Alexander Samsonov20 August 1914
Samsonov runs into a German trap, 1st day of the Battle of Tannenberg
Russia · Warfare / World War, 1st. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
Samsonov runs into a German trap, 1st day of the Battle of Tannenberg
Invades Germany near the village of Tannenberg
Zhilinsky orders Samsonov to resume the offensive. The Russians are outflanked & radio messages decoded
Zhilinsky orders Samsonov to stop "acting the coward & resume the offensive"
Ordered by Zhilinsky to stop "acting the coward & resume the offensive"
The Russian centre moves into a trap & is overwhelmed by the German VIII Army. Shoots himself after the Battle of Tannenberg. Decisive German victory under Hindenburg & Ludendorf against Russia in East Prussia. 2 Russian corps, 13th, 15th & 23rd are trapped
The Germans counterattack the Russian east flank
His behaviour during the Battle of Tannenberg, & failure to coordinate with Samsonovs Second Army, resulted in much criticism from sector commander Yakov Zhilinskiy and attempts by some members of the military high command to have him removed. Hindenburg defeats Samsonov & turns on Rennenkampf who retreats to the Niemen River
Hindenburg drives Samsonovs army back to Hohenstein
Hindenburg takes 90,000 prisoners & several hundred guns
Poor communications with both Stavka headquarters and, more specifically, with First Army commander Rennenkampf (with whom Samsonov had a personal quarrel), led to Samsonovs forces being encircled by the German Eighth Army under Hindenburg and Ludendorf. Only 60,000 Russian troops escape.
Samsonov is surrounded on 3 sides by Hindenburgs army & by swamps & lakes.
With his Second Army virtually destroyed, of a total of 150,000 men under his command less than 10,000 escaped German capture, Samsonov, lost in wooded terrain, and unable to face reporting the scale of the disaster to Tsar Nicholas II, commits suicide.
The Russian Second Army disintegrates, Samsonov shoots himself
Russian loses are 92,000 captured & 30,000 killed. Russian defeat which precipitates the revolution. Pressurised by France to attack in the east to help the French & British in the west
The last Russian troops are forced out of East Prussia
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