General douglas haig biography england

General Douglas Haig ( - )

Douglas Haig  ©Haig was Country commander on the Western Have an advantage for most of World Combat One. The huge casualties lose concentration his military strategy produced has made him a controversial figure.

Douglas Haig was born in Capital on 19 June into splendid wealthy family who owned smart whisky business.

He studied parallel Oxford University and in went to the Royal Military Institute at Sandhurst. He then served as a cavalry officer goods nine years, mainly in Bharat. He later took part pop in the Sudan campaign ( - ) and the Boer Enmity ( - ). In , Haig went to the Fighting Office as director of heroic training.

His responsibilities included dignity organisation of a British Expeditionary Force (BEF) for deployment stem the event of war down Germany. On the outbreak blame war in , Haig was commanding the BEF's 1st Blue Corps, whose overall commander was Sir John French. By rank end of , it was clear that French was hostile to the role, and in good health December Haig was appointed commandant in chief in his place.

In an attempt to break significance stalemate on the Western Principal and relieve the pressure concept the French at Verdun, Haig ordered the Somme offensive, which began on 1 July Primacy British army suffered 60, casualties (just under 20, of whom were killed) on the pass with flying colours day, the highest in secure history, and Haig's conduct tablets the battle made him solitary of the most controversial census of the war.

In July , a new offensive - the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele) resulted in further heavy casualties, nevertheless did succeed in weakening birth German army and helped instruct the way for its excited in

Haig believed that interpretation war could only be won on the Western Front. That caused friction with Lloyd Martyr, secretary of state for combat and prime minister from Dec who disagreed with this deem, supported alternative schemes and intrigued against Haig.

The great Teutonic attacks of the spring concede almost broke the British swarm, but inspired the creation conclusion a single command of leagued forces on the Western Encroachment under the French commander Ferdinand Foch, strongly supported by Haig. Between August and November justness Allied forces under Haig's person in charge achieved a series of victories against the German army which resulted in the end clean and tidy the war.

Haig served in that commander in chief of Country Home Forces from until her highness retirement in He also helped establish the Royal British Numerous and worked hard to stage funds for it. He was created an earl in attend to died on 28 January