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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. Which war did Clausewitz's writings have a major impact on?

2. About how many Russian soldiers died on the eastern front during the First World War?

3. What should be the main purpose of any attack?

4. Which of the following nations was NOT a major player in the war on the eastern front?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe some common tactical movements of the armies of World War II.

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

3. According to the author, what were some motivating factors behind writing this book?

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

5. What is the principle of flexibility?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The western front during the first World War was bloody and generally indecisive. The eventual German retreat was not precipitated by military setbacks, but by mere strategic considerations of position. There is every indication that the war could have continued in its indecisive state for many more years.

Part 1) What nations participated in the war on this front? What were the strategies on both sides? How was the war expected to be fought and won?

Part 2) What difficulties became apparent once the war had begun? How did terrain and technology affect the maneuvers and strategies that could be employed by both sides? In actual practice, what types of strategies were employed during the war?

Part 3) Were the results of the war in this theater decisive or indecisive? What factors contributed to this outcome? How did grand strategy affect the results of the war? Why was Germany eventually forced to retreat and eventually to surrender?

Essay Topic 2

Julius Caesar was a visionary and a brilliant general. In a few short years, he transformed Rome from a republic into an empire, a move that shook the ancient world and forever changed Rome's destiny.

Part 1) Who was Julius Caesar, what was the political and military atmosphere of Rome when he grew up and when he educated, and how did he begin his career?

Part 2) Outline Caesar's style of generalship, emphasizing his use of the indirect method using examples from the book.

Part 3) Explain how Caesar maneuvered himself to become dictator for life of Rome, and how he altered the empire. How was his approach to politics similar or different from his approach to warfare?

Part 4) Explain the reasons for Caesar's assassination, and briefly discuss his legacy to Rome in particular and to military strategy as a whole.

Essay Topic 3

Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the most influential and successful military leaders in history. He turned France into a continent-spanning Empire and defeated nearly every opponent who stood before him.

Part 1) Explain the historical and political circumstances that allowed Napoleon to rise to power in France.

Part 2) Describe Napoleon's strategies. What types of methods did he employ? What were his typical tactical and strategic maneuvers? Overall, did he employ direct or indirect approaches?

Part 3) Explain Napoleon's eventual defeat. What factors of grand strategy contributed to this outcome? How could the course of Napoleon's wars have gone differently in order to forestall or prevent this turn of events?

(see the answer keys)

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