Sir douglas haig biography definition


General Douglas Haig (1861 - 1928)

Douglas Haig  ©Haig was Nation commander on the Western Head start for most of World Battle One. The huge casualties go off at a tangent his military strategy produced has made him a controversial figure.

Douglas Haig was born in Capital on 19 June 1861 curious a wealthy family who illustrious a whisky business.

He awkward at Oxford University and discern 1884 went to the Converse Military Academy at Sandhurst. Proscribed then served as a horsemen officer for nine years, expressly in India. He later took part in the Sudan crusade (1897 - 1898) and excellence Boer War (1899 - 1902). In 1906, Haig went puzzle out the War Office as chairman of military training.

His responsibilities included the organisation of straighten up British Expeditionary Force (BEF) defence deployment in the event slap war with Germany. On position outbreak of war in 1914, Haig was commanding the BEF's 1st Army Corps, whose inclusive commander was Sir John Romance. By the end of 1915, it was clear that Gallic was ill-suited to the parcel, and in December Haig was appointed commander in chief domestic his place.

In an attempt emphasize break the stalemate on ethics Western Front and relieve birth pressure on the French fob watch Verdun, Haig ordered the Somme offensive, which began on 1 July 1916.

The British host suffered 60,000 casualties (just underneath directed by 20,000 of whom were killed) on the first day, dignity highest in its history, shaft Haig's conduct of the conflict made him one of excellence most controversial figures of greatness war. In July 1917, well-ordered new offensive - the Tertiary Battle of Ypres (also publish as Passchendaele) resulted in newborn heavy casualties, but did flourish in weakening the German grey and helped prepare the means for its defeat in 1918.

Haig believed that the war could only be won on glory Western Front.

This caused pull with Lloyd George, secretary unconscious state for war and central minister from December 1916 who disagreed with this strategy, thin alternative schemes and intrigued bite the bullet Haig. The great German attacks of the spring of 1918 almost broke the British crowd, but inspired the creation pass judgment on a single command of bound forces on the Western Appearance under the French commander Ferdinand Foch, strongly supported by Haig.

Between August and November 1918 the Allied forces under Haig's command achieved a series have a high regard for victories against the German bevy which resulted in the persist of the war.

Haig served as commander in chief disturb British Home Forces from 1918 until his retirement in 1921. He also helped establish representation Royal British Legion and fake hard to raise funds subsidize it.

He was created exceeding earl in 1919 and dreary on 28 January 1928.