Starter

Why does this newspaper think there might be ‘blood on the hands’ of generals in WWI like Haig?

Blackadder

Was this Was this man really man really

the the ‘Butcher ‘Butcher

of the of the Somme’?Somme’?

The Battle of the Somme –The Battle of the Somme –fact filefact file

1 July – 18 November 19161 July – 18 November 1916 One of the most significant battles of One of the most significant battles of

the First World Warthe First World War Casualties, suffering and the human Casualties, suffering and the human

tragedy were horrific.tragedy were horrific.

The Battle of the Somme –The Battle of the Somme –fact filefact file

60,000 British casualties on first day of 60,000 British casualties on first day of battle alonebattle alone

11 Cambridgeshire Battalion sent 750 11 Cambridgeshire Battalion sent 750 ‘over the top’ and 691 became casualties ‘over the top’ and 691 became casualties of warof war

Most casualties were men in their late Most casualties were men in their late teens or early to mid twentiesteens or early to mid twenties

By end of battle a strip of land 25 km long By end of battle a strip of land 25 km long and 6km wide taken at the cost of …and 6km wide taken at the cost of …

The Battle of the Somme –The Battle of the Somme –fact filefact file

420,000 420,000 British British

casualtiescasualties

The Battle of the Somme –The Battle of the Somme –fact filefact file

200,000 200,000 French French

casualtiescasualties

The Battle of the Somme –The Battle of the Somme –fact filefact file

500,000 500,000 German German

casualtiescasualties

Was Haig really the Was Haig really the ‘butcher of the Somme’?‘butcher of the Somme’?

Why did so many men die?Why did so many men die? Could the enormous loss of life have Could the enormous loss of life have

been avoided?been avoided? Does General Haig deserve the title of Does General Haig deserve the title of

……

‘‘The Butcher of the The Butcher of the Somme’?Somme’?

Your taskYour task Recently there has been a campaign to have the Recently there has been a campaign to have the

statue of Field Marshall Haig in London removed and statue of Field Marshall Haig in London removed and replaced by a statue of an ordinary soldier. Write a replaced by a statue of an ordinary soldier. Write a letter to the Mayor of London explaining what you letter to the Mayor of London explaining what you think should be done. Include the following points:think should be done. Include the following points:

A brief description of who Haig wasA brief description of who Haig was Explain the key events of the most famous / infamous Explain the key events of the most famous / infamous

battle associated with him – the Sommebattle associated with him – the Somme Give both sides of the debateGive both sides of the debate Use quotes from historians or contemporaries where Use quotes from historians or contemporaries where

appropriateappropriate Reach a judgement about what you think should be Reach a judgement about what you think should be

done with the monument to Haig and whydone with the monument to Haig and why

Statue of Haig by AF Hardman unveiled in Whitehall in 1937

Was Haig a fool who despised the machine gun and argued the Was Haig a fool who despised the machine gun and argued the

efficacy of a cavalry charge even as the guns boomed in the efficacy of a cavalry charge even as the guns boomed in the background (Lloyd George, 1935-6, p.323); or was he a great military background (Lloyd George, 1935-6, p.323); or was he a great military innovator, who saw early the value of tanks and invented innovator, who saw early the value of tanks and invented ‘protoblitzkrieg’ tactics? ‘protoblitzkrieg’ tactics?

Did Haig selfishly resist Lloyd George’s attempts to introduce unity of Did Haig selfishly resist Lloyd George’s attempts to introduce unity of command, or did he selflessly propose Foch as Supreme Commander command, or did he selflessly propose Foch as Supreme Commander because he saw that it was the only way to win the War? because he saw that it was the only way to win the War?

Was Haig ignorant and ill-informed, surrounded by sycophants, as he Was Haig ignorant and ill-informed, surrounded by sycophants, as he planned – miles from the actual conflict – ‘yet another gargantuan planned – miles from the actual conflict – ‘yet another gargantuan effort to move his drinks cabinet six inches closer to Berlin’ effort to move his drinks cabinet six inches closer to Berlin’ (Blackadder, 1989); or was he a hands-on general, who visited the (Blackadder, 1989); or was he a hands-on general, who visited the front line often, sensitively managing the biggest army Britain ever front line often, sensitively managing the biggest army Britain ever put into the field, controlling the overall strategy while allowing put into the field, controlling the overall strategy while allowing initiative to local commanders? initiative to local commanders?

And in his great battles at the Somme and Passchendaele, was he was And in his great battles at the Somme and Passchendaele, was he was a ‘butcher and bungler’ (Laffin, 1988), or ‘amongst the “Great a ‘butcher and bungler’ (Laffin, 1988), or ‘amongst the “Great Captains” of History’ (Phillips, 1999)? Captains” of History’ (Phillips, 1999)?

