Douglas Haig and the First World War

by J. P. Harris

• ISBN13: 9780521158770
• ISBN10: 052115877X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-16
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

From December 1915 until the armistice of November 1918, Sir Douglas Haig was commander-in-chief of the largest army his country had ever put into the field. He has been portrayed as both an incompetent 'butcher and bungler' and a clear-sighted, imperturbable 'architect of victory'. However, in this magisterial new account, J. P. Harris dispels such stereotypes. A dedicated military professional, Haig nevertheless found it difficult to adjust to the unprecedented conditions of the Western Front. His capacity to 'read' battles and broader strategic situations often proved poor and he bears much responsibility for British losses 1915-17 that were excessive in relation to the results achieved. By late 1917 his own faith in ultimate victory had become so badly shaken that he advocated a compromise peace. However, after surviving the German spring offensives of 1918, he played a vital role in the campaign that finally broke the German army.

Author Biography

J. P. Harris is a Senior Lecturer in War Studies at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. His publications include Men, Ideas and Tanks (1995) and Amiens to the Armistice (1998).

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	p. vii
List of maps	p. ix
Acknowledgements	p. x
Introduction	p. 1
Boyhood and early career	p. 5
South Africa to the Curragh crisis	p. 28
Anxiously to war	p. 57
From the Marne to the Salient	p. 84
Army commander	p. 107
Aubers Ridge to Givenchy	p. 132
The Battle of Loos	p. 153
Commander-in-chief	p. 178
The Battle of the Somme (1)	p. 204
The Battle of the Somme (2)	p. 238
Lloyd George and Nivelle	p. 274
The Battle of Arras and the Nivelle Offensive	p. 298
Flanders Fields	p. 328
The Third Battle of Ypres	p. 355
The Battle of Cambrai	p. 383
The last war winter	p. 409
The German March offensives	p. 432
The turn of the tide	p. 461
The final campaign	p. 485
The post-war years	p. 518
Conclusion	p. 531
Notes	p. 547
Select Bibliography	p. 618
Index	p. 63
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