Lloyd George and the Generals

by David R. Woodward

The frustrating stalemate on the western front with its unprecedented casualties provoked a furious debate in London between the civil and military authorities over the best way to defeat Germany. The passions aroused continued to the present day. The mercurial and dynamic David Lloyd George stood at the centre of this controversy throughout the war. His intervention in military questions and determination to redirect strategy put him at odds with the leading soldiers and admirals of his day.
Professor Woodward, a student of the Great War for some four decades, explores the at times Byzantine atmosphere at Whitehall by exhaustive archival research in official and private papers. The focus is on Lloyd George and his adversaries such as Lord Kitchener, General Sir William Robertson, and Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig. The result is a fresh, compelling and detailed account of the interaction between civil and military authorities in total war.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1983

About the author

David R. Woodward is emeritus professor of history at Marshall University, where he taught for thirty-six years before his retirement.

Reviews

[Robin W]

Best book on this subject. Clearly shows the conflict between the generals and the politicians. Always the case during wartime and on a larger scale there are always conflicts between allies. This book I started reading a while back and gave up. But I started again and am glad I did. Five stars!