Question: To what extent was Hitler’s inability to follow his generals’ advice and policies the main cause for the downfall of Nazi Germany? Paragraph #1 Topic Sentence-Introduce a new idea Evidence-The facts that support your idea The declaration of war on the United States from Germany was not necessary. In Article 3 of the Axis Pact, it says, “Germany, Italy and Japan agree to co-operate in their efforts on aforesaid lines. They further undertake to assist one another with all political, economic and military means when one of the three contracting powers is attacked by a power at present not involved in the European war or in the Chinese-Japanese conflict.” (Germany, Italy, Japan). Analysis-How/Why do those facts support your topic sentence? Conclusion-How does your analysis help answer your question?\ According to the Axis Treaty, the countries in the axis were only obligated help if the country being attacked wasn’t the aggressor. In Japan’s case, Pearl Harbor was Japan’s first attack on America. The logical thing for what Hitler should have done is to avoid direct war with America. Then the axis could have a manageable war with Britain and France in Europe, and the United States in the pacific. Hitler was arrogant because he thought that he could take on the United States when he didn’t even have Britain or France under control. Germany, Italy, and Japan. “Axis Pact.” Primary Source Documents: 1940 to 1949, Facts On File, 2014. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=15398&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=366952. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020. Paragraph #2 Topic Sentence-Introduce a new idea Evidence-The facts that support your idea Hitler’s order to Halder of no retreat on the Moscow front immensely damaged the German 6th Army. “In the first line is the scale of the casualties about which the population is asking. The estimates range in figures between 60,000 and 300,000 Men.” (Jukes 245). Analysis-How/Why do those facts support your topic sentence? Conclusion-How does your analysis help answer your question? Hitler’s pride of not losing greatly influenced him to carry this order. In the battle, Halder’s divisions suffered heavy losses. Also, many resources from the battle were either destroyed or claimed by the Soviet Union. My question states that Hitler’s arrogance is the main reason that Germany lost the war. Because losing 60,000-300,000 men is a massive loss, it is safe to assume that the loss was detrimental to the military. And the reason this occurred was because of Hitler’s orders of no retreating to Halder. Paragraph #3 Topic Sentence-Introduce a new idea Evidence-The facts that support your idea Hitler boldly assumed power when a more qualified individual could have. "These tasks require that the army and home front be brought to the highest degree of performance in one common effort by all. However, the army is the main pillar in the fight of the armed forces. I have, therefore, resolved today, under these circumstances, to take over myself the leading of the army in my capacity as Supreme Commander of the German armed forces.” (Hitler) Analysis-How/Why do those facts support your topic sentence? Conclusion-How does your analysis help answer your question? If time passed, a more qualified general would’ve taken command, but instead Hitler was power hungry and took the initiative himself. Because Hitler claims he is becoming the supreme commander for the country, and not his own desires for power, is insolent. “THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE DIRECT COMMAND BY ADOLPH HITLER WITH HIS PROCLAMATION TO THE GERMAN ARMY.” The Public's Library and Digital Archive, New York Times, 22 Dec. 1941, ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1941/411221a.html. Paragraph #4 Topic Sentence-Introduce a new idea Evidence-The facts that support your idea Hitler did not listen to his Generals throughout his campaign in Europe. “Within their memoirs, both Manstein and Guderian contend that plans and operations throughout the war would have concluded in Germany’s favor (or at least more so) were it not for Hitler’s meddling in operational affairs.” Analysis-How/Why do those facts support your topic sentence? Conclusion-How does your analysis help answer your question? The piece of evidence states that Manstein and Guderian, Nazi German generals, say that Hitler got in the way. The generals came up with orders and strategies and even said that Germany was in favor of them. Hitler was stubborn enough to make his own plans even though the original plans were set to have Germany as the victor. The analysis states that Hitler did not listen to his generals. The only reason the original strategies were not followed through was because of Hitler. Long, Patrick, and AIR UNIVERSITY MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE United States AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE. “The Value of Hitler's