This essay aims to examine whether General Haig bears responsibility for the significant number of casualties in the Battle of the Somme. Taking command of the Army on December 10, 1915 at the age of 54, Haig’s previous leadership and triumphs in battles made him appear to be a highly qualified candidate for this position. In 1916, he initiated an offensive near the Somme River against the Germans. Despite achieving victory, there is ongoing discussion regarding whether sacrificing the lives of 420,000 individuals for a small piece of land can be deemed justifiable. Nevertheless, Haig firmly believed it was justified.
He earned himself the nickname ‘Butcher of the Somme’ as a result of this, and there are reasons both in support and against blaming him. I aim to address both perspectives and provide my conclusion. The following factors support the argument that Haig is at fault. Firstly, Haig intended the Battle of the Somme to hold significant significance among the numerous battles of World War 1. He envisioned it as a means to destroy the German Line and open a pathway for the British to invade Germany, ultimately leading to victory in the war. Haig openly admitted this in the period leading up to the battle.
This meant that he was clueless of what could and what eventually did happen. Additionally, he was extremely over-confident. Commanders were informed by him that the 7-day heavy artillery bombardment would eliminate the entire German defense. Consequently, there was no reason to flee. Why bother running when walking would suffice? However, the bombardment proved to be highly unsuccessful; it failed to properly sever the barbed wire. Moreover, the Germans, who had been hiding underground during this time, simply returned to their trenches, which remained virtually unchanged, and mercilessly shot down the British soldiers who were advancing at a leisurely pace.
The text demonstrates that Haig’s over-confidence led him to allow people to march inexorably to their deaths. Additionally, despite the catastrophic events on the initial day of the assaults, resulting in 60,000 British wounded and 20,000 killed, with no actual breakthrough as the German lines remained intact, Haig persisted with the attacks until November when a new prime minister commanded him to cease them. Consequently, the British army managed to acquire a tract of land measuring 20 miles in width and 7 miles in depth, at an estimated expense of around 420,000 individuals.
Despite being criticized for his stubbornness, it is evident that Haig only abandoned his plan when coerced by someone else. Additionally, there are other reasons attributing blame to Haig. This includes the fact that more troops perished in this battle than in any previous battle, indicating a severe miscalculation. As a General, Haig never personally visited the front line, depriving him of witnessing the extent of devastation firsthand. Had he witnessed this, he would have likely aborted the attacks. Furthermore, the massive shell bombardment alerted the Germans, highlighting Haig’s lack of consideration for stealth.
Haig believed that determination was the solution to overcoming machine guns. However, he was proven wrong as wave after wave of determined soldiers were mowed down by German machine guns. Despite this, Haig still insisted that the machine gun was an overrated weapon, which was also incorrect as it was responsible for causing the majority of British deaths. Although there are reasons that support Haig not being entirely to blame, such as taking command of the British army on December 10th, 1915, when the war was at a stalemate and both the Allied troops (including Britain) and the Germans were entrenched in their trenches.
General Haig’s primary goal was to overcome the stalemate in the war by achieving a “breakthrough” using a sufficient number of soldiers and firepower. From July to November, the allied forces embarked on a march covering 10 miles, resulting in the devastating loss of 600,000 lives. Trench warfare presented an unprecedented challenge due to its novelty and unfamiliarity, hindering the development of effective victory strategies. To address this obstacle, Haig opted for executing the largest shell attack ever recorded against the Germans, demonstrating his resolute determination to defeat the enemy.
Despite the comparable number of casualties suffered by both British and German forces during the battle, it became evident that Haig’s decisions resulted in significant losses for the British but also inflicted considerable damage upon the Germans. This suggests that while some may argue Haig’s actions were misguided, they ultimately aligned with British interests. Furthermore, considering the victorious outcome of the war claimed by the Allies, it further supports the effectiveness of Haig’s strategy. Additionally, in November 1916, German commander Erich Ludendorff admitted his troops had been halted due to Haig successfully disrupting their forces. Therefore, despite any shortcomings, Haig’s plan evidently served its purpose to a great extent.
If Haig had not ordered an assault on the Germans in July of 1916, the French army would have potentially suffered heavy losses in another battle at Verdun. This could have led to the destruction of the entire French army, putting the allied forces at risk of complete collapse. However, it is crucial to take into account other factors that clear Haig of blame. One such factor is that launching an attack was necessary to maintain support from the crucial French army in their fight against the Germans.
Despite the limited damage caused by British shells that failed to explode in the German trenches, it is not General Haig’s fault as predicting their explosion was impossible. Furthermore, the observation by German planes of the British’s buildup of forces in their front line was beyond General Haig’s control. Personally, I hold General Haig accountable for the significant death toll during the Battle of the Somme.
Although General Douglas Haig caused multiple deaths at the battle of the Somme, I believe that as a true leader, he considered them justified given his ultimate triumph. He sent soldiers to their demise and stubbornly adhered to his strategy despite the evident loss of lives. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that the enemy also suffered a comparable number of casualties. Consequently, my overall assessment is that General Douglas Haig carries accountability for the substantial death toll at the battle of the Somme; however, he ultimately achieved victory.
