LLT 180 Study Guide – WWII
Know the basics of WWII action in the Pacific Theater and
on the Eastern Front in Europe,
particularly how
the battles of Guadalcanal and of Stalingrad fit into the overall scheme.
Be able to locate the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal in
the Pacific and Stalingrad (Volgograd)
in southern Russia
on maps.
Be prepared to write on the information that Eugene Sledge
shares on his audio interview--especially
with respect to US
Marine attitudes towards Japanese.
Consider how Lt. Inui's experience on Guadalcanal compares
with Corporal Rube Garrett's, serving with
the US Marines on
that island.
Be prepared to write on the information that Professor Trobisch
shares about the
German army
and his father's
experience, especially on German’s Eastern Front.
Observe combat conditions and military values of the
German army in the German
film of WWII
“Stalingrad”.
Compare the leadership problems and decisions of Lt. Inui
on Guadalcanal and of Lt. Hans Von Witzland in the film, Stalingrad.
Topics to ponder:
- What are the values of the Japanese
army as reflected in Genjirou Inui’s diary? What behavior is given greatest
praise? What behavior is considered shameful?
- Mr. Inui’s introduction says that his
diary is full of ‘disadvantage, disgrace, and shortcomings.” What aspects
of his performance as an artillery officer is he referring to? Do you agree
with his assessment?
-
What
did war on Guadalcanal look and sound like?
- What were the worst hardships for the
Japanese on Guadalcanal?
- How good was leadership in the Japanese
army? What sort of leadership did Lt. Inui’s superiors provide for him?
- What issues were uppermost in Lt.
Inui’s mind during his service, judging from his diary?
- What effect did the climate and terrain
of Guadalcanal have on the Japanese?
- What effect did the climate of Russia
have on German troops in WWII?
- What did German soldiers value? What
behavior is given praise? What behavior is considered shameful? Are there
common values between the enlisted men and their officers?
- Are the German and Japanese conceptions
of excellence, ‘heroics’, different from those portrayed by Homer or Crane?
- Do you share any values with Japanese
or German soldiers (as described by Inui and portrayed by the film
‘Stalingrad’)? Do you have quite different values?
- Do you find anyone, either in the
German film or in Mr. Inui’s diary, to be heroic in your own terms?