Brilliant Generals.” DTIC, 1 Jan. 2010, apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1020147. Paragraph #5 Topic Sentence-Introduce a new idea Evidence-The facts that support your idea Hitler miscalculated the amount of time the German army would need to take the Societ Union. “Hitler appropriately set the starting date for spring on May 15, 1941. Due to Hitler's misconceptions about the Russians, he believed that it would only be a short campaign of perhaps five months.” “drove ahead to within 20 miles of Moscow, where the German army was finally stopped for the winter. The war went on with renewed successes in 1942, the defeat at Stalingrad” Analysis-How/Why do those facts support your topic sentence? Conclusion-How does your analysis help answer your question? Operation Barbarossa, the operation that planned to take down the soviet union was a failure. Because Hitler didn’t plan correctly, his army was unprepared for the winter in Russia. Accompanied with the factors that Hitler is arrogant, doesn’t listen to generals, and the “Not One Step Back” rule, Germany practically loses the whole war here. Hitler was arrogant of his strategic prowess and did not expect the delay. Even if it was delayed, Hitler still decided to risk his soldier’s lives by attacking the Soviet Union when winter was not far away. Biesinger, Joseph A. “Operation Barbarossa.” Germany, Facts On File, 2006. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=15398&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=266940. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020. Paragraph #6 Topic Sentence-Introduce a new idea Evidence-The facts that support your idea Hitler went out of his way to blitzkrieg Yugoslavia and Greece in the balkans. “Early in 1941, the Balkan front heated up further as Hitler threatened Yugoslavia, prompting the prince regent, Paul, to agree to join the Axis rather than offer resistance. This, however, triggered a coup d'état on March 21, 1941, by anti-German elements of the Yugoslav army, which established a provisional government that denounced the alliance with the Axis. Hitler concluded that the coup had been made possible by Italy's failure in Greece, and he ordered an immediate invasion of Yugoslavia as well as Greece.” Analysis-How/Why do those facts support your topic sentence? Conclusion-How does your analysis help answer your question? First of all, Yugoslavia was not a crucial country to have control over, but Hitler insisted on threatening the Prince to have Yugoslavia join the Axis powers. Then a coup started because the people there did not want to become a part of the Axis. From some strange logic, this led Hitler to blame Italy for the coup and promptly decided to invade. This small invasion was the main reason the attack on the Soviet Union was delayed. Hitler, not listening to his advisors had intent to take control of two countries, while he knew of his necessity of taking down the Soviet Union. He also falsely accused Italy for the coup because he was the one who divided Yugoslavia by threatening the Prince to join the Axis powers. Axelrod, Alan, and Charles L. Phillips. “World War II in Greece and the Balkans.” Wars in the Early 20th Century (1900 to 1950), Facts On File, 2015. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=15398&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=207761. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020. Bibliography: P1: Germany, Italy, and Japan. “Axis Pact.” Primary Source Documents: 1940 to 1949, Facts On File, 2014. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=15398&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=366952. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020. P2: Jukes, Geoffrey. Hitler's Stalingrad Decisions. University of California Press, 1985. P3: “THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE DIRECT COMMAND BY ADOLPH HITLER WITH HIS PROCLAMATION TO THE GERMAN ARMY.” The Public's Library and Digital Archive, New York Times, 22 Dec. 1941, ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1941/411221a.html. P4: Long, Patrick, and AIR UNIVERSITY MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE United States AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE. “The Value of Hitler's Brilliant Generals.” DTIC, 1 Jan. 2010, apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1020147. P5: Biesinger, Joseph A. “Operation Barbarossa.” Germany, Facts On File, 2006. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=15398&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=266940. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020. P6: Axelrod, Alan, and Charles L. Phillips. “World War II in Greece and the Balkans.” Wars in the Early 20th Century (1900 to 1950), Facts On File, 2015. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=15398&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=207761. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020.
