Haig's Command

Book Review

By the Old Duffer

Denis Winter for Penguin

Now here is an interesting book, originally published in 1991. Winter claims to have discovered Haig "managing" the history of his campaigns after the war, including a bit of tidying up of the diaries and positive planting of pro-Haig views. His reverse construction arises from cross-referencing the papers in the Dominion archives to those in the British ones to see if one can "spot the join". The result, if Winter is to be believed, shows Haig having startlingly different views of the Somme (a diversion for another f*ck*ng Ypres offensive) the effect of the French Mutinies and the breakthrough after Amiens. In so doing Winter begins to write ambivalently about Haig. Putting aside his public persona it is clear that Haig knew a great deal about the technical requirements of war.

For example, his diary note on the logistical support necessary for an attack is what Winter uses to demonstrate that the Somme was not the major offensive of 1916 but one designed to pull the German reserves away. It failed in this so the Ypres action was abandoned. Similarly it is quite clear, if Winter is correct, that Haig could assess both the likely German strategy in 1918 and how the attack would play out. So back comes the question, why didn't Haig change what occurred?

In passing Winter savages the British Army claiming Dominion troops were the only ones worth anything since they trained together. This clashes with Paddy Griffith's research, but then this is not Winter's real area of interest which remains that of documentary analysis. I enjoyed the stuff on Pershing. It is clear that it was the concept of American support (rather than its 1918 actuality) that strengthened the Allies.

All of which leads one to the next question. Is Winter right? [Ian Drury has pointed out to me a number of historian's opinions that suggest Winter may also have been a bit selective - shall we say - in his use of texts, including one from an Australian academic with access to the relevant archives.]

More Old Duffer's Book Corner (book reviews)

Marengo and Hohenlinden: Napoleon's Rise to Power Book Review.

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