The Donkeys The Donkeys

The Donkeys

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    • $18.99

Publisher Description

The landmark exposé of incompetent leadership on the Western Front - why the British troops were lions led by donkeys

On 26 September 1915, twelve British battalions – a strength of almost 10,000 men – were ordered to attack German positions in France. In the three-and-a-half hours of the battle, they sustained 8,246 casualties. The Germans suffered no casualties at all.

Why did the British Army fail so spectacularly? What can be said of the leadership of generals? And most importantly, could it have all been prevented? In The Donkeys, eminent military historian Alan Clark scrutinises the major battles of that fateful year and casts a steady and revealing light on those in High Command - French, Rawlinson, Watson and Haig among them - whose orders resulted in the virtual destruction of the old professional British Army. Clark paints a vivid and convincing picture of how brave soldiers, the lions, were essentially sent to their deaths by incompetent and indifferent officers – the donkeys.

‘An eloquent and painful book... Clark leaves the impression that vanity and stupidity were the main ingredients of the massacres of 1915. He writes searingly and unforgettably’ Evening Standard

GENRE
Professional & Technical
RELEASED
2011
30 September
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
240
Pages
PUBLISHER
Random House
SELLER
The Random House Group Limited
SIZE
2
MB

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Diaries: In Power Diaries: In Power
2011
Barbarossa Barbarossa
2012
Diaries Diaries
2011
The Last Diaries The Last Diaries
2011
Alan Clark: A Life in his Own Words Alan Clark: A Life in his Own Words
2011
Aircraft Wrecks: The Walker's Guide Aircraft Wrecks: The Walker's Guide
2009