Download Syllabus - Purdue University

A History of the Military Art in the 20th Century (Studying “Modern War”)
HIST 20100; CRN 13747
Nicholas Michael Sambaluk, PhD
10:30-11:20am MWF, University Hall 217
Introduction: The 20th century was singularly shaped by warfare, technology, and geopolitical
upheaval. Ideological movements rose and fell, sometimes with brutal violence, as societies and
individuals strove to survive and shape the world in which they lived. The decline and
destruction of the European imperial empires, the savage pursuit of fascism, the cataclysmic rise
and failure of Marxism, and the simultaneously global and local struggle to control
decolonization and the spaces opened by receding ideologies all contributed to the tumultuous
significance of history’s bloodiest century.
Warfare spurs innovation and is in direct contact with innovations in technology and in thought.
Relationships between individuals and institutions were contested and redefined through changes
in warfare, and this course considers some of those changes and how and why they happened.
This involves study of the political, strategic, operational, and tactical levels of war, as well as
devoted attention to technological developments in combat, mobilization, and preparedness.
OBJECTIVE: By engaging with an immensely nuanced and relevant topic, “A History of the Military
Art in the 20th Century” aims to develop critical and creative thought, enabling historical analysis and
constructive discussion and communication among students and as a class. Key skills include
understanding the confluence of different forces in history (technological, social, political, economic) on
warfare and innovation, communication of clear and historically informed concepts, and a demonstrating
a willingness to pursue progressive and continued intellectual development.
COURSE ORGANIZATION: This course is developed for Purdue undergraduate populations and
draws inspiration from the History of the Military Art II course that for decades has marked the capstone
educational experience for cadets at the United States Military Academy. Analysis of major events and
trends will be engaged in essentially a chronological order. Whereas the USMA course aims to prepare
officers for commissioned careers in the United States Army, this course is designed to equip students
with a knowledge of the role of military events in modern history, to provide context and facilitate
wisdom, in keeping with the purposes of historical study. A crucial trait of dynamic environments (and
a frequent characteristic of innovations) is that multiple changes are in progress simultaneously,
changing the impact and context of other changes by presenting unanticipated challenges and
opportunities. Attention to this fact will be paid during the semester.
GRADING: Grades are determined on the basis of four factors: two midterm exams; participation in
class discussions; and a final exam. Each of these components constitutes 250 possible units of the 1000
available for the semester (25% of your overall course grade).
MIDTERM EXAM: The midterm exams will each consist of a pair of essays, drawn from the questions
in the syllabus annex.
PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS: A major element in any learning environment is an
open space in which to discuss ideas, interpretations, and perspectives, based on evidence and analysis.
Your active participation in discussions is a central component of your learning, and it helps your
colleagues succeed as well. Consequently, the active participation of others, asking earnest questions
and adding constructive comments and insights, is an important element in your learning as well as in
SUBJECT: Course Syllabus for HI201, “A History of the Military Art in the 20th Century”
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their own. Active learning is a necessary component for successful learning, and it is a graded
component of this course.
FINAL EXAM: The final exam is a pair of essays, one engaging in particular with the last portion of
the semester material and the other encompassing the major course theme.
GRADE SCALE: There are 1000 points available for the course, which translate into a 100-percent
grade scale. For example, 876 points for the course equates to 87.6%. The scale is indicated below:
Letter Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
% Grade
97 - 100%
93 - 96.9%
90 - 92.9%
87 - 89.9%
83 - 86.9%
80 - 82.9%
77 - 79.9%
73 - 76.9%
70 - 72.9%
67 - 69.9%
Below 67%
Level of Achievement
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Marginal
Unsatisfactory
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: People learn through doing their own work. Academic misconduct in
any form cheats all concerned, and it will not be tolerated. Minimum penalty for plagiarized work is a
“0” for the assignment – I may consider recommending a “0” for the assignment only this is if someone,
beset by conscience, comes forward before I discover the instance. Whenever I discover plagiarism or
other misconduct, the penalty will be severe: assignments take time to grade and they are worth doing.
LATE WORK: Late papers cannot be accepted and will not be graded.
CLASS RECORDING: Unapproved students’ electronic voice or image recordings of class lectures or
discussions are expressly prohibited and result in forfeiture of the participation grade for the semester as
a whole.
