Myth and Memory: Sir Douglas Haig and the Imposition of Allied Unified Command in March 1918

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig's claim to have taken the initiative in getting General Ferdinand Foch appointed to the allied supreme command in 1918 needs re-evaluation. After a discussion of the reliability of Haig's diaries, the five elements of the traditional narrative of this crucial event are examined in turn, using both British and French archival records. All five are shown to be mis-representations. Finally, an examination of the postwar record permits a tentative explanation for the persistence of the traditional narrative.