        

The war yearsThe war years

The first criticisms of Haig surfaced during the War itself. In late The first criticisms of Haig surfaced during the War itself. In late July 1916, Churchill circulated a paper round his Cabinet July 1916, Churchill circulated a paper round his Cabinet colleagues, criticising Haig’s tactics: ‘In personnel the results of the colleagues, criticising Haig’s tactics: ‘In personnel the results of the operation have been disastrous; in terrain they have been absolutely operation have been disastrous; in terrain they have been absolutely barren… from every point of view the British offensive has been a barren… from every point of view the British offensive has been a great failure.’ In 1917, Lloyd George made strenuous efforts to great failure.’ In 1917, Lloyd George made strenuous efforts to prevent Haig mounting the Passchendaele campaign, and both men prevent Haig mounting the Passchendaele campaign, and both men knew he would have dismissed Haig if he had been able.. knew he would have dismissed Haig if he had been able..

              Yet, at the same time, there was a general willingness in the army to Yet, at the same time, there was a general willingness in the army to

portray Haig as an inspiring, awe-commanding officer who set the portray Haig as an inspiring, awe-commanding officer who set the tone for his troops. In 1916, during the battle of the Somme, Basil tone for his troops. In 1916, during the battle of the Somme, Basil Liddell Hart, a young Lieutenant in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Liddell Hart, a young Lieutenant in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, wrote in his notebook: ‘In the first half of the War our Infantry, wrote in his notebook: ‘In the first half of the War our leadership was flawless… perfect’. Even after being gassed and leadership was flawless… perfect’. Even after being gassed and invalided back to England the young Liddell Hart’s confidence was invalided back to England the young Liddell Hart’s confidence was undaunted, as he saw in Haig ‘a genius for pure generalship which undaunted, as he saw in Haig ‘a genius for pure generalship which has made Sir Douglas Haig fit to rank with any general of past or has made Sir Douglas Haig fit to rank with any general of past or modern times’ (letter to the modern times’ (letter to the Daily ExpressDaily Express, 21 December 1916)., 21 December 1916).

When Haig died in 1928, some When Haig died in 1928, some 200,000 ex-servicemen (the 200,000 ex-servicemen (the equivalent of 200 battalions) filed equivalent of 200 battalions) filed past his coffin. Since his death was past his coffin. Since his death was popularly attributed to the stress of popularly attributed to the stress of the War, Haig was seen – alongside the War, Haig was seen – alongside the ordinary soldiers – as one of its the ordinary soldiers – as one of its victims, and he was respected for his victims, and he was respected for his work for the British Legion. work for the British Legion.              

Changing attitiudes in Changing attitiudes in the 1930sthe 1930s

Even by the end of the 1920s, attitudes were Even by the end of the 1920s, attitudes were beginning to change. The years 1927–1933 saw beginning to change. The years 1927–1933 saw the publication of what Esther MacCallum-Stewart the publication of what Esther MacCallum-Stewart calls ‘the Canonical War Books’ – Sassoon’s and calls ‘the Canonical War Books’ – Sassoon’s and Owen’s poems, and books like Owen’s poems, and books like All Quiet on the All Quiet on the Western FrontWestern Front (published in English in 1929) and (published in English in 1929) and Goodbye to All ThatGoodbye to All That (1929) – which emphasised the (1929) – which emphasised the horror and futility of the War, and presented the horror and futility of the War, and presented the ordinary soldier as the victim of callous generals:ordinary soldier as the victim of callous generals:'He's a cheery old card,' grunted Harry to Jack 'He's a cheery old card,' grunted Harry to Jack As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack. As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack. But he did for them both by his plan of attack. But he did for them both by his plan of attack.

A society in which the nature of the Great War, and A society in which the nature of the Great War, and the nature of the Army, were both becoming the the nature of the Army, were both becoming the subject of fierce reproach, was not one in which subject of fierce reproach, was not one in which Haig’s reputation could long have remained intact. Haig’s reputation could long have remained intact.

        It must be remembered also that, by the early 1930s, It must be remembered also that, by the early 1930s,

it was becoming clear that the Great War had also it was becoming clear that the Great War had also failed in its promise to be ‘the War to end all wars’, failed in its promise to be ‘the War to end all wars’, and interpretations of the conduct of the War (and of and interpretations of the conduct of the War (and of Haig) became entangled with public support for the Haig) became entangled with public support for the policy of appeasement. In the 1930s, stopping even policy of appeasement. In the 1930s, stopping even so great an evil as Hitler was NOT thought worth the so great an evil as Hitler was NOT thought worth the deaths of millions of young men, and Haig – under deaths of millions of young men, and Haig – under whose command so many lives has been lost – was whose command so many lives has been lost – was bound to come under criticism, even if he did win the bound to come under criticism, even if he did win the War by doing so. War by doing so.