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS: Reasonable ADA accommodations will be arranged as necessary and
practicable. All reasonable accommodations will be made, if needed, in accordance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have a need in this area, please get in touch with me immediately,
so that it can be possible to address any situation regarding reasonable accommodations.
REQUIRED TEXTS: Required textbooks are:
“Dr Nick Sambaluk: History of the Military Art,” ed. Ty Siedule, Cliff Rogers, et al, The West Point
History of Warfare. (for iPad, Android). This can be either rented for a six-month period or
purchased outright. Order is available at http://www.westpointhistoryofwarfare.com/#spotlight
Entangled Geographies: Empire and Technopolitics in the Global Cold War. ed. Gabrielle Hecht.
2011. ISBN: 9780262515788
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES: The calendar for the semester appears below.
1. Orientation and the Russo-Japanese War (Aug 24)
a. WPHW reader, ch1
SUBJECT: Course Syllabus for HI201, “A History of the Military Art in the 20th Century”
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2. The Path to WWI (Aug 26)
a. WPHW reader, ch2
3. Strategies for the Great War (Aug 28)
a. WPHW reader, ch3
4. Stalemate and Response (Aug 31)
a. WPHW reader, ch4
5. Strategic Options and Grand Strategy (Sept 2)
a. WPHW reader, ch5
6. Industrial war (Sept 4)
a. WPHW reader, ch6
7. Holiday (Sept 7)
8. 1917 (Sept 9)
a. WPHW reader, ch7
9. German Spring offensives (Sept 11)
a. WPHW reader, ch8
10. Ending the War (Sept 14)
a. WPHW reader, ch9
11. Versailles and Security Considerations (Sept 16)
a. WPHW reader, ch10
12. /////MIDTERM EXAM ON FOLLOWING CLASS DAY///// (Sept 18)
13. Drop Day/Army Cyber Commitments (Sept 21)
14. Drop Day/Army Cyber Commitments (Sept 23)
15. Security in the Interwar Era (Sept 25)
a. WPHW reader, ch11
16. Blitzkrieg Campaigns: 1939 and 1940 (Sept 28)
a. WPHW reader, ch12
17. Battle of Britain (Sept 30)
a. WPHW reader, ch13
18. Barbarossa: Nazi political goals and operational implications (Oct 2)
a. WPHW reader, ch14
19. Japanese Expansion (Oct 5)
a. WPHW reader, ch15
20. 1942 (Oct 7)
a. WPHW reader, ch16
21. Economies at War (Oct 9)
a. WPHW reader, ch17
22. Holiday (Oct 12)
23. Seapower (Oct 14)
a. WPHW reader, ch18
24. Air War (Oct 16)
a. Phillip S. Meilinger, “A History of Effects-Based Air Operations,” The Journal of
Military History 71.1 (Jan 2007), pp139-67, on JSTOR
25. Waging Global War (Oct 19)
a. WPHW reader, ch19
26. Kursk (Oct 21)
SUBJECT: Course Syllabus for HI201, “A History of the Military Art in the 20th Century”
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a. David M. Glantz, “Soviet Military Strategy During the Period of War (November
1942-December 1943): A Reappraisal,” The Journal of Military History, 60.1 (Jan
1996), pp115-50, on JSTOR
27. D-Day (Oct 23)
a. WPHW reader, ch20
28. Sealing the Victory in Europe (Oct 26)
a. Entangled Geographies, ch2
29. Defeating Japan (Oct 28)
a. WPHW reader, ch21
30. Ending WWII (Oct 30)
a. WPHW reader, ch22
31. /////MIDTERM EXAM ON FOLLOWING CLASS DAY///// (Nov 2)
32. Cold War (Nov 4)
a. WPHW reader, ch23
33. The Korean War, 1950 (Nov 6)
a. WPHW reader, ch24
34. Korean War, 1951-53 (Nov 9)
a. WPHW reader, ch25
35. Nuclear Weapons (Nov 11)
a. Entangled Geographies, ch4
36. Decolonization (Nov 13)
a. WPHW reader, ch26
37. Europe confronts the New Security Environment (Nov 16)
a. Entangled Geographies, ch5
38. Vietnam 1954-63 (Nov 18)
a. WPHW reader, ch28
39. Vietnam 1964-68 (Nov 20)
a. WPHW reader, ch29
40. Vietnam 1968-71 (Nov 23)
a. WPHW reader, ch30
41. Holiday (Nov 25)
42. Holiday (Nov 27)
43. Vietnam 1972-75 (Nov 30)
a. WPHW reader, ch31
44. Israeli Wars of 1967 and 1973 (Dec 2)
a. WPHW reader, ch27
45. From Active Defense to AirLand Battle (Dec 4)
a. Entangled Geographies, ch6
46. Mideast Wars 1979-90 (Dec 7)
a. Entangled Geographies, ch9
47. End of the Cold War (Dec 9)
a. WPHW reader, ch32
48. From the 1990s and into the Long War (Dec 11)
a. WPHW reader, ch33
49. /////FINAL EXAM ON FINALS WEEK/////
SUBJECT: Course Syllabus for HI201, “A History of the Military Art in the 20th Century”
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COUNSELING AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT: The best way to contact me
is either by email ([email protected]) or to drop by during my office hours (M 1:00-3:00pm or by
appointment). All reasonable accommodations will be made, if needed, in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Standard rules for Purdue University are applicable regarding
Purdue students taking this course. If you have a need in this area, please get in touch with me
immediately, so that it can be possible to address any situation regarding reasonable accommodations.
