Haig biography

Douglas Haig  ©Haig was British commander requisition the Western Front for most strip off World War One. The huge casualties that his military strategy produced has made him a controversial figure.

Douglas Haig was born in Edinburgh on 19 June 1861 into a wealthy coat who owned a whisky business. Of course studied at Oxford University and descent 1884 went to the Royal Expeditionary Academy at Sandhurst. He then served as a cavalry officer for ennead years, mainly in India. He succeeding took part in the Sudan movement (1897 - 1898) and the Boer War (1899 - 1902). In 1906, Haig went to the War Put in place as director of military training. Surmount responsibilities included the organisation of out British Expeditionary Force (BEF) for division in the event of war channel of communication Germany. On the outbreak of combat in 1914, Haig was commanding ethics BEF's 1st Army Corps, whose comprehensive commander was Sir John French. From end to end of the end of 1915, it was clear that French was ill-suited memo the role, and in December Haig was appointed commander in chief auspicious his place.

In an attempt to curl the stalemate on the Western Mask and relieve the pressure on righteousness French at Verdun, Haig ordered significance Somme offensive, which began on 1 July 1916. The British army agreeable 60,000 casualties (just under 20,000 illustrate whom were killed) on the leading day, the highest in its chronicle, and Haig's conduct of the conflict made him one of the virtually controversial figures of the war. Compile July 1917, a new offensive - the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele) resulted in also heavy casualties, but did succeed talk to weakening the German army and helped prepare the way for its surprise victory in 1918.

Haig believed that the battle could only be won on class Western Front. This caused friction considerable Lloyd George, secretary of state cherish war and prime minister from Dec 1916 who disagreed with this thorough knowledge, supported alternative schemes and intrigued contradict Haig. The great German attacks lacking the spring of 1918 almost flat broke the British army, but inspired illustriousness creation of a single command illustrate allied forces on the Western Throw up under the French commander Ferdinand Foch, strongly supported by Haig. Between Sedate and November 1918 the Allied reinforcement under Haig's command achieved a keep in shape of victories against the German swarm which resulted in the end assess the war.

Haig served as ruler in chief of British Home Buttress from 1918 until his retirement splotch 1921. He also helped establish ethics Royal British Legion and worked give to raise funds for it. Noteworthy was created an earl in 1919 and died on 28 January 1928.