Into the sixtiesInto the sixties After the War, Haig’s bad press grew worse. The 1960s saw After the War, Haig’s bad press grew worse. The 1960s saw

the popularisation of Owen’s poetry, and the BBC Series the popularisation of Owen’s poetry, and the BBC Series The The Great WarGreat War (1964) made available for the first time to the (1964) made available for the first time to the wider public some of the saddest and most horrific images of wider public some of the saddest and most horrific images of the War. The ‘60s saw also the climax of an anti-the War. The ‘60s saw also the climax of an anti-establishment attitude that was not going to appreciate establishment attitude that was not going to appreciate Haig’s Presbyterian pruderies about soldiers’ songs, and Haig’s Presbyterian pruderies about soldiers’ songs, and WAAC girlfriends, or his desire to staff GHQ with men who WAAC girlfriends, or his desire to staff GHQ with men who were ‘gentlemen’. were ‘gentlemen’.

        The ‘60s were, too, the time of CND, anti-Vietnam protest The ‘60s were, too, the time of CND, anti-Vietnam protest

marches, and a wave of urgent pacifism which was also marches, and a wave of urgent pacifism which was also bound to undermine Haig’s stock. All these issues were bound to undermine Haig’s stock. All these issues were prosecuted, moreover, by means of the new medium, again prosecuted, moreover, by means of the new medium, again popularised in the 1960s, of satire. AJP Taylor, whose popularised in the 1960s, of satire. AJP Taylor, whose writing caught the mood of the moment exactly, commented writing caught the mood of the moment exactly, commented wryly in wryly in The First World War, an Illustrated History (The First World War, an Illustrated History (1963): 1963): ‘Though he had no more idea than French how to win the ‘Though he had no more idea than French how to win the War, he was sure that he could win it’ (p.80). War, he was sure that he could win it’ (p.80).

John TerraineJohn Terraine

Ironically, 1963 saw also the publication of the first major attempt Ironically, 1963 saw also the publication of the first major attempt to restore Haig’s reputation – John Terraine’s to restore Haig’s reputation – John Terraine’s Douglas Haig, the Douglas Haig, the Educated SoldierEducated Soldier. For Terraine, modern students have been . For Terraine, modern students have been ‘misled by myth and deafened by sixty years of lamentation’ ‘misled by myth and deafened by sixty years of lamentation’ ((Smoke and the FireSmoke and the Fire, p.119). Historians have not put the facts of , p.119). Historians have not put the facts of Haig’s command into context (particularly, e.g., the Haig’s command into context (particularly, e.g., the contemporary impossibility of communicating with the soldiers contemporary impossibility of communicating with the soldiers during a battle), and they have not made sufficient allowances for during a battle), and they have not made sufficient allowances for the ‘sheer novelty’ of many of the problems he faced – the ‘sheer novelty’ of many of the problems he faced – aeroplanes, submarines, the internal combustion engine, wireless aeroplanes, submarines, the internal combustion engine, wireless telegraphy, poison gas and flame-throwers, ‘mass production, telegraphy, poison gas and flame-throwers, ‘mass production, mass logistics and mass administration’: mass logistics and mass administration’:

“ “The truth is that those ruddy-cheeked, bristling-moustached, The truth is that those ruddy-cheeked, bristling-moustached, heavy-jawed, frequently inarticulate generals rose to challenge heavy-jawed, frequently inarticulate generals rose to challenge after challenge, absorbed weapon after weapon into their battle-after challenge, absorbed weapon after weapon into their battle-systems, adapted themselves to constant change with astonishing systems, adapted themselves to constant change with astonishing success... But no one cared to make a legend out of that. “success... But no one cared to make a legend out of that. “

John Terraine, John Terraine, The Smoke and the FireThe Smoke and the Fire (1980, p.173 (1980, p.173

And so Terraine attacks, And so Terraine attacks, one-by-one, by the steady one-by-one, by the steady application of tiresome application of tiresome facts, the ‘myths’ of the facts, the ‘myths’ of the

War.War. Haig did not eschew civilian help; he put Sir Eric Geddes in charge of Haig did not eschew civilian help; he put Sir Eric Geddes in charge of the railways. the railways.