NICHOLAS MICHAEL SAMBALUK, PhD
Assistant Professor of Practice in Military Science and Technology
Purdue University
SUBJECT: Course Syllabus for HI201, “A History of the Military Art in the 20th Century”
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ANNEX 1: QUESTIONS FOR THE SEMESTER
1. Describe and explain the development of the trench warfare dynamic on the Western Front during WWI.
2. Describe and explain efforts undertaken by both sides, at the tactical and operational level and through
technology, to replace the stalemate on the Western Front with victory. Indicate the outcome of these
efforts and indicate why.
3. Describe and explain the relationship between fighting on the Western Front and in other theaters of the
conflict.
4. Describe and explain the role of industrial mobilization on the battlefield, and the role of combat on the
homefront.
5. Describe and explain the last iteration (1918) of German efforts to bring victory on the Western Front.
6. Describe and explain the last iteration (1918) of Allied efforts to bring victory on the Western Front.
7. Describe and explain coalition dynamics on the side opposing Germany.
8. Describe and explain coalition dynamics on Germany’s side.
9. Describe and explain how ideas about “modern war” impacted the fighting during the First World War, and
how the war impacted ideas about what “modern warfare” would be like in the future?
10. Describe and explain bewegungskrieg, as it was undertaken from 1939-40.
11. Describe and explain the relationship between technologies that are developed and the tactical and
operational approaches that an army (or air force or navy) to combat.
12. Describe and explain how practices in mobilization impact the waging of a war.
13. Describe and explain submarine warfare and antisubmarine warfare in the Atlantic Ocean.
14. Describe and explain the course and impact of the Combined Bomber Offensive.
15. Did bewegungskrieg revolutionize warfare? Describe and explain your answer.
16. Describe and explain the role of ideology on German and Japanese strategy during WWII.
17. Describe and explain Allied strategy and the ability of the Allied coalition to fight against the Axis.
18. Describe and explain the impact of airpower during WWII, across all theaters and participants.
19. Describe and explain the course and outcome of the war in the Pacific theater from December 1941 through
August 1945.
20. Describe and explain why the Allies won WWII.
21. Describe and explain the emergence of the Cold War.
22. Describe and explain the idea of containment policy and the process of its adoption and maintenance by the
United States.
23. Describe and explain the role of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons in the Cold War.
24. Describe and explain the changing security needs and opportunities, from the perspective of Western
European countries from 1945 to the present.
25. Describe and explain the process of decolonization during the Cold War, and its relationship with the
bilateral US-USSR competition between 1945 and 1989.
26. Describe and explain the outcome of the Vietnam War.
27. Describe and explain, using the Cold War for evidence, the relationship between technologies that are
developed and tactical and operational concepts and doctrines that are established.
28. Describe and explain the ending of the Cold War. How do you link and hierarchize the different
explanations for Soviet collapse, and why?
29. Describe and explain the impact of the Cold War on the global security environment, from 1979 to the
current day.
30. Describe and explain the impact of the 20th century’s conflicts and events on “modern warfare.”