THE BATTLE OF TANNENBERG
August 23 - 30, 1914
1914 was a scary year for the Germans. They were facing a two pronged move.
While Germany was using their strategy to try to get the knock out block against France within a few months, Russia made the move.
Hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers advanced into Germany, causing wide spread fear and panic...
A final effort to stop the Russian onslaught from the east occurred at Tannenberg in August of 1914...
The fate of Germany and its war machine hung in the balance...
August 23 - 30, 1914
1914 was a scary year for the Germans. They were facing a two pronged move.
While Germany was using their strategy to try to get the knock out block against France within a few months, Russia made the move.
Hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers advanced into Germany, causing wide spread fear and panic...
A final effort to stop the Russian onslaught from the east occurred at Tannenberg in August of 1914...
The fate of Germany and its war machine hung in the balance...
Map of the Battle of Tannenberg
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol50no2/graphics/774177_tan.jpg/image.jpg
Allied Powers:
1st army (led by Paul von Rennenkampf) 2nd army (led by Alexander Samsonov) 350,000 Soliders |
Central Powers:
8th Army (led by General Prittwitz) Paul Von Hindenburg (replaced General Prittwitz) Erich Ludendorff (replaced General Prittwitz) Colonel Maximilian Hoffmann (architect of the German Victory) 150,000 Soliders |
Overview:
Russia's battle plans:
Two pronged attack, one from the northwest by the First Army and Rennenkampf, and one form the south by the Second Army and Samsonov to cut off the German 8th army
Germany's battle plans:
Cut off the severely overextended Russian Second Army
Fighting breaks out on August 17th between the 8th German Army and 1st Russian Army at Gumbinnen. Rennenkampf manages to push Prittwitz out and force him to retreat. Prittwitz is sacked and on August 23rd, Hindenburg and Ludendorff halt the retreat.
However, the main part of the Russian Army, the Russian first Army under General Rennenkampf ran into supply problems and was forced to halt, unable to support the Russian 2nd army under General Samsonov, who believed that the the Russian 1st army was still progressing to meet up with them. Thus, the 2nd army pushed into Tannenberg unaware that they were being pulled right into a trap.
Later, Hoffman, a colonel in the German Army managed to get hold of Russian military plans. Learning that the Russia first Army was not going to move deeper into Germany and would thus not be able to assist the overextended Russian 2nd army. So, the Germany commanders decided to move all their troops to encircle and destroy the Russian Second Army.
Here, Samasonov should have turned back, but he continued to advance into territory, exactly as the Germans wanted. In addition, although General Rennenkampf got word that the bulk of the German army was moving south, he did not follow and continued his march west, leaving the fate of the Russian 2nd army in the hands of the Germans. When he finally realized his position and called for a hasty retreat, it was already too late and his forces were practically wiped out.
Russia's battle plans:
Two pronged attack, one from the northwest by the First Army and Rennenkampf, and one form the south by the Second Army and Samsonov to cut off the German 8th army
Germany's battle plans:
Cut off the severely overextended Russian Second Army
Fighting breaks out on August 17th between the 8th German Army and 1st Russian Army at Gumbinnen. Rennenkampf manages to push Prittwitz out and force him to retreat. Prittwitz is sacked and on August 23rd, Hindenburg and Ludendorff halt the retreat.
However, the main part of the Russian Army, the Russian first Army under General Rennenkampf ran into supply problems and was forced to halt, unable to support the Russian 2nd army under General Samsonov, who believed that the the Russian 1st army was still progressing to meet up with them. Thus, the 2nd army pushed into Tannenberg unaware that they were being pulled right into a trap.
Later, Hoffman, a colonel in the German Army managed to get hold of Russian military plans. Learning that the Russia first Army was not going to move deeper into Germany and would thus not be able to assist the overextended Russian 2nd army. So, the Germany commanders decided to move all their troops to encircle and destroy the Russian Second Army.
Here, Samasonov should have turned back, but he continued to advance into territory, exactly as the Germans wanted. In addition, although General Rennenkampf got word that the bulk of the German army was moving south, he did not follow and continued his march west, leaving the fate of the Russian 2nd army in the hands of the Germans. When he finally realized his position and called for a hasty retreat, it was already too late and his forces were practically wiped out.
Notable Features:
One of the few clear cut and one-sided battles in World War I.
One of the few clear cut and one-sided battles in World War I.
Implications:
Russia lost 140,000 soldiers, of which 95,000 were captured, 30,000 were killed or wounded, and lost 500 guns. Only 10,000 of the original 150,000 strong army managed to escape back to Russia.
The Germans lost less than 20,000 men.
Russia would never invade Germany again.
Germany could send more troops onto the western front for a new offensive.
Germany could begin to take over tracts of Russian land.
Dissent would begin to form in the Russian ranks, ultimately resulting in the Bolshevik takeover in 1917.
Thus, Russia was essentially already taken out of the war.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/tannenberg.htm
Russia lost 140,000 soldiers, of which 95,000 were captured, 30,000 were killed or wounded, and lost 500 guns. Only 10,000 of the original 150,000 strong army managed to escape back to Russia.
The Germans lost less than 20,000 men.
Russia would never invade Germany again.
Germany could send more troops onto the western front for a new offensive.
Germany could begin to take over tracts of Russian land.
Dissent would begin to form in the Russian ranks, ultimately resulting in the Bolshevik takeover in 1917.
Thus, Russia was essentially already taken out of the war.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/tannenberg.htm