Why haig was a butcher

Where Haig is undoubtedly guilty, is in his decision to continue the offensive into November By October, poor weather and continuous artillery bombardment had created a hellish environment for both the Allies and the Germans. Yet Haig prolonged this hell for no real strategic or tactical purpose. Over the course of the battle, about one million men were killed, wounded or captured.

Haig maintained that the battle achieved the goal of eroding the German Army and its will to fight. The scale of the Allied offensive on the Somme had nevertheless come as a shock to the Germans. It was clear that victory on the Western Front was nowhere in sight and planners feared that German industry would not be able to keep up with demand.

In , the Germans carried out a planned retreat to the Hindenburg Line, a line of fortifications that could be defended with fewer men. It may have looked like a victory for the Allies but the reality was quite different, as subsequent operations against the line in would show. But the idea that he wilfully and knowingly sent tens of thousands of Allied soldiers to their deaths is overly simplistic and fails to acknowledge the severe challenges facing a commander in charge of an inexperienced mass army, on a scale unlike anything seen before.

TV A new online only channel for history lovers. Sign Me Up. The plan The offensive on the Somme was initially conceived as part of a wider strategy to wear down the German Army by attacking it on all fronts in Overall, this is an excellent response that answers the question well and is focused throughout. The author does well to support points with concise evidence but also ensures that both sides of the debate are considered before reaching a conclusion.

The introduction is the weakest area and could have included a line of argument. See related essays. Social improvement were also made, the empire built schools, hospitals banks. The colonies also learnt from the British Empire, they used what they learnt to further change and advance their countries customs in views, on laws such as freedom and so on.

The skilled workers went into jobs that really only required genuine skill. In Haig was in Charge of the Battle of the Somme, which didn't go very well and there were lots of casualties. There, Haig was given his nickname "Butcher of the Somme" In Haig organised the final offensive, which eventually led to Allied Victory. In anticipation that the British soldiers would simply be able to walk across no man's lands and occupy the deserted German trenches, Haig sent the men with heavy trench repair equipment.

Unfortunately the German soldiers were still alive and manning their carefully positioned machine guns which the artillery bombardment also failed to destroy. Some successes were the dispute between Poland and Germany regarding Upper Silesia. The League sent British and French Troops to maintain order. There the League organised a successful plebiscite, but the voting turned out equal and the area was split.

He had been a success in Scotland. He came to England with strong ideas on the power that the king should have, but very little money. Scotland was poor compared to England. James Believed that god had chosen him to be king. Sharing bomb shelters and going through the experience of the evacuation of children cut class barriers.

The British all listed to the BBC broadcasts which played an important role in war effort. The war therefore had an important impact on British society. The Germans had many advantages such as; being on a higher ground and they had a good defence system that Haig had under estimated. General Haig used the same tactics repeatedly which were obviously failing. The Germans were so used to the tactics of the British that they were never caught off guard.

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Don't have an account yet? Create one now! Therefore, on the 10th of December Haig was appointed the new leader of the British Expeditionary Forces. The fact that Haig stayed in some form of military leadership throughout WW1 immediately tells you that he must have been successful to stay in such a high-ranking position to the end of such a big war.

In his second year, he was in charge of one of the bloodiest battles in British warfare: the Somme, which was probably Haig's worst battle. Good Essays. Open Document. Essay Sample Check Writing Quality. The Battle of the Somme is the battle with one of the highest casualties in Britain military history, alongside with the highest single casualties in the whole history of British military.

General Haig was the commander of the BEF in the battle. The Battle of the Somme is arguably one of the most horrible battles in the world, and certainly one of the most horrible battles in Britain military history. On the first day of the battle the British had suffered nearly sixty thousand casualties, while by the end of the battle the number had raised to four hundred and twenty thousand m As well as S.

Haig was the product of his time, of his upbringing, education, and training and previous military experience. One argument goes that he was, ultimately, victorious and, even if he had been replaced would there have been anyone better for the job? Even on the Somme a German officer called the battlefield 'the muddy grave of the German army'. Get Access. Read More. General Haig a Butcher not War Hero.

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