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Let $P$ be a Sylow p-subgroup. Since $[G:P]$ is invertible in $k$, every $kG$-module is relatively $P$-projective.

Suppose first that $kP$ has only finitely many indecomposable modules $U_1,\dots ,U_t$. For every indecomposable $kG$-module $M$, decompose ${\mathrm{Res}}_P^{G}M$ into the $U_i$. Relative projectivity makes $M$ a summand of the corresponding finite direct sum of the ${\mathrm{Ind}}_P^G{U}_i$. The Krull–Schmidt theorem leaves only finitely many possible indecomposable summands, so $kG$ has finite representation type.

Conversely, suppose $kG$ has finitely many indecomposables. For an indecomposable $kP$-module $U$, the identity double coset in the Mackey restriction formula shows that $U$ is a direct summand ofDecomposing the induced module into the finitely many $kG$-indecomposables and restricting them shows, again by Krull–Schmidt, that only finitely many $U$ can occur. Thus

If $P$ is cyclic, the indecomposable modules of a cyclic p-group in characteristic p form a finite list. If $P$ is noncyclic, its Frattini quotient has rank at least two and therefore has a quotient $C_p\times C_p$. Inflation preserves indecomposability and nonisomorphism, while $k(C_p\times C_p)$ has infinitely many indecomposable modules. The Higman criterion for finite representation type of a group algebra now gives

Existence of a minimal subgroup follows because $G$ has only finitely many subgroups and every module is relatively $G$-projective. Suppose an indecomposable module $M$ is relatively projective for both $H$ and $K$. Then $M$ is a summand of ${\mathrm{Ind}}_H^{G}U$ and of ${\mathrm{Ind}}_K^{G}V$ for suitable modules $U,V$. Applying the Mackey restriction formula and the Krull–Schmidt theorem shows that $M$ is relatively projective for some subgroupIf $H$ and $K$ are minimal, this forces $H\subseteq {}^{g}K$. Reversing their roles gives the reverse containment after conjugacy; since the groups are finite, $H$ and $K$ are conjugate. Thus vertices form a unique conjugacy class.

Let $Q$ be a vertex and let $P$ be a Sylow p-subgroup of $Q$. Since $[Q:P]$ is invertible in $k$, every $kQ$-module is relatively $P$-projective. Transitivity of relative projectivity makes $M$ relatively $P$-projective, so minimality forces $Q=P$. Hence every vertex is a p-group.

For the trivial module $k$, every $kH$-endomorphism is scalar, and its relative trace to $G$ is multiplication by $[G:H]$. The D. Higman criterion says that $k$ is relatively $H$-projective exactly when $p\nmid [G:H]$. The minimal such subgroups are precisely the Sylow p-subgroups. Therefore the vertex of an indecomposable module gives