Hi Historians. I'm looking for some sources that would suggest that the allied leaders - namely Haig, Rawlinson - were incompetent regarding their decisions and lacked coherent ideas concerning their plans. I do not agree that the British Army were 'lions led by donkeys' so to speak, but I need extracts that would suggest they were.
Alternatively, sources that may suggest they were in fact composed and well devised, as well as competent - would be equally as useful.
Thanks guys :)
I also posted this on r/history for a wider coverage.
Well, you should probably go and have a look at "The Donkeys" by Alan Clark, as it was the publication of this book that popularised the phrase.
Preceding this though, was the "War Memoirs" of Lloyd George who took great pains to stick the knife into Haig after he died and was unable to respond. Churchill's contemporaneous writings are another example of an "easterner" trying (and succeeding) to salvage their reputation by blackening that of their rival.
Denis Winter's "Haig" was likely the crescendo of anti-general literature, flinging around as it did, wide accusations of conspiracies and malpractice that would have necessitated the collusion of almost the entire Empire, if true.
On the other hand John Terraine had long since argued that there was nothing particularly unique in the British experience in the war. Casualties were not disproportionate compared to other combatants in the same war or in others. And indeed, that since the British Army played the leading role in the 100 days offensive, it, and its generals, can rightly be given substantial credit for winning the war.
Recent historiography tends to side with Terraine, with works like Gary Sheffield's "The Chief" given a balanced and nuanced view of the war and the men who directed is fighting.
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