History Coursework: The Battle Of The Somme

... med our anticipation and hopes that the tide has now turned in our favour. I congratulate you most warmly on the skill with which your plans were laidÆ than true pleasure in what Haig was doing. Source E: (Extract from æMy War MemoirsÆ by the German General Ludendorff, 1919) Source E follows a now familiar pattern, i.e. the general making excuses for his mistakes. This time however it seems a bit stranger, as it is now the defeated General, and so should be seen as a very reliable source. He says in it æthey worked their way further and further into the German lines. We had heavy losses in men and material. As a result of the Somme we were completely exhausted on the Western Front. If the war had lasted our defeat seemed inevitableÆ. Now this actually reinforces what Haig says in his despatch (Source A), by saying that it did succeed in wearing down their forces and exhausting their men. So this just confirms to me, that this is mearly Ludendorff trying to excuse himself from the blame for his part in GermanyÆs defeat. Source F: (From AJP Taylor æThe First World WarÆ 1963) AJP Taylor is a well-respected historian, famous for his often very controversial ideas. However, as with all historians he does hold the benefit of hindsight. He suggests the British morale was very low, that the soldiers had a general loathing for the Generals and only trusting each other and that both sides were tired and very worn out. This source seems to contradict everything that Ludendorff says in Source E, saying that the British forces were not strong at all, and certainly no stronger than the German forces. This goes to back up what I have said previously a ...