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Tannenberg (BATTLE OF a great battle)

BATTLE OF, a great battle which takes its name from a village in East Prussia, in the Mazurian Lakes region, was one of the first important general engagements between German and Russian forces in the World War. In the early weeks the Russians, under Rennenkampf, had invaded East Prussia and defeated the German retaining forces, under von François, who were forced back on Konigsberg. The German General Staff, alarmed by this serious situation, immediately made heroic efforts to retrieve their disaster and heavy reinforcements were sent to East Prussia under the command of General von Hindenburg, already retired, but recognized as one of the best informed German officers regarding the topography of the difficult lake region in East Prussia. In all he had about 150,000 men, with which to drive back the much superior forces of the Russians, but in his victory, he decided to advance to Allenstein, through a country of small lakes, bogs and marshes. The nature of the country made it impossible for any large army to march in a compact mass, and Samsonov was obliged to divide his army into two main columns.

On Aug. 26 he encountered a strong German force. This was von Hindenburg's newly organized army, who had taken a position across the railroad from Allenstein to Soldau. With his intimate knowledge of the country, Hindenburg had arranged his position in such a way that he had a large area of lakes and swamp, utterly impassable, immediately in front of him. Thus only his flanks were open to attack, and he could re-enforce either wing wing without danger from attack against his front. The Russians attacked, and until the last day of the month it seemed that they were to win another victory here. Then Hindenburg counter-attacked with such skill that he deceived Samsonov regarding his intentions, and caught the right flank of the Russians unexpectedly, at the same time getting possession of the only road by which they could have retreated. The Russians were driven deeper and deeper into the bogs and marshes. They found their guns sinking into the soft mire, 4