Explain why comedy series Blackadder Goes Forth is so useful for historians studying the First World War?

Blackadder Goes Forth also seemed to portray an anti-war message. It also tells us about the nature of war, its origins and the effects of the soldiers who suffered over its course.

“...actually, all the lead up to the first world war was very funny, all the people coming from communities where they'd never bumped into posh people...and all being so gung ho and optimistic...the first hundred pages of any book about the world war are hilarious, then of course everybody dies.”

One of the famous figures whom were portrayed in Blackadder Goes Forth was Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, whose orders are alleged to have resulted in hundreds of thousands of British deaths particularly in the battle of the Somme. In Blackadder, Sir Douglas Haig continually referenced and criticised by the characters. Blackadder himself describes Haig's attempts at an advance as no more than "another huge effort to move his drinks cabinet six inches closer to Berlin", his master plans as "everyone climbing out their trenches and walking very slowly towards the enemy" which he claims is to be repeated "until everyone is dead except for Field Marshall Haig, Lady Haig and their tortoise Alan".

This is very helpful to historians studying the First World War because; it shows us an idea of what the soldiers might have thought of F.M. Douglas Haig plan and for those who have never heard of F.M. Douglas Haig, it gives them an idea of who he was and what he did. Also, it shows us an idea of what F.M. Douglas Haig might have been like, how he talked his relationship with the Soldiers, an idea of his characteristics etc…

Does F.M. Douglas Haig deserve the title the ‘butcher of the Somme’?

Yes, I think F.M. Douglas Haig deserves the title ‘Butcher of the Somme’ because, Haig’s plan wasn’t well thought through, he didn’t know what the conditions were like at the trenches and on no man’s land because he’d never been there therefore, he wouldn’t have know for example how the weather conditions had been before the day of attack and therefore maybe if it had been cloudy for the last few days he might have been able to figure out that it was likely to be cloudy on the day of attack and he could have changed his plans. Haig portrayed himself as an inept commander who showed cold-hearted disregard for the lives of his soldiers.

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