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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. According to the author, what type of government is least capable of creating ideal generals?

2. Overall, what was the state of Hitler's grand strategy?

3. Which of the following is true regarding Hitler's preparations and planning?

4. How successful were the Turks in repelling allied attacks in their region?

5. Which important development did Clausewitz overlook in his books?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What challenge did Germany face in fighting in Russian territory?

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. What were the strengths and vulnerabilities of the Turks and the Arabs during the First World War?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Belisarius achieved victories where no one thought they were possible, and succeeded in reconquering huge swaths of territory for the divided Roman empire. His conquests were so great that some even called him emperor. His style was decidedly different from that of other generals discussed throughout the book, and other generals of the time.

Part 1) Summarize the military accomplishments of Belisarius, in chronological order.

Part 2) Explain how Belisarius's strategies differed from those of most other military commanders.

Part 3) Discuss Belisarius's influence on military thinking of his time, and in the centuries afterward.

(see the answer keys)

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