The Passchendaele Campaign as a Failure
There is much to take into account when judging whether the
Passchendaele campaign was a failure. I personally believe that the
fact that so many lives were lost for the allies means it can only be
seen as a failure. However, in my opinion, it was not a complete
failure.
In preparing for the Passchendaele campaign Haig had many problems to
consider: the French morale to keep up; persuading Russia to remain in
the war; capturing the Belgian ports among them. He aimed to achieve
all these. With regard to the Passchendaele Battle itself Haig’s
campaign achieved very few of the numerous objectives he had set
himself.
Having set his sights on reaching the Dutch frontier, his British
troops managed to advance on and take only the Gheluvelt ridge. This
Haig had hoped to achieve in the early stages of his campaign so as to
enable him then to tackle the other problems, but it turned out to be
his sole achievement in the Passchendaele area. However, capturing the
ridge was essential to gaining the upper hand in the Ypres salient and
by the end of his campaign the British troops had this strategic point
in their favour. They had also achieved the aim of capturing the ridge
before the worst winter weather set in, when the Ypres salient
regularly became impenetrable marshland. It took the troops longer
than expected (from July until Haig called off the campaign in
November) chiefly because bad weather arrived sooner than usual.
The ridge was as far as Haig’s forces had advanced. They had not come
anywhere near to capturing the German railhead at Roulers let alone
taking the Belgian ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend where there were two
German U Boat bases. This meant that the Germans were still cutting of
British food and ammunition supplies with their U Boat campaign and
that they were still receiving theirs. The campaign most definitely
failed in this respect.
Moreover, the minor victory of taking the Gheluvelt ridge was of
I hope that this is enough evidence to show you that war is not as beautiful and glory filled as many people make it out to be.
tells us that Haig believed that it was the only way to win. I feel
Operational leaders see how the individual components of an organization fit together and use those individuals work to make a larger outcome. When they focus on a problem, they think of what works best within the process and systems to make an impact on the situation. These types of leaders play a big part in making sure that things get done in an effective and functioning manner. According to the Army Doctrine ADP 6-0, the Army over time has strayed away from operational leaders and adapted Mission Command, which gives leaders the ability at the lowest level the capability to exercise disciplined initiative in an act of carrying out the larger mission . Mission Command is made up of the following six steps: Understanding, Visualize, Describe, Direct, Lead and Assess, in which a commander is responsible for. General Patton understood the intent of the Battle of the Bulge on different levels, he was able to form a mental image for the course of actions for the allies, enemies and lead his Army into combat while guiding his officers and soldiers to succeed in meeting his intent. The Battle of the Bulge is where General Patton gained one of his greatest military achievements by using his tactical leadership and logistical genius, which in return helped him turn around the main forces and forced the Germans to drive back in their final counter-offensive. General Patton strongly exercised Mission Command by understanding, visualizing, leading, and commanding what was known as the largest and bloodiest battle during World War II.
...ver a period of over two years and although the obtaining of a foothold in Germany was necessary, the leaders could have taken many more precautions to save many American lives. Operation Overlord illustrates bad planning through the conflicts of the leadership control, through lack of preparation for treacherous tides, and the unsuccessful aerial attacks.
The purpose of this speech for the class is to gain better knowledge of one of the most tragic and devastating battles of World War II, the Battle of the Bulge.
At dawn of 19th August 1942, six thousand and one hundred Allied soldiers, of whom roughly
...orth the cost which saved the lives of countless others that could have died from any further hostilities.
...ue caused, it still shows how dying in war was glorious to the deceased and believed to be one of best possible ways that one can die.
The Operation Overlord, the D-Day in 06 June 1944, was an allied invasion against the German forces occupying France through the joint and combined efforts of the British, Canadian and American forces. The invasion was considered “the greatest amphibious invasion force in history involving nearly three million troops crossing the English Channel from England to Normandy in occupied France.” (US History, 2014) It was claimed that the allied forces have successfully made through with their primary plan objective of seizing and securing the beachheads of Normandy despite the huge casualties and damages. In that regard, this study will try to review and reexamine the events or activities that had contributed substantially
The post D-Day Allied assault that swept through France was halted by Hitler’s unexpected counter-attack through the Ardennes, resulting in a confrontation named the Battle of the Bulge.
The Battle: The Story of the Bulge is not a book about how the American’s used sheer numbers and force to overcome the Germans. It is a story of how the GI, who was independent, cocky, and had poor garrison etiquette, overcame the odds and became an unlikely strong adversary thus winning the battle. I can relate to the GI because I find myself at times to be cocky and not always wanting to take orders I don’t agree with. I think this relation helped me to understand some of the emotions the soldiers expressed throughout the
as a historian it is clear that in the years of 1941 and 1942 things
World war two took many people by surprise and is one of the most historical and remembered events in all of history. One battle in Europe that is very well remembered is that Battle of the Bulge, it started December 16th of 1944 and ended in January 25th of 1945. The Battle of the Bulge took place in Belgium, France, and luxembourg and got its name because the countries shape looked like a big bulge. The battle was between Nazi Germany, with their dictator being Adolf Hitler, and America with their presidential leader Eisenhower. During the time of the battle weather conditions were horrible, it was very cold and neither sides had the best war supplies. The soldiers in this battle could not start fires or their enemies would see them, making
After heavy defeats in Normandy in July and August 1944, the remnants of the German troops were retreating from France through Benelux to German borders. In German lines was spreading desertion. Units disintegrated in the fight were escaping in all direction from the front back to Germany. Fast progressing of western Allies caused difficulties in supply, as the fighting was getting away from beaches. The whole Allied troops were supplied through the Normandy beaches and harbor Cherbourg. The Germans knew about the Allies problems and tried to keep ports as long as possible. The Allied Forces had trouble delivering supplies from the port to the advancing troops; they were progressing faster than the supplies could be delivered. They created so called “Red Ball Express” -supply system supported by 5,900 trucks. However, its mistake was that it consumed a lot of fuel.
victory or a loss. The Normandy invasion plan of attack was fairly simple: find relatively suitable