TikTok History Lesson: When Old Generals Fight the Last War

In a recent TikTok video by WHAT HISTORY!, the author highlighted a common misconception about military strategy: that old generals always fight the last war. The video uses the example of General Douglas Haig, a British commander in World War I, who famously underestimated the potential of airplanes for reconnaissance. "General Haig was a cavalryman," the author explains, "He really believed in horses." This belief, the video argues, led to missed opportunities to use air power effectively. The video then contrasts Haig's approach with the Russo-Japanese War, where the Japanese Navy's decisive victory at Tsushima demonstrated the importance of naval power. This comparison underscores how rapidly military technology and strategy evolve, and how clinging to outdated tactics can have severe consequences. The video ends with a discussion of battleships in WWII, further illustrating the point that technology and warfare are constantly changing. The video's clear presentation and engaging style make it suitable for a short news article.