Tannenberg 1914: Destruction of the Russian Second Army (Campaign, 386)

Explore the Eastern Front battle that resulted in one of the greatest defeats of World War I, in which an entire Russian army was annihilated by German arms. Tannenberg is a major battle that deserves a fully illustrated treatment all of its own, and for the first time this book brings the epic Eastern Front clash to life in visual detail. No other book on this topic walks you through the action like this one, using detailed maps to provide unit locations and movements and help explain key command decisions, while period photographs and colour battlescenes put soldiering back at the core of the events by revealing the military material culture of the opposing sides. Michael McNally guides you through the initial border engagements and the battles of Gumbinnen and Stallupönen, before moving on to explore the massive, often confused running battle of Tannenberg in easy to follow and concise detail. This work helps you understand how the Germans managed to maul Samsonov's Second Army and all but destroyed the Russians as a fighting force. The Russian war plan of using overwhelming numbers to gain a quick victory before conducting further operations would soon lie in pieces on the ground. It also assesses the contribution modern technology – such as railways, aerial reconnaissance, radio and telegraphy – made to the emphatic German victory. Cover 1 Contents 3 Origins Of The Campaign 4 Alliances and Misalliances 5 Girding For War 8 Stavka Plans 9 Chronology 10 Opposing Commanders 11 Russian 11 German 13 Opposing Forces 15 Russian 15 German 16 Orders Of Battle 17 Opposing Plans 20 Russian 20 German 22 The Campaign 24 Der Russeneinfall – Russia Attacks 24 Invasion 26 Stallupönen: 17 August 29 Gumbinnen: 20 August 34 A Change Of Strategy 45 Man Of The Moment 48 Samsonov’s Progress 50 Der Alte Hase 53 Lahna And Orlau: 23–24 August 54 Seeing The Elephant: Usdau And Bischofsburg, 25–26 August 60 The Sound Of The Guns: Usdau, 27 August 70 Turning The Flank: 27 August 71 Interlude At Osterode 75 A Day Of Decision: 28 August 76 The Beginnings Of Collapse: 28–29 August 80 Destruction Of An Army: 29–30 August 82 Aftermath 92 Select Bibliography 93 Index 95 Imprint 97