Yakov Grigoryevich Zhilinsky, who as chief of the general staff until early 1914 had made the military convention with France whereby Russia pledged to put 800,000 men in the field by the 15th day of mobilization. The man who was, in large measure, responsible for the blundering execution of this plan was also responsible for the disastrous invasion’s being made, and being made before Russian forces were ready. Because the Russians had more than a two-to-one superiority, a combined attack had every chance of destroying the Germans between the two armies. To ease the pressure on France, the Russian commander in chief, Grand Duke Nicholas (Nikolay Nikolayevich, a cousin of Emperor Nicholas II), had urged his First and Second armies to invade East Prussia before they had achieved full readiness. The German claw was, indeed, being menaced by a Russian pair of pincers instead. An Austrian plan to cut off Russia’s territory in the former Congress Kingdom of Poland was further crippled by the fact that the German claw of the pincers did not operate. The Austrian command, emulating the German in violating the Clausewitzian principle of Schwerpunkt (“concentration”), detached part of its strength in an abortive attempt to crush Serbia. The opening encounters on the Eastern Front had been marked by rapid changes of fortune the greater distances and the greater differences between the equipment of the armies ensured a fluidity which was lacking in the West. Initial developments on the Eastern Front The crushing defeat occurred barely a month into the conflict, but it became emblematic of the Russian Empire’s experience in World War I.

Britannica Explains In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.īattle of Tannenberg, (August 26–30, 1914), World War I battle fought at Tannenberg, East Prussia (now Stębark, Poland), that ended in a German victory over the Russians.

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