This document provides an overview of different perspectives on the commanders of British and Allied forces during World War I. It presents three views: 1) The commanders were incompetent and didn't care for their soldiers, sending them to their deaths. 2) The commanders did not do a great job and soldiers suffered as a result, but blame is also shared with politicians. 3) The commanders faced tremendous challenges in building an army and learning new tactics, and took as much care of soldiers as possible given the circumstances. The document asks students to analyze these perspectives and represent them visually.

1. Starter List some describing words for the two images – i.e. what sums up the character of a ‘lion’ or a ‘donkey’?

2. Learning outcome

3. Learning outcome

4. Learning outcome By the end of the lesson you will have evaluated whether the analogy Lions led by Donkeys is correct

5. Setting the scene

6. Setting the scene Google Earth By 1916, the First World War had become a stalemate. No progress was being made and conditions were getting worse in the trenches. The British decided to try to break this deadlock at the Battle of the Somme

7. Divide your A3 paper up Evidence Sum it up – min 3 bullet point Does it agree with the Lions led by Donkeys analogy?

8. Task 1 Private George Coppard, a survivor of the Battle of the Somme “ How did the British planners imagine the soldiers would get through the barbed wire? Didn’t any General know that weapon fire lifts the wire up and puts it in a worse tangle than before?”

9. Task 2 Blackadder 20mins20 secs

11. Task 2 What is your impression of Colonel Melchett?

12. Task 2 What qualities are needed for a leader?

13. Starter What qualities are needed for a good leader?

14. Task 2 Would you have liked to have been led into battle by Melchett?

15. Task 3 sources “The Men are in splendid spirits – several have said how well instructed, and informed they have been. All the commanders are full of confidence” An extract from the British Commander-in-Chief’s diary dated 30 th June 1916 “The Machine Gun is a much over-rated weapon” Field Marshall Douglas Haig speaking in 1915 British 420,000 French 200,000 German 650,000 The casualty figures at the Battle of the Somme “We are slowly but surely killing off the best of the male population of these islands. We are getting little gain for this. A letter to the Daily Telegraph 29 November 1916

16. Task 4 footage http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/launch_ani_somme_map.shtml

17. Focus task You have to show your understanding of the issue now…whether it was Lions led by Donkeys? Write an email to Field Marshall Haig explaining whether you agree with his tactics at the Battle of the Somme.

18. To: CC: BC : Subject: Battle of the Somme Arial 14 B I U S Field Marshall Douglas Haig 30 th June 1916 start Document 1 - Mi Document 2 - Mi

19. To: CC: BC : Subject: Battle of the Somme Arial 14 B I U S Field Marshall Douglas Haig 30 th June 1916 start Document 1 - Mi Document 2 - Mi Dear Sir, I am writing to talk to you about..... I feel that your tactics...... The number of casualties...... I feel you could have......

20. Lesson review Strongly agree Strongly disagree Agree Disagree

21. Lesson review The mass slaughter of British soldiers was necessary to end the stalemate

22. Lesson review Sometimes in War you have to sacrifice life

23. Lesson review Field Marshall Haig was a great leader

24. Lesson review Field Marshall Haig didn’t care about his soldiers

25. Lesson review Was it Lions led by Donkeys?

26. Essay “ Lions led by donkeys!” How far do you agree with this description of the Battle of the Somme?

27. Lions led by Donkeys ? 9set4 Even today, people hold strong opinions about the commanders of the British and Allied forces in the Great War (1914-18). There is a range of different views: 1. The commanders were 'donkeys'. They were incompetent and didn't take care of their soldiers, the 'lions'. They sat in safety behind the lines while they sent their troops charging against machine guns and barbed wire. Their men resented them and only obeyed because they would be shot otherwise. 2. The commanders didn't do a great job and the soldiers paid the price. However, we shouldn't blame only the military commanders, since the politicians shared in the big decisions and ordered the commanders to try to win the war. 3. The commanders did a remarkable job while facing tremendous challenges. They had to create a huge army from ordinary civilians in a short space of time. They also learnt new tactics and used new weapons as they became available. They took as much care of their men as they could and relations between officers and men were good

29. Lions led by Donkeys ? 9set4 Statement 1 Can be summed up by….. Statement 2 Can be summed up by…. Statement 3 can be summed up by….