Douglas Haig

[Patientman63]

General Douglas Haig at The Somme

Haig was initially very confident that his plan would work and prclaimed that victory was inevitable

However, the plan that finally emerged seemed to have had only limited goals

There was to be a hugely expensive artillery barrage at a cost previously unheard of.

The second part of the plan was to advance and capture by British soldiers of these positions, and, thirdly, a grand charge through these positions by Haig’s beloved, but outdated, cavalry.

Tactics and strategy that Haig had previously used in smaller battles, including cavalry charges, were to be proved woefully inadequate on this larger scale.

There was huge disagreement with Haig's plan, from Sir Henry Rawlinson, Lloyd George and other observers, all of whom expressed severe doubts about his tactics in this arena.

Haig then began to express considerable doubts about the professional skills of the soldiers of the New Army

However, Haig believed that the opposition would be so shattered by his forces' huge bombardment and concentrated brute force and effort that they would just roll over and the infantry would simply have to walk over No Man’s Land and occupy the German trenches.

The plan relied on shear brute force

Haig and the British Generals promised their leaders and troops man that nothing could survive this and their plan was foolproof, regardless of the cost.

It was the heaviest and most expensive artillery bombardment in history at the time.

Prior to the signal, word reached some troops that the barbed wire in front of German trenches had not been destroyed by the bombardment. The Generals, however, when informed of these accusations, just commanded the men to be silent and spread the word that the troops were talking nonsense.

When word reached the generals that the first waves of men were failing, instead of reviewing their plans and methods, they cast doubt on the ability and professionalism of the troops and continued to send more men over the top whilst sending for more reinforcements.

History judges the British Generals to have relied on outdated concepts and to have attempted to shift the blame for their failings onto the troops, suggesting that they had not executed their plans as ordered.

or to summarise - we lost the battle but won the war.

Fair point, well made

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

An utterly pointless post and a complete insult to the brave men like my grandfather that fought in that battle.

Get over yourself.
I think you should leave it to those of us who have served to decide whether or not this is an insult.

Don't be stupid. By that logic only people who have played professional football should be able to comment on here then. You remind me of that bit in Fawlty Towers when Basil said "I served in Korea. I've killed men." and Sybil said "You were in the catering corps. You poisoned them."

 

[Brucie Bonus]

Yes, and let's hear your metaphor...

Almost a half hour of silence. Goes to show you can cast stones, but the glass house you live in can shatter, pal.

If you were on here yesterday, and early this morning, you will have read a number of things I posted on a few threads, quite a lot of things, "structured arguments" as you put it. Search for them. If you cannot find them, ask around. I am not going to recapitulate everything I said yesterday, or the day before, or the day before that.

 

[BobKowalski]

i got told a story about Sven and Ball last summer.

Sven gets job, sees Ball in canteen, wanders over to chat, asks what he's up to, "i've been here for 6 months but contract is up but i want a new one"

Sven "what do you want?"

Ball "3 years"

sven; "i'll get it done"

now this is two people who didn't give a fcuk about City, it was another pay day for them.

Again what is with this this obsession with Sven?

I recall at the time Sven did a one on one training session with Ball prior to granting the contract which given we only had 2 left backs and one (Garrido) had only just arrived was a fairly prudent move. The statement that these two people didn't give a fuck about City is stupid and crass. At the time I am sure both were eager to do well personally for both themselves and the club.

I understand that in order to make Hughes look good everyone and everything has to be pissed on to make the stink of his management to date bearable but I would never accuse Hughes of not trying his best or wanting what he believes is best for the club. Its a shame that others cannot give the same courtesy to our previous managers.

 

[Gelsons Dad]

Get over yourself.
I think you should leave it to those of us who have served to decide whether or not this is an insult.

Don't be stupid. By that logic only people who have played professional football should be able to comment on here then. You remind me of that bit in Fawlty Towers when Basil said "I served in Korea. I've killed men." and Sybil said "You were in the catering corps. You poisoned them."

Grow up.

If using significant historical events as a metaphor equates to insulting those involved in said events we should all stop talking right know.

I can assure you I wasn't in the catering corps either.

 

[Challenger1978]

But History shows that eventually Haig's tactics/leadership won the war

Actually that's not exactly true, Haig used tactics of combined arms developed by someone else i cant find the name ATM. As Haigs tactics were out dated and lead to nothing but the slaughter of his own men.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Don't be stupid. By that logic only people who have played professional football should be able to comment on here then. You remind me of that bit in Fawlty Towers when Basil said "I served in Korea. I've killed men." and Sybil said "You were in the catering corps. You poisoned them."

Grow up.

If using significant historical events as a metaphor equates to insulting those involved in said events we should all stop talking right know.

I can assure you I wasn't in the catering corps either.

Alright perhaps it was a little OTT but my grandfather described the horrors of that battle to me very vividly and I've never forgotten it. I still think it was inappropriate to compare young men who went over the top in appalling conditions to face the probability of death or maiming to the pampered footballers of today. All we ask of them is to put in a bit of effort for 90 minutes.

 

[Mills-Mcfc]

But History shows that eventually Haig's tactics/leadership won the war

Actually that's not exactly true, Haig used tactics of combined arms developed by someone else i cant find the name ATM. As Haigs tactics were out dated and lead to nothing but the slaughter of his own men.

Nonce

 

[Challenger1978]

Actually that's not exactly true, Haig used tactics of combined arms developed by someone else i cant find the name ATM. As Haigs tactics were out dated and lead to nothing but the slaughter of his own men.

Nonce

Horse raping twat.

 

[Mills-Mcfc]

Nonce

Horse raping twat.

That was a horse?