct approaches.

Part 1) Explain the background and progress of this war. What was unusual about the places where and the ways in which this war was fought?

Part 2) In general, what method were employed in this war? What factors contributed to these strategies?

Part 3) What were the grand strategies and national objects of the major participants of this war? How did these goals affects the course of the war? Did any nation succeed in achieving decisive results?

Part 4) Which commander or commanders sought to employ indirect methods during this war? Why were they hindered in their attempts? What would have been some possible results if they had not been blocked in their efforts?

Essay Topic 3

Although Hitler achieved military success, he was strategically unsuccessful in achieving large-scale lasting benefits for his country. Hitler needed to achieve peace, but failed to do so.

Part 1) What was the German grand strategy in World War II? What conditions would have been necessary for Germany to secure its military gains?

Part 2) How did Hitler attempt to satisfy these conditions? Explain any major elements that Hitler either misjudged or did not appropriately address.

Part 3) Ultimately, why was Hitler's grand strategy flawed? What major factors contributed to his failure to achieve large-scale decisive victory?

(see the answer keys)

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