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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 unit was Guderian given command over for the march on Austria?

2. When was the Sudetenland incorporated into Germany?

3. How many Panzer divisions were formed by 1935?

4. What was unusual about the mobile division organized by Guderian under General Lutz's command?

5. What resource in Czechoslovakia proved to be somewhat useful for Germany?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Hitler gain diplomatic approval for the occupation of the Sudetenland?

2. How did Guderian's military career change in 1921?

3. Describe the Schlieffen Plan for the invasion of France.

4. Describe the plan advocated by Field Marshall Manstein for the invasion of France.

5. What was the reaction in the Sudetenland when German motorized troops arrived?

6. What did the Russian army do in Poland during Germany's invasion?

7. What factors made tank production and maintenance more difficult in 1942?

8. When and by whom were tanks first introduced?

9. Why was Guderian not satisfied after the armistice with France?

10. Why did von Kluge threaten to court-martial Guderian and Hoth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The unification, or Anschluss with Austria, was one of Hitler's first major moves on the world diplomatic stage. The annexation set the tone for Hitler's aggressive political and military campaigns intended to unite all German-speaking people and create a new German empire.

1) Explain the relationship between Austria and Germany and discuss why Austria was willing to participate in the unification.

2) Discuss the course of the actual march on Austria, including Guderian involvement in it. Describe how the Germans were met in Austria and how the Germans reacted to this.

3) Summarize the advantages Germany gained as a result of the Anschluss, both material and diplomatic.

Essay Topic 2

As the war turned against Germany, Hitler began to make increasingly serious defensive blunders, often refusing to allow troops to withdraw to defensible positions or to retreat when overwhelmed by enemy forces. These decisions cost many Germans their lives and turned the course of the war irrevocably against Germany.

1) Identify and explain the events that caused Germany to go on the defensive.

2) Describe, based on the German army's doctrine and mentality, how ready the German forces were to fight a defensive war.

3) Use examples from the book to explain some situations were German military leaders recommended prudent defensive strategies, such as tactical withdrawals.

4) Explain or speculate as to why Hitler refused these recommendations, and explain the consequences of these decisions.

Essay Topic 3

The inner circle of Nazi leaders, both political and military, affected the course of the war significantly. A small number of individuals, their capabilities and beliefs, determined in large part the fate of the German people.

1) Describe Goering's position in the Third Reich, his personality, and his connection with Hitler. Explain at least one major way in which he affected the course of the war.

2) Explain Himmler's background and dual political and military position. Explain his use of the SS and his command over Army Group Vistulla, as well as the results of both of these commands.

3) Describe Goebbels as a person and explain his importance in the German political infrastructure. Discuss his influence on the war and personal connections with Hitler.

(see the answer keys)

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