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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. Guderian showed Hitler proof that Army Group Vistula's attack received which of the following?

2. In October of 1944, Guderian managed to stop the Russian advance in what region?

3. How did most of the younger officers in the German General Staff react to the Nazi's rise to power?

4. What factor demoralized Rommel on the Western front?

5. Guderian described Hitler as being prone to panic in what situations?

Short Essay Questions

1. What special authority did Guderian seek from general Schmundt?

2. Why was Guderian relieved from his command after the failed attack on the fortress?

3. What factors caused the German General Staff to adopt strategies for motorized and tank warfare?

4. What rumor did Guderian hear about Field Marshal von Kluge on July 18th?

5. What personal danger did Guderian face in Chapter 12?

6. What problems did the German General Staff face in the inter-war period?

7. What major attack did Hitler order for Army Group Vistula during the events of Chapter 12?

8. Describe the political structure of Germany during the war, according to Guderian.

9. What defensive mistakes did Hitler constantly make during the allied advances in Europe?

10. How did Guderian quickly create an effective staff for his new command as Inspector-General of the Armored Troops?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The allied landing at Normandy was the largest amphibious invasion in history. The allies took great care to conceal the final location of their attack and to prepare the French coastline for their invasion. For their part, the Germans made many mistakes in assessing the allied invasion and suffered serious setbacks when the allies achieved air superiority.

1) Describe the German plan for the defense of occupied France. Who was in charge of this defense? Was this general well-suited for his task? What special preparations did he make?

2) Explain how allied air superiority affected the German plans for defense of the coastline.

3) Discuss the German response to the invasion. What mistakes were made in this response? Why did Rommel believe the real attack would come elsewhere? Why were German armored units unable to respond and attack the allied beachhead?

Essay Topic 2

The German high command considered the invasion of France carefully, discussing several possible plans of attack. The final plan proved to be phenomenally effective and resulted in the quick routing of French and allied forces and the eventual annexation of most of France.

1) Discuss the major plans considered by the German high command for the invasion of France.

2) Explain Guderian's suggestions for the planning of this invasion, and discuss why these suggestions were unorthodox but effective.

3) Summarize the course of the German invasion of France, including a discussion of Guderian's personal involvement.

Essay Topic 3

Guderian's publication, "Tank Attack by Movement" was intended for military theorists and described the ways he believed armor should be used in warfare. His ideas were developed in an atmosphere that increasingly stressed the importance of armor, but Guderian codified the principles of armored tactics for the first time, and identified the major advantages of the tank as a war-fighting machine.

1) Explain what "Tank Attack by Movement" was, why Guderian wrote it, and who his intended audience was.

2) Discuss how Guderian believed tanks should be employed in warfare.

3) Summarize what Guderian believed to be the major advantages of tanks over other available forces.

4) Describe some of the differences between Guderian's approach to armored warfare and the classic approach used in WWI and endorsed by other military leaders of the time.

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