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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. According to the author, what type of government is least capable of creating ideal generals?

2. What is the most essential factor in concentrating forces?

3. Turkey's strategies are most similar to those of what military leader?

4. What is one of the main advantages of a large army?

5. In what way was Turkey exceptionally vulnerable?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the nature and purpose of strategy relate to people's unwillingness to be convinced of a point contrary to their own beliefs?

2. How does policy relate to national object and military aims?

3. Explain the relationships between grand strategy, strategy and tactics.

4. What was the state of strategy and tactics on the eastern front during the First World War?

5. What was the problem with Clausewitz's writings, and why did they have a negative impact on the first World War?

6. What is the principle of flexibility?

7. What did Germany need in order to become secure and peacefully end the war?

8. What was unusual about Hitler's preparations for war?

9. What causes generals to overstep the bounds of "limited aim" warfare?

10. How did Hitler's study of Napoleon negatively influence him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During the First World War, the Turkish theater saw the most mobile and strategic fighting of the war. Multiple invasions by France and England were fought back, and a vicious skirmishing guerrilla war was fought over the independence of emerging Arab states.

Part 1) Explain the importance of Turkey to the grand strategy of the first World War. Why did this country enter into the war, and what did it hope to gain? Why did the allies decide to invade this country directly?

Part 2) Discuss the war between Turkey and the western powers. What types of strategies were employed by each side? Why did France and England consistently fail to succeed in Turkey? Were the results of this war decisive or indecisive, and why?

Part 3) Discuss the war between Turkey and the Arab states. What distinct advantages and weaknesses did each side posses? Which side better utilized its own strengths and took most advantage of its enemy's weaknesses? What were the results of this conflict?

Essay Topic 2

Hannibal achieved an unprecedented string of victories against Rome, beginning at the empire's furthest reaches and eventually threatening to sack the capital itself. Again and again he handed embarrassing defeats to Roman generals, and he nearly toppled the empire before it reached its height of power.

Part 1) Explain Hannibal's background and that of his homeland, Carthage.

Part 2) Describe Hannibal's overall military strategy, and the grand strategy of Carthage as a whole. Were these sets of goals aligned well, or did Hannibal experience political problems in carrying out his campaigns?

Part 3) Analyze at least one of Hannibal's battles in depth, including a discussion of the forces involved and the strategies employed by both sides.

Part 4) Discuss Hannibal's campaign in the Italian peninsula from a strategic perspective. What was his overall goal? Did he succeed in achieving decisive results? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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