Battle of Tannenberg

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"

Later gives him Hindenburg & Ludendorf a legendary status during the Weimar Republic. Decisive victory against Russia in east Prussia

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

Gathers a force 100,000 against the threat posed by Samsonov & Rennekamps armies

Only 60,000 Russian troops escape. Hindenburg takes 90,000 prisoners & several hundred guns

Hindenburg defeats Samsonov & turns on Rennenkampf who retreats to the Niemen River

Leads the XVIII Corps

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

Hindenburg drives Samsonovs army back to Hohenstein

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

The Russians lose 92,000 compared to 13,000 Germans. Ludendorf & Hindenberg outflank & defeat the Russian Second Army