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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 was one way that Hitler gained political ascendancy in Germany?

2. What is meant by "strength faces strength"?

3. In what way was Turkey exceptionally vulnerable?

4. In the First World War, what was Italy's diplomatic status?

5. Which of the following was a significant factor in the psychology of generals during World War II?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Ludendorff mostly unable to enact indirect strategies throughout the war?

2. Describe the strategies used by the Turks during the First World War.

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

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

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

6. How did Hitler gain the loyalty and trust of his subordinates?

7. What is the typical result of careless concentration of forces?

8. What are the important strategic differences between large and small armies.

9. What were the results and casualty rates on the Southeastern and Mediterranean fronts during the First World War?

10. How successful was Germany's expansion during the early parts of World War II? Why was this expansion eventually halted and reversed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author's assessment of the first World War was that overall, there was a huge and unnecessary loss of life that resulted in no real decisive victories and lasting benefits for any nation. The author suggests that this monumental waste of life could have been avoided.

Part 1) Describe the overall losses during the first World War, as well as the results, decisive or indecisive.

Part 2) What factors led to the employment of largely direct methods? What individuals, technologies and other circumstances led to the employment of these strategies?

Part 3) How could the war have been managed differently if indirect methods had been employed instead? Use examples from the book to describe in detail ways that existing technology, military forces and doctrines could have been employed to achieve better results with less loss of life.

Essay Topic 2

Belisarius achieved victories where no one thought they were possible, and succeeded in reconquering huge swaths of territory for the divided Roman empire. His conquests were so great that some even called him emperor. His style was decidedly different from that of other generals discussed throughout the book, and other generals of the time.

Part 1) Summarize the military accomplishments of Belisarius, in chronological order.

Part 2) Explain how Belisarius's strategies differed from those of most other military commanders.

Part 3) Discuss Belisarius's influence on military thinking of his time, and in the centuries afterward.

Essay Topic 3

The wars between Greece and Persia are excellent examples of the early employment of strategy in warfare. In these wars, both sides demonstrated their ability to achieve their goals both through military might and the use of advanced strategy.

Part 1) Describe the history of the first war between Greece and Persia. What innovations in strategy were seen in this war? What was the final result, and was it decisive or indecisive?

Part 2) Describe the history of the second war between these nations. What was different about the Persian strategy? Was it more or less direct in this war? How did natural lines of expectation play a role during this war?

Part 3) What was the result of the second war between Greece and Persia? How were the Greeks able to mitigate the massive Persian numerical advantage? How did the Greeks take advantage of the obvious Persian lines of expectation? Was the overall approach in this war direct or indirect? Were the result decisive or indecisive, and why?

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