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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 is a "wedge attack" intended to achieve?

2. Hitler missed an excellent opportunity to wipe out the English army in what region?

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

4. Lawrence frequently utilized which strategy?

5. In general, the Germans avoided what strategic mistake?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Constable du Guesclin played an indispensable role in the liberation of France that occurred during the Hundred Years War. He perfected the indirect approach and introduced a new method of warfare that confounded his enemies and turned the tide of a war that was to all appearances over.

Part 1) Explain the progress of the war between France and England before du Gueslcin's time.

Part 2) What strategies did du Geusclin employ? How did he overcome English numerical and technological superiority? Why were the English unable to engage and defeat du Guesclin?

Part 3) Compare du Guesclin's strategies to those of modern guerrilla warfare. How are these strategies similar or different? What important advantages did this type of strategy provide for du Guesclin?

Essay Topic 2

The author suggests that the indirect approach is applicable to many fields outside of military strategy. There are obvious similarities between military endeavors, in which the goal is to acquire some lasting benefit for oneself, often in the face of resistance from an outside force, and many other human activities.

Part 1) Explain the indirect approach independent of military strategy. Describe its various components and attributes without reference to military terms or ideas.

Part 2) Discuss how these ideas can be applied to another specific human endeavor. Draw analogies between the military concepts discussed in the book and the concepts that pertain to the endeavor you have chosen to discuss.

Part 3) Use examples to explain how grand strategy relates to this endeavor, and how decisive and indecisive results can be identified.

Part 4) Explain step by step one example of how the indirect approach can be applied to this endeavor in order to bring about decisive results.

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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