The battle was later named hindenburgs battle of tannenberg, since tannenberg was still associated with a defeat of the german order in 1410. The battle of tannenberg and masurian lakes, russias 1914 thrust into east prussia. Contentsshow russian northwestern front general shilinski, front commander not present maj. Battle of grunwald, first tannenberg, july 15, 1410, battle fought at tannenberg polish. The russian 2nd army, led by general aleksandr samsonov had driven deep into east prussia during august. They fought for the strategically important narva isthmus from 25 july10 august 1944. In august 1914, the german eighth army clashed with the russian second army near allenstein, east prussia, in the battle of tannenberg.
The battle ended with the almost complete destruction of the russian second army the battle took place near. The battle of tannenberg august 2730, 1914 opened world war i with a decisive german victory over russiaindeed the kaisers only clearcut victory in a. The critical battle of tannenberg in 1914 that set the tone for the rest of imperial russias involvement in the first world war has long been a neglected subject in english language histories. A series of followup battles first masurian lakes destroyed most of the first army as well and kept. The battle of tannenberg was fought between russia and germany between 26 and 30 august 1914, the first month of world war i. Home school of advanced military studies monographs application of operational art the german 8th army at the battles at tannenberg 1914. In reality, it was not the complete catastrophe the germans symbolically made of it, but it was close enough. He took lead of the war of the battle of tannenberg. This deficiency was rectified in 1991 when dennis e. The battle of tannenberg was fought august 2331, 1914, during world war i 19141918. Clash of empires, and for eleven years that book has stood as the best. Slav triumphalism and a painful memory of the german knightly order. In this first paperback edition of the classic work, historian dennis showalter analyzes this battles causes.
Hindenburg commander of german forces the war in august 1914. Your response highlights my frustrations, and my reason for posting the question the information available seems centered on the 15th century battle and not the ww i one, which is my interest. The nafziger collection of orders of battle world war one. It was the germans armys greatest success of the war. The crushing defeat occurred barely a month into the conflict, but it became emblematic of the russian empires experience in world war i. The commander sends a letter to his emperor and king saying that in the th, 15th, and 18th, the army corps have been destroyed. Tannenberg 1914 is a clear, concise narrative of this famous battle. In august 1914, two russian armies, rennenkampfs first and samsonovs second, invaded the german province of east prussia. Tannenberg, battle of by oxana sergeevna nagornaya the battle of tannenberg 2630 august 1914, in which general aleksandr samsonovs 2nd russian narevskaia army was surrounded and completely annihilated, was one of the largest battles on the eastern front in world war i. Hindenburgs hour the tannenberg campaign 1914 noble. In this first paperback edition of the classic work, historian dennis showalter analyzes this battles causes, effects, and implications for subsequent german military policy. It was fought by the russian first and second armies and the german eighth army between 17 august and 2 september 1914.
Below are two books that cover the battle of tannenburg for those interested in further reading. One should be grateful for everything of substance written about the eastern front during the first world war, and this book is a nice supplement to shovalters. The russians embarked rashly on an invasion of east prussia in accordance with their treaty obligations and joint staff talks with the french. Two ill prepared, yet superior in numbers, imperial russian armies attack east prussia in august 1914 in order to honor the francorussian alliance of 1894. The battle of tannenberg sigint posted on june 6, 2017 by msw a german communications squad behind the western front, setting up using a tandem bicycle power generator to power a light radio station, much later than the 1914 battle of tannenberg, in september of 1917. This is the order of battle for both the russian and german armies at the battle of tannenberg, august 17 to september 2, 1914. Pdf the tannenberg myth in history and literature, 19141945. The battle marked the end of the orders expansion along the southeastern coast of the baltic sea and the beginning of the decline of its power.
