'Lions led by Donkeys' - Is this a fair assessment of British generals in the Great War?

... 'Lions led by Donkeys' - Is this a fair assessment of British generals in the Great War? Ever since the first world war the quote 'lions led by donkeys' has been used to describe the British army, and refers to the brave troops as 'lions' that are being led by stupid 'donkey' generals. It came about as much of the public and soldiers opinions stated that the generals were incompetents who led their men to the death regardless of whether the battle they were fighting was a lost cause. The quote originated from the German troops, who respectfully commented on the British soldiers' bravery and upon how their lives where so carelessly wasted by their 'idiot' generals; many modern books, films and tv shows, for example hilarious 'Blackadder Goes Forth', still echo this belief. Is this however a just assessment of the British generals of World War 1? This portrait of moronic, heartless

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