Germans almost always knew where Russian forces are where as the Russians were blind their intelligence was non-existent. ![]() ![]() Russians on the other hand suffered because of supplies and communication problem the Russian commanders were forced to use the wireless to communicate which were deciphered by the German intelligence. German plan was to finish off the 2nd army and than turn towards 1st army. A Cavalry division was used to screen the area between Konigsberg and 8th Army the situation was precarious for the Germans their extreme left flank was almost open and any attack by 1st Russian army would've meant encirclement and disaster for 8th army. While I Reserve Corps and XVII Corps moved to the left opposing the right wing of 2nd Russian army the plan was to encircle the 2nd army. XX Corps was placed in the middle who's job was to hold out as long as possible this was also the weakest point in German line. Thanks to the open Russian channels Germans were able to hear their orders and knew where which unit is gonna be and so I Corps was moved by rail from left to right to form a new flank opposite the left flank of 2nd Russian army. New commanders arrived on 23rd of Aug at 14:00 after taking over the command of 8th army both the commanders reviewed the plan and approved it. Hoffmann proposed a bold plan that instead of retreating and putting 8th army in a more dangerous position he proposed that 8th army should concentrate on unsuspecting 2nd Russian army (Under Samsonov) Prittzwitz was convinced. Total men: 230,000 German Plan: Prittzwitz now as we know was preparing to retreat but his chief of operations Col. 2nd Army, I Corps (2 divisions) VI Corps (2 divisions) XIII Corps (2 divisions) XV Corps (2 divisions) XXIII Corps (2 divisions)ģ independent divisions and 2 independent brigades. Russian Empire: 1st Army, Main Force: II Corps (2 divisions) III Corps (2 divisions) IV Corps (2 divisions) XX Corps (2 divisions) 8 independent divisions and 1 independent brigade. Had a few more small size brigades/divisions and later 3 more divisions and a brigade as reinforcements from Western Front. Commanders German Empire: Paul Von Hindenburg (Commander), Erich Ludendorff (Chief of Staff) and Max Hoffmann (Chief of Operations) Russian Empire: Alexander Samsonov (Commander 2nd Army) and Paul Von Rennenkampf (Commander 1st Army) Numbers: German Empire: 8th Army, Main force I Corps (2 divisions) XVII Corps (2 divisions) XX Corps (2 divisions) XI Corps (4 divisions) Reserve: Guards Reserve Corps (2 divisions) I Reserve Corps (5 divisions) Total men: 150,000 ![]() Stunned by this Germans launched an offensive on 17th Aug 1914 despite the strict orders of high command to 8th Army of staying static and not launching any offensive two battles occurred between 17-22 Aug The Battles of Stalluponen and Gumbinnen this offensive turned out to be a disaster for Germans the attack was repulsed Prittzwittz decided to retreat and abandon East Prussia and telephoned Moltke Chief of Army staff who than replaced Pritzwittz and his subordinate Waldersee with Paul Von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff. But the Germans got into trouble when the Russians sent their troops into East Prussia on 15/16th Aug. Germans played a gamble here they thought of finishing off the war on West in six weeks the same time Russian army will take to mobilize it's divisions. At the start of WW1 Germany sent majority of it's troops to the western front leaving only one field army in the east the 8th Army under General Prittzwitz. Battle of Tannenberg was the first big battle that took place on the eastern front.
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