The tannenberg myth in history and literature, 19141945. The battle of tannenberg was one of the first major battles of world war i. Sir alfred knox, british military attache attached to 2nd army. The game covers the battles of tannenberg and the masurian lakes during mid august through mid september. The battle of tannenberg was a decisive engagement between the russian empire and the german empire in the first days of world war i. The nafziger collection of orders of battle the nafziger collection contains orders of battle from 1600 to 1945 with over 7000 individual pdf files. In this battle, the germans successfully encircled russian and troops causing them to surrender. Stebark in northeastern poland formerly east prussia that was a major polishlithuanian victory over the knights of the teutonic order.
Battle of tannenberg 1914 poland forum tripadvisor. The battle of tannenberg in late august 1914 has been described as the most. The battle of tannenberg august 2730, 1914 opened world war i with a decisive german victory over russiaindeed the kaisers only clearcut victory in a nonattritional battle during four years of war. Step back into the combat zone of world war one to watch a crucial moment in the. The battle of tannenberg 1914 the tannenberg battlefield is not easy to interpret. Clash of empires, 1914 cornerstones of military history new ed by dennis showalter isbn. Battle of tannenberg, august 2630, 1914, world war i battle fought at tannenberg, in what is now northeastern poland, that ended in a german victory over the russians. Allied with france and britain, grand duke nicholas, the russian commander, agreed to help relieve the french, under attack.
Order of battle at tannenberg 1914 military wiki fandom. Battle of tannenberg august 26 august 30, 1914 world. The lone german army there, hindenburgs eighth, had to rely on interior lines and railroads to concentrate against each russian army in turn. However with some help we covered some of the central ground covered by the russian 2nd army and the german 8th army during the fighting of. Tannenberg 1914 consists of a historical prologue on the battle of tannenberg in 1410, five chapters on the campaign itself, an epilogue, a campaign chronology, an order of battle, a section on organization and weaponry, bibliography and notes. The battle of tannenberg 2730 august, 1914 opened world war one with a decisive german victory over russia indeed, the kaisers only clearcut victory in a nonattritional battle during all four years of war. The battle of tannenberg was fought basically between the german 8th army and the advancing russian 2nd army. This game focuses on the southern half of the campaign, with the. The great war week by week 100 years later s2 e8 hindenburgs cunning plan a 2nd tannenberg i the great war week 30 duration.
It began with the authors interest in napoleonic wars, and steadily grew to other areas because of the gaming publics interest in these highly detailed historical orders of battle. Just a comment about the battle of tannenberg to get this discussion going. The battle of tannenberg was probably one of the most victorious battles of the first world war for the germans. The battle of tannenberg sigint weapons and warfare. It was a resounding victory for the german army and proved that they could defeat larger armies through superior tactics and training. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The great war week by week 100 years later s2 e8 hindenburgs cunning plan a 2nd tannenberg i the great war week 30. He just only documented things about the first battle of tannenberg but he showed us the hardships of men in battle. Pdf the battle of tannenberg in late august 1914 has been described as the most. Battle of tannenberg august 26 august 30, 1914 the battle of tannenberg went into history as one of the greatest german victories in world war 1 and as one of the most devastating russian defeats which was a major contributor to the russian revolution because the russian army failed to recover morally from the defeat. Relief from the russian border in the form of counterattacks were weak and insufficient.
Battle of tannenberg 1914 simple english wikipedia. From 26 august to september 1914, which covers the initial encounters prior to tannenberg as well as the battle of the masurian lakes a week after, the battle of tannenberg is still taught at war colleges around the world, and for good reason. The battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the russian second army and the suicide of its commanding general, alexander samsonov. The modern battle took place nearly 20 miles from the original battle of tannenberg 1410, but would share the original title as a way to avenge the teutonic defeat from centuries before. One can also note that some military historians believe that a schlieffen plan with a reverse sign that is, a defensive in the west and an offensive in the east would have been the better german. The defeat at grunwald left a longlasting humiliation that remained part of the prussian identity until the german victory on the nearby ground at the battle of tannenberg in 1914. Clash of empires, 1914 cornerstones of military history by dennis e. The outcome was the almost complete destruction of the 2nd army its commander gen.
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