Nelson's history of the war

26–30 August 1914

Battle of Tannenberg (1914)

CONTENTS.

XIII. Tannenberg

TANNENBERG.

TANNENBERG.

TANNENBERG.

The Russians overrun East Prussia — General von Hindenburg — Composition of his Army — RennenkampfE besieges Koenigs- berg — Samsonov and the Army of the Narev — His Strategy — The Battle of Tannenberg — Russian Defeat and Death of Samsonov — Von Hindenburg's Achievement — Rennen- kampfi's Retreat across the Niemen — German Confidence.

GERMAN METHODS AND AIMS. 203

prisoners the exact corps that are in the opposite front. The very general confusion which prevailed as to the particular corps in different parts of the field was a proof that on this point the German plan had succeeded. The second type of surprise — the sudden pressure at a point of more troops than have been looked for — was not achieved by the Germans except in the first assault on the Sambre and the Meuse. There undoubtedly the French were ignorant as to the strength of von Kluck's re- inforcements, and as to the weight of the blow from the Ardennes about to be delivered by the German centre. The Marne was not for the Allies a success of the same type. The Germans were perfectly aware of the French reserves ; but they under- estimated their fighting value and that of the re- treating armies. Of the third type — unexpected speed of movement — we have a good instance in von Hindenburg's victory of Tannenberg, and also to some extent in the advance of the Russian armies on Lemberg and in the French operations in Lor- raine which resulted in the temporary capture of Saarburg. Of the fourth type — moving over country believed to be impassable — Tannenberg is also a good example. There von Hindenburg won by his minute knowledge of the bogs and lakes, so that he could take guns over what Samsonov thought was a quagmire, but he knew to be a gravel bottom.