Military Research Paper Topic Help

I'm doing a research paper and I need some topic ideas. I want to do it on something dealing with WWII or the Korean War (anything) or tech and tactics only if after the Korean War. It can't be too obscure and has to be at least slightly controversial, I have to be able to find ten sources (as legit as possible) and be able to get 1500 words out of this topic.

Any help would be appreciated, Thanks.

Start with military technology/weaponry. The Weaponry Forum has a ton of great threads with reliable sources.

reply to post by walsbg22

Hello, how's this for a starting point?
www.u-s-history.com...

Good luck soldier.

I'll post two things (or more) that I thought of.
1. Using nukes saved a lot more lives than were lost by ending the war earlier or the alternative is that nukes cost a lot more civilian lives than were necessary.
2. The US knew that Japan was likely going to attack and start a war with the US.
3. Possible battle tactics in certain battles??
I don't know too much about these topics or how many sources may be available. I thought the topics appear controversial.

Another possibility is spelling out the details of how the Axis could have won the war. I believe there were certain battle strategies that Germany and Japan failed to implement that could have won the war for them. One of those may be using advanced fighter jets and sharing the tech among themselves. I don't remember clearly but I also believe Germany failed to launch a land attack on Great Britain for a certain reason that was not military. I mean invade Great Britain with land forces. If Germany had jet planes given to them by Japan earlier in the war, that could have aided them enough to help them win the war. If Germany had developed nukes instead of having defectors escape the country and if the US had stayed busy fighting Japan because Japan invaded the US west coast, things may have been different.


[edit on 22-4-2010 by orionthehunter]

Originally posted by walsbg22
I'm doing a research paper and I need some topic ideas. I want to do it on something dealing with WWII or the Korean War (anything) or tech and tactics only if after the Korean War. It can't be too obscure and has to be at least slightly controversial, I have to be able to find ten sources (as legit as possible) and be able to get 1500 words out of this topic.

Any help would be appreciated, Thanks.

=====================================

Here's a question I have always pondered. Why is it that in almost every instance, even in non military situations, such as building security, etc. the rear area or rear guard is usually the least guarded, and not made as strong as the front, and therefore the most vunerable to penetration or attack? You would think after a few examples of that in history, we would learn better. Plenty of examples of that on the net from previous and current wars. Good luck with your paper!

[edit on 22-4-2010 by manta78]

[edit on 22-4-2010 by manta78]

Hello,
If that previous link ain't what you're looking for, try this one...

www.u-s-history.com...

Remember how later Mcnamara admitted that the gulf of tonkin was staged?

If you'd like to raise some eyebrows, you could do a thesis on how the Federal reserve system actually provoked Hitler's Nazi Germany to start WW2 through war reparations. Of course its hard to prove but the connections are there.

Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn't give a hoot and hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor ever lose a war. -George S Patton

I assume you are not looking to change the world, merely learn something and get a decent grade.

If this is an argumentative paper, thus requiring the main claim to be contestable I would suggest something along the lines of "reglardless of the excessive casualties, *insert controversial/pivotal battle here* was a necessary and decisive step in the overall campaign...blah blah balh"

luckily for you it is only 1500 words, no one can expect you to argue much of anything highly contestable in that short a length.

someone pointed out the A-bomb, I would take the non-usage stance, so that is highly contestable, though equally complex.

PTSD would also be something to examine. Maybe argue that WWII vets suffered from PTSD and its effects, but due to a lack of knowledge...etc etc.

just pick a few you like. start making bullet points of any evidence/sub-claims you would make to support your main claim/topic.

Equally important is to look for one or two solid counter-arguments from reliable/academic sources, as they will test your logic and if you prevail in still convincing the reader of your point, then your paper is solid.

I can relate to the stress of narrowing down a good topic, but it is by far the most critical step of the entire process. I'm currently banging out a 25+ page research paper arguing that the internet is the most effective tool of political engagement that exists in the United States...think that sucker is somewhere around 15,000 words already.

good luck!


[edit on 22-4-2010 by Shark VA84]

How about considering this next topic, but high ranking officials will have already covered it in last 5 years so will be old news to them, but still theyll wanna know who gave you this idea. Military Research Paper on the ancient prophecies that predict an end to a future evil world coalition!!!