A letter received by Douglas Haig from a British "fan" of the First World War: "Illustrious General, the expectation of mankind is upon you—the ‘Hungry Haig’ as we call you here at home. You shall report 500,000 casualties, but the Soul of the empire will afford them."
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The British Empire could well afford 500,000 casualties.

The First World War was the production of casualties or death: a gigantic episode of potlatch or ostentatious destruction--soldiers providing their bodies as “gifts” to the nation state; sacrificial death testifying to the “greatness” of Great Britain--and of every other country. 

Warfare as loss; warfare as death. Warfare as the intentional creation or production of death. This is what the data shows. This is what reality shows. Yet some historians proclaim (much like Donald Trump), "They were trying to win. They were trying to win." 

Old paradigms die when old historians die.

Douglas Haig was the General who directed the Battle of the Somme—the most disastrous military defeat in British History—with 30,000 casualties. Subsequent battles continued to fail. Nevertheless, Haig retained the title of Commander-in-Chief until the end of the war in November 1918.

880,000 British men died in the First World War, 12.5% of those who served, 6% of the adult male population. Writing in the London Gazette on April 8, 1918, Haig reported (without apparent shame) that total British casualties in all theaters of the war—killed, wounded, missing and prisoners of war—was approximately 3,076,388.

Reflecting on the Battle of the Somme, he stated: “For many soldiers it meant certain death and all must have known that before they started.” The creation or production of CERTAIN DEATH: Haig much more transparent and honest than historians writing about the events.

In spite of the enormous casualties and costs of the battles he initiated, Haig received encouragement and support from the King and a substantial part of the British population. The following letter written to Haig was found among his papers.

Illustrious General, the expectation of mankind is upon you—the ‘Hungry Haig’ as we call you here at home. You shall report 500,000 casualties, but the Soul of the empire will afford them. And you shall break through with the cavalry of England and France for the greatest victory that history has ever known. Drive on, Illustrious General!

500,000 casualties--and the Empire will afford them. Warfare as loss. Loss as the purpose of the First World War.