Haig was a significant character for various reasons during World War One‚ most of which were negative. In his earlier days‚ Haig was significant because it was ultimately his leadership that resulted in a number of disasterous losses for the British Army‚ for example the Battle of the Somme (1916) which is still seen as one of the British Army’s biggest failures to this day. His intial failures stem from his backward leadership and poor connection with the British troops. Having said this‚ in the
Premium British Army Battle Western Front
Does General Haig deserve to be remembered as the Butcher of the Somme? In 1st July 1916‚ the river the Somme in France is used as the fighting tool place and war has begun near the river so the war is named. During the period‚ General Douglas Haig is the Commander-in-Chief for the British Army so he took full control of the attack. The General wanted to make a breakthough to get through the German trenches and defeat the army once and for all. What he planned to do is to firstly smash the German’s
Premium Trench warfare British Army Western Front
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig: World War I’s Worst General Even so‚ a staff colonel had the cheek to write: "The events of July 1st bore out the conclusions of the British higher command and amply justified the tactical methods employed." Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig‚ chief of staff of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and architect of the battle‚ evidently agreed. On the day after the debacle‚ stating that the enemy "has undoubtedly been shaken and has few reserves in hand‚" he discussed
Premium Western Front World War I Battle of the Somme
Why was the first day of the Battle of the Somme on the 1st of July such a disaster? On 1st July 1916‚ the first phase of the allied offensive‚ took place on the Northern side of the Western front and was known as the Battle of the Somme. The main reason for the battle was to take pressure off the French army‚ which had been under heavy attack at Verdun since February‚ and was close to cracking. It was hoped that a major British offensive on the Somme would force the Germans to withdraw troops
Premium British Army Trench warfare Battle of the Somme
What kind of leader was Haig? Interpretation – A view from somebody’s point of view that may not be necessary be true. The battle of the Somme occurred on the 1th of July 1916‚ with the English and French army fighting against the German. English’s army’s leader‚ Haig‚ was considered to be a donkey‚ meaning to be a bad general. The historian John Laffin claims that Haig was an awful leader; he says that “Haig really thought he was doing what the people wanted him to do” which makes us think that
Free Trench warfare World War I Barbed wire
Haig was the Butcher of the Somme Explain how far you agree with this view Field Marshal Haig is known as the butcher of the Somme. But was he really to blame and responsible for the death of many soldiers he was in charge of during World War 1? He is remembered mainly for the death of thousands of men during the Battle of the Somme. On the first day alone 60‚000 British soldiers lost their lives. The reason that so many soldiers died was because Haig ordered his men to walk across no man’s
Premium World War II Battle of the Somme Death
Interpretations of Haig (The battle of the Sommes was a notorious event that occurred in the time frame of World War I‚ between France and England on one side‚ while on the other side‚ Germany. The objective of this battle for the English side is too re-conquer/ seize the French town of Verdun‚ a stronghold of France against Germany. Also‚ the English soldiers were ordered to annihilate as much German soldiers as possible‚ in order to eventually gain the vantage point of the battle. The English soldiers
Premium World War II World War I Korean War
On the 18th November 1916‚ the Battle of the Somme ended when German troops retired from the final large British attack at the Battle of the Ancre amid worsening weather. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig called a halt to the operation‚ claiming the Somme offensive to have been successful. Haig used 750‚000 men against the German front-line. However‚ the bombardment failed to destroy either the barbed-wire or the concrete bunkers protecting the German soldiers. This meant that the Germans could exploit
Premium World War I Battle of the Somme Western Front
The Battle of the Somme When and where did the battle occur? The Battle of the Somme lasted for over 4 months‚ between 1 July and 16 November 1916. It was fought on both sides of the Somme river in Northern country France near the current border of France and Germany. It was fought at a part of the Western front at the time. Why was the battle fought? In 1916‚ the Allied forces of Russia‚ Italy‚ France and Great Britain had a joint strategy of attack against Germany and its allies. The Russians
Premium World War II World War I United Kingdom
Douglas Haig has been blamed for the slaughter of thousands of men who were under his control in World War One. The Battle of the Somme was one of his worst fights were 60‚000 British soldiers died in the first day alone. After the Battle of the Somme‚ Haig got the nickname "Butcher of the Somme“. He was given this nickname because some people felt that Haig had not cared how much ground was gained for the heavy loss of British life. 420‚000 British casualties 200‚000 French casualties 500‚000
Free World War I Trench warfare World War II