HI 379 European Warfare: Col. Jensen

Greetings Cadets!

Second Paper Instructions

I. Historiographical Essay (sometimes called a “literature review”).

This is a survey and analysis of the some of the major historical writings about your subject. (Here “historiography” = published books and articles about the history of a topic.)

In other words, you will analyze and compare what historians have written about your subject, making sure to

• evaluate their methods, sources, the strengths of their portrayals and arguments, and the differences and similarities between them; and
• make your own argument about which historians’ accounts and arguments you find most convincing and why.

You may also wish to discuss:

• trends in the writings about the subject,
• major historiographical schools of thought,
  
• agendas or biases,
• and/or how the historiography on the topic you have chosen has evolved and where you think it should go in the future.

For example, if you were to write about the causes of the Spanish Civil War, you could contrast interpretations by historians who blame the political left with those who blame the right. You would then conclude by explaining which arguments you find most convincing and why and what kind of

Other examples of possible historiographical essay topics:

1. The Causes of World War
2. The Schlieffen Plan (this one has generated an intense historiographical debate)
3. The impact of World War I (or any other war) on European culture
4. The role of women in the Spanish Civil War (or any other war)

There are of course many other possible topics.  Just make sure the topic has generated sufficient articles and/or books for you to analyze in your paper.

II. Analytical essay based on a topic question

There are many possibilities, and you are welcome to come up with your own topic.  Otherwise, you may use one of the topics below. If you do your own topic, you must email it to me first for approval. In any case, make sure you define your topic as precisely as possible in your introductory paragraph and in the title. 

Although it is not a historiography essay, you still need to read widely and demonstrate good familiarity with works by historians about your topic. 

Examples of more narrowly focused topic questions:

1. Why did the Japanese prevail in their war against Russia in 1904-1905?
2. How did British small-unit tactics evolve during World War I?  Why and to what effect.
3. Why and how did the Italians meet defeat in the Battle of Adwa?
4. Why did the German spring offensives of 1918 fail?
5. How was the battle of Passchendaele experienced by its participants, from the soldiers on the ground to the high command?  What can we learn from an in-depth analysis of this battle?  (You may replace Passchendaele with another battle from any war that fits within the realm of this course)
   1. A thesis or main argument for such a paper might focus on who or what was responsible for its outcome, whether it was unique and if so how, its importance in the war overall, what the battle tells us about the changing role of the decisive battle in modern warfare, or some other such issue.
   2. If you have trouble staying within the page limit, you may have to focus on one or just a few levels of war, command, soldiering, or another aspect of the battle.
6. What explains the outcome of the “Busilov Offensive,” and what was its meaning for World War I?                                                                                                                   

Examples of questions for broader topics:

1. What role has the decisive battle played in European military thought from the Wars of German Unification through the present?
2. How did the origins, development, and culmination of “Blitzkrieg theory” affect modern warfare?  Be sure to make clear how you are defining the term for the purposes of your paper.
3. Analyze at least two conflicts from the period of this class at the operational level of war, with reference to what the Soviets called “operational art.”  Your essay should include some discussion of the origins and development of operational-level thought in general.
4. How did World War I (or any other war you wish to write about) influence politics, culture, and/or society in general in one or more countries.  You may choose to focus on specific issues such as gender roles, ideas about race, or related topics
5. The operational level has been called the crux of the American Way of War.  Does that assessment also apply to European warfare?  Support your argument using examples from European conflicts.

Requirements:

• Length:  8-13 pp
• Double-spaced in a reasonable font with reasonable margins
• DUE:MONDAY 11 DECEMBER, 2025 AT 2359

• No use of Grammarly

Regardless of what type of paper you choose to write,

• You are welcome to use material from the assigned readings, although you will also need to consult other sources as well.
• You must cite all your sources according to Chicago Manual of Style rules. 
• No more than 20% of your sources may come from the internet.
  • If you choose to use some internet sources, it is your responsibility to investigate the credibility of the web site you use as thoroughly as possible. 
• eBooks and full-text journal articles and books that come from databases available through Preston Library (e.g. JSTOR) are NOT considered “internet sources” for the purposes of this paper, so you are free to use them as much as you’d like. 
• Primary Sources
  • Some primary sources that have been put online (e.g.  government documents that have reproduced on the web in their original form) MAY be exempt from the above 20% rule as well, but it is best if you check with me first. 
  • Primary documents on the web that you find through Preston Library or on sites ending with “.edu” are usually trustworthy, but you need to be especially careful with other sites. 
• You may NOT use encyclopedias on the web for anything more than gaining general background information or finding references to other sources.