But not everyone agreed with this view of Haig. After the war, when morale didn’t need to be kept up, the Prime Minister at the time, Lloyd George, spoke up and said that “Haig ordered too many bloody battles” in the war and that he was inexperienced because “He only took part in two.”(battles)
In the 1930’s, as more and more evidence about the horror of the war began to be published, people began to see how many men Haig was responsible for killing. 60,000 soldiers were killed in the battle of the Somme and all the army gained was a few kilometres. James Lovegrove said “He (referring to Haig) had no respect for human life”.
The reasons for the many different interpretations of Haig was because of the different men in positions of power and influence in the two time periods- during and after the war.
During the war the King supported Haig and Lloyd George, the Prime Minister, was too afraid to speak up against him for fear of damaging morale and undermining the war effort. After the war was over though, Lloyd George felt free to speak and openly criticised Haig.
The main reason for Haig being liked, or rather, being publicised as a good general was for the morale of the men still in Britain, so they would join the army and help win the war. Haig’s wife was also lady in waiting to the Queen so he was in direct contact with the King and had time to talk to him and win him over.
The reasons for Lloyd George hating Haig so much was because Haig didn’t keep a major promise. Haig had promised the Prime Minister that he would “not press the attack if it became clear that he could not attain his objectives.”
Lloyd George was also critical about the lack of Haig’s experience fighting on the battle field.
Because of censorship during the war no bad press was released. However, afterwards critical comment on Haig’s prowess as a general grew worse and worse until they were as bad as Lloyd George’s views of the general.
I agree with Lloyd George's view because, although Haig won the war he sacrificed the lives of too many soldiers and a good general would have considered better tactics to avoid this.
