Surprisingly I think this tends to be a fallacy – the idea that the war was directed by rich, upper class officers who sent the working classes in to a meat grinder. Per capita, at least for Britain, the “aristocracy” actually lost a significant number. Even members of the royal family. Prime Minister Asquith lost his son.
Ofc there were still toffs, especially in high command, who didn’t fight on the frontlines, but that is pretty much any war.
Actually, infantry officers often displayed conspicuous courage and died immediately in attacks, which was detrimental to command and control and negatively impacted the efficacy of many attacks. Surviving attack waves in enemy trenches usually ended up under the command of whatever corporal made it through the attack.
SkyeetteSlender on
The only thing missing here is a dramatic violin soundtrack
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Surprisingly I think this tends to be a fallacy – the idea that the war was directed by rich, upper class officers who sent the working classes in to a meat grinder. Per capita, at least for Britain, the “aristocracy” actually lost a significant number. Even members of the royal family. Prime Minister Asquith lost his son.
Ofc there were still toffs, especially in high command, who didn’t fight on the frontlines, but that is pretty much any war.
[At least most of the junior officers did fought and died alongside their men.](https://youtu.be/EUz1BwVVuy0?feature=shared)
Actually, infantry officers often displayed conspicuous courage and died immediately in attacks, which was detrimental to command and control and negatively impacted the efficacy of many attacks. Surviving attack waves in enemy trenches usually ended up under the command of whatever corporal made it through the attack.
The only thing missing here is a dramatic violin soundtrack