Field Marshall Haig: 'The Butcher of the Somme?'

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Field Marshall Haig: ‘The Butcher of the Somme?’

Lucy Bawn

How far does source A prove that Haig did not care about the lives of his men?

In February 1916, the Germans began an attack on France around Verdun, if they were to capture Verdun, Paris would consequently be open to attack. By July, 700 000 men were dead. In order to relieve the pressure on Verdun, Haig decided to have a major attack on Germany. This was the Battle of the Somme, which began on 1st July 1916.

Source a, written in June 1916 by General Douglas Haig, suggests that Haig has intentions of sacrificing his men for the winning of war. He asserts that that ‘the nation must be prepared to see heavy casualty lists’. This extract does not suggest that he has left any exception for those whom disagree with his view. Haig’s paragraph also declares that ‘no amount of skill, however good . . . no superiority of arms or ammunition, however great, will enable victories to be won without the sacrifice of lives of men’s lives’. This statement does out forward that did not care about the lives of his men, but Haig’s strategy was that it is every Generals job to win wars not to save lives.

Source b evokes a different side of Haig. He wrote ‘the men are in splendid spirits. The barbed wire has never cut so well. Al commanders are full of confidence’. The extract suggests that Haig cared about his men, and also that he was unaware of the activities on the front line. From previous references, the commanders were very nervous and disagreed with Haig’s plans and preparations. Also the barbed wire was cut poorly as the bombs lifted it up and dropped it, usually in a worse state than before. Haig may have believed what he wrote, as communication was very poor so the information could have been days late. Also, he could have exaggerated the statements when writing them, so they would be bias.

From my interpretations, I conclude that Haig cared more about victory and if the men were happy that was a bonus. Also, from source b, Haig was unaware of the front line failures, the death toile or he chooses not to believe the truth.

Which one of these sources do you trust more?

 Source b, written by Haig on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, claims that all the men are in ‘splendid spirits’ and everything is going to plan. This primary source is extremely positive, but as we know the Battle of Somme was not like this. Many men died on the first day alone in this battle, and there is no mention of this in this extract. This extract may have belonged with others which tell of the negative of the Battle or Haig may have not of known. The communication was extremely poor and usually out-dated. Also Haig’s opinion was to be extremely bias, of course he wanted the war to be perfect for him and he did not want Britain to know his failures, so he would have lied. Though, this may have been what he believed or told, so would be the truth to his knowledge. It may have been how a minority of men were feeling.

Source C, written by Private George Coppard, years after the war, shows the opposite opinion of the war to Haig’s view. If describes the devastating view of men ‘strung out on barbed wire like wreckage washed up’ and carries on to say how ‘ it was clear there was no gaps in the barbed wire’. This is closer to the truth than Haig’s extract as we know almost 70 000 British men died in the battle of Somme. Also, Coppard has had time to think about the war which he was in and come up with his firm opinion of the whole war not just the first day, though this may be a disadvantage as Coppard may have other people’s opinions of the war in his view now. Coppard has no reason to lie either, as the war is over the truth can be revealed. Finally, Coppard was situated at the front line, so his opinion is a clear secondary source of what went on, unlike others who were told what was happening.

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From my previous knowledge the war was horrific and at the Battle of Somme almost 62000 Britons were killed. Many men died due to poor living conditions such as food shortages, lack of cleanliness, unhygienic latrines, trench fever, trench foot, bites and blisters, insects and rodents of which carried infectious diseases. Many men were nervous as them selves and their leaders disagreed with the plan created by Haig, to walk not run. No one told Haig how they felt as he was stubborn and critical, making people afraid.

In conclusion, to which of the two sources I trust most, ...

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