Battle of Passchendaele - 95 years ago

[daftandbarmy]

The Battle of Passchendaele - where we started to measure supporting fire in 'megatons':

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Passchendaele

 

[BadgerTrapper]

The birthplace of "Devil's Arithmetic" if I'm not mistaken?

 

[cupper]

The birthplace of "Devil's Arithmetic" if I'm not mistaken?

Obviously you are not referring to this:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/devils-arithmetic-jane-yolen/1100464775

 

[BadgerTrapper]

Nope, not that at all, Cupper. I was referring to Douglas Haig and his meat grinder mentality. . .

 

[cupper]

OK. That made more sense.

I wasn't familiar with the term, so I goggled it and the references were all related to the novel by the same name.

 

[Edward Campbell]

With respect, Sir Douglas Haig did not have a "meat grinder mentality." He fought the war he was given, he, infamously and, perhaps, with a bit too much sang froid, told is political masters the unvarnished truth about the war which they had decided to wage: it would be won by "the last man standing."

If you want to assign blame for a "meat grinder mentality" then I suggest the blundering fools in the French high command and general staff: Neville, Pétain and Foche being amongst the worst men to ever wear any military uniform. The British commanders, including Haig, were a rather pedestrian lot but the popular, late 20th century historians are, by and large, wrong about their leadership and ability.


Edit: typo

 

[cupper]

If you want to assign blame for a "meat grinder mentality" then I suggest the blundering fools in the French high command and general staff: Neville, Pétain and Foche being amongst the worst men to ever wear any military uniform. The British commanders, including Haig, were a rather pedestrian lot but the popular, late 20th century historians are, by and large, wrong about their leadership and ability.

Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" does a good portrayal of this.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050825/

 

[QORvanweert]

Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" does a good portrayal of this.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050825/

Excellent movie. Watched it on Netflix last week.

 

[cupper]

"King & Country" is another along the same theme, this time using the British Army as backdrop.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058263/

 

[daftandbarmy]

I'd recommend a read of the account of the battle in this book: Shock Troops

http://www.amazon.ca/Shock-Troops-Canadians-Fighting-1917-18/dp/0670067350

It's an excellent description of the difficulties the Candians encountered during the battle, and how they overcame them.