September 26-30, 1914
Russia vs. Germany
Eastern Front
Russia vs. Germany
Eastern Front
The Battle of Tannenberg was fought near the village of Allenstein, later renamed Tannenberg after the battle, in what was then east Prussia, but is now Olsztyn, Poland.
The leaders of the Russian Army were Alexander Samsonav (commander of the Second Army) and Paul von Rennenkamf (commander of the First Army). The leaders of the German Army were Paul von Hindenburg, Erich Ludendorff, and Max Hoffman.
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Russia's downfall in this battle was overconfidence. Their leader, Alexander Samsonav, believed that they would have the upper hand. The Germans' led an attack and when Samsonav realized how ill-fated their situation had become, he went off into the forest and proceeded to put a gun to his head and pull the trigger.
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Interesting Facts About The Battle
- The Russians had to use non-encrypted radio transmissions to communicate. These were easily intercepted by the Germans allowing the Germans to know exactly what the Russians were planning.
- Germany also sent soldiers from the western front to help fight the Russians. This likely contributed to their failure to take over France.
- The Germans were well aware that the two Russian generals did not like each other.
- 50,00 Russians were killed, 92,000 were Russian POWs, 10,000-15,ooo Germans' were killed or wounded.
- Although the plan to defeat the Russians was Colonel Hoffmann's, it was Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff who were considered heroes by the German press.