Tannenberg: August 23, 1914 — I Like to Hear Myself Talk History

The Germans Move South

***Erich Ludendorff in 1914***
*German Federal Archives*

At 0400 a train arrived at a station in Hanover to pick up a single notable passenger. An old man, resplendent in an old, blue Prussian officer’s uniform. Paul von Hindenburg had not yet been issued a new field grey uniform, and had been waiting for an hour for the arrival of the train. When it finally arrived, Hindenburg was briefed by Ludendorff on the situation in East Prussia, with both agreeing that it was imperative the 8th Army remain east of the Vistula. To that end, I Corps is to be moved south immediately to bolster XX Corps defense against the Russian 2nd Army.

The general situation in the east was not going well. The Austrian offensive into Galicia had by now thoroughly bogged down, with the Hapsburg commanders pleading for help from the Germans in East Prussia, despite their own dire situation. By this point the Russian 2nd Army was advancing on a front almost forty miles in length, from Soldau to Ortelsburg. The German XX Corps, the only force currently opposing them, was by now in great danger of envelopment.

Despite these grim portents, a stroke of luck was about to befall the Germans. His men exhausted, and he himself worried about the strong defenses around Konigsberg, General von Rennenkampf decides to halt the advance of the Russian 1st Army, as yet unaware of the Germans’ retreat in the north. His decision to regroup is further backed by General Zhilinski at Northwestern Front headquarters, who is cautious of the Germans’ intentions. Indeed the Front Commander was concerned that the 2nd Army might force the Germans to pull back their entire force into Konigsberg, thereby overwhelming the 1st Army as they lay siege to the city.

The remnants of von Mackensen’s XVII Corps today rested, attempting to regroup their scattered and demoralized forces. For the time being, they will have no further significant role to play in the campaign. Francois’ I Corps, however, remains combat capable, and in accordance with the orders of the new Army commanders, entrains in the afternoon to rush southward to join XX Corps in blunting Samsonov’