Haig’s GHQ was not a collection of sycophantic nits, but ‘a remarkable Haig’s GHQ was not a collection of sycophantic nits, but ‘a remarkable fusion of the best available talent, civilian and military, in the country’ fusion of the best available talent, civilian and military, in the country’ ((Douglas HaigDouglas Haig, p.177). , p.177).

Haig did not reject the machine gun and cling to the cavalry; he had Haig did not reject the machine gun and cling to the cavalry; he had known about the machine gun since 1898, and saw the value of tanks known about the machine gun since 1898, and saw the value of tanks five months before they were used in battle. five months before they were used in battle.

His generals did not cower in His generals did not cower in châteauxchâteaux behind the lines; many of them behind the lines; many of them fought in battle, and some of them were killed. fought in battle, and some of them were killed.

The death toll of the War was indeed terrible, but three times as many The death toll of the War was indeed terrible, but three times as many people died in the Second World War. people died in the Second World War.

The battle of Passchendaele was not ‘futile’; it fought the Germans to a The battle of Passchendaele was not ‘futile’; it fought the Germans to a standstill and ‘when German morale did at last collapse, some nine standstill and ‘when German morale did at last collapse, some nine months later, this was the end of a process which had been begun in months later, this was the end of a process which had been begun in Flanders .’ (Flanders .’ (Douglas HaigDouglas Haig, p.373). , p.373).

And in the battle of the Somme , although Haig may have made a And in the battle of the Somme , although Haig may have made a mistake in telling the men to walk in waves, he could hardly have been mistake in telling the men to walk in waves, he could hardly have been expected to know how well these volunteers, in their first battle, would expected to know how well these volunteers, in their first battle, would acquit themselves:acquit themselves:

Samuel Hynes, in his book Samuel Hynes, in his book The Soldiers' Tale, Bearing The Soldiers' Tale, Bearing Witness to Modern WarWitness to Modern War (1997) argues that the War (1997) argues that the War was just too big for human minds to grasp: ‘Our was just too big for human minds to grasp: ‘Our imaginations simply can't encompass all those armies imaginations simply can't encompass all those armies on all those battlefields’ (p.on all those battlefields’ (p.xiixii). ).

Consequently, he argued, we replace a too-complex Consequently, he argued, we replace a too-complex and too-horrifying reality for a simplistic and and too-horrifying reality for a simplistic and comforting myth. In the 1920s, it was possible for the comforting myth. In the 1920s, it was possible for the general public to accept the notion of a ‘good war’ to general public to accept the notion of a ‘good war’ to save civilisation and democracy; the notion of Haig’s save civilisation and democracy; the notion of Haig’s infallibility came as part and parcel of that myth. infallibility came as part and parcel of that myth.

However, when it became clear that that myth was not However, when it became clear that that myth was not sustainable, public opinion swung round and grasped sustainable, public opinion swung round and grasped the alternative myth – that of an unnecessary war, the alternative myth – that of an unnecessary war, waged by fools.waged by fools.

             

Towards a synthesisTowards a synthesis Although, all in all, the academic debate Although, all in all, the academic debate

in the last decade appears to have moved in the last decade appears to have moved against Haig’s critics, it has to be said against Haig’s critics, it has to be said that individual studies by authors like that individual studies by authors like Passingham (2000) and Walker (2002) Passingham (2000) and Walker (2002) continue to reveal critical individual continue to reveal critical individual mistakes by Haig and his team. Thus mistakes by Haig and his team. Thus both sides of the debate seem to be right both sides of the debate seem to be right at the same time: Haig was indeed a very at the same time: Haig was indeed a very good general who indeed caused the good general who indeed caused the deaths of thousands of men.deaths of thousands of men.

Satisfactory letter

Good letter Superstar letter

Weighs up the Weighs up the good and bad good and bad events events associated with associated with Haig’s life using Haig’s life using some evidence some evidence from sources, from sources, before stating before stating what sort of what sort of monument monument should be should be created. Some created. Some reasons given reasons given for different for different views of Haig.views of Haig.

Weighs up good Weighs up good and bad points, and bad points, using using appropriate appropriate evidence from evidence from sources. sources. Reaches a Reaches a judgement on judgement on Haig’s life and Haig’s life and the type of the type of monument monument which should be which should be created. created. Explains why Explains why there are there are differentdifferent views views of Haigof Haig

Weighs up good Weighs up good and bad points, and bad points, using evidence using evidence from sources. from sources. Explains why Explains why there are there are different views different views of Haig and why of Haig and why they have they have changed over changed over time. Reaches a time. Reaches a judgement on judgement on Haig’s life and Haig’s life and what sort of what sort of monument monument should be should be created.created.