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Bezig met laden... Douglas Haig and the First World Wardoor J. P. Harris
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Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek. The book is a well-written and detailed survey of the generalship of Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig during the First World War. There is no attempt at psychoanalysis, or even a generalized biography. It is a study of his generalship and works quite well. Explicitly, J.P. Harris, a lecturer at the RMA Sandhurst, tries to avoid the extremes of passion engendered by Haig, and does a pretty good job. Haig comes across as a smart, complex man, who proved to be an adequate general - it is important to never forget that the Allies won, not the Germans. He is a self-aggrandizing and savvy political operator. But then, how does one reach the top if one is not. For all that, he tried hard to do the best for the BEF, and Harris shows that quite clearly. I finished the book not liking Haig, but at least I was cured of the detestation left by reading Winter's book last. As a minor nationalistic note, Harris, as a British historian, is visibly irritated with the glorification of the Australian and Canadian expeditionary forces, and tries hard, especially in the portion of the book dealing with the Hundred Days, to minimize their contribution. In fact, the Canadian Corps took over one quarter of all the prisoners taken by the entire BEF in the final few months, and made other contributions accordingly. I recommend this book to any serious amateur student of the First World War. ( ) geen besprekingen | voeg een bespreking toe
Onderdeel van de reeks(en)Cambridge Military Histories (2008)
Verwijzingen naar dit werk in externe bronnen. Wikipedia in het Engels (29)From December 1915 until the armistice of November 1918, Sir Douglas Haig was commander-in-chief of the largest army his country had ever put into the field. He has been portrayed as both an incompetent 'butcher and bungler' and a clear-sighted, imperturbable 'architect of victory'. However, in this magisterial account, J. P. Harris dispels such stereotypes. A dedicated military professional, Haig nevertheless found it difficult to adjust to the unprecedented conditions of the Western Front. His capacity to 'read' battles and broader strategic situations often proved poor and he bears much responsibility for British losses 1915-17 that were excessive in relation to the results achieved. By late 1917 his own faith in ultimate victory had become so badly shaken that he advocated a compromise peace. However, after surviving the German spring offensives of 1918, he played a vital role in the campaign that finally broke the German army. Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)940.4History and Geography Europe Europe Military History Of World War ILC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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