Question 3

To what extent were the generals to blame for the massive casualties on the Western Front in the First World War?

• Deal with the given factor even if you wish to argue that other factors were as or more significant.
• Deal with the issue of ‘To what extent?’
• Discuss the reputation of General Haig, and mention Nivelle and other generals.
• Argue that it was the failure of strategic and tactical thinking by generals that led to the mass casualties; such as the decision to order the new volunteer army to advance at a walking pace in line – examine and discuss this
• On the other hand you may view the approach of German generals at Verdun as one of deliberate mass slaughter.
• Whatever you say about generals, set your argument in the context of other relevant factors, such as:

• a) The state of military technology that favoured a well dug-in defence (artillery, machine guns, barbed wire etc);
• b) The mass nature of armies and the ability of both sides to keep the front lines supplied with men and material;
• c) The difficulties in achieving surprise because lack of calibration (before 1917) prevented an effective creeping barrage (hence lengthy preliminary bombardments) and so on.