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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. Clausewitz himself admitted that his books had what flaw?

2. What bias are generals likely to carry during war councils?

3. "Limited aim" strategy generally precludes what type of outcome?

4. Within the subject of grand strategy, what is one of the benefits of closed mindedness among the populace?

5. Forces are usually drawn into the "horns of a dilemma" in what way?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Lines of expectation play a major role throughout the book, helping to explain why various campaigns and offensives were or were not successful. These sometimes obscure or ambiguous concepts can provide a major advantage to the general who is able to best identify and utilize them.

Part 1) What is a line of expectation? How are these lines formed, maintained and identified?

Part 2) What is the importance of lines of expectation in strategy? How should a major natural line of expectation be treated? Can it be engaged directly? Can it ever be safely ignored?

Part 3) Using examples from the book, provide and explain one example each of a general correctly and incorrectly using natural lines of expectation. Explain the results in each case.

(see the answer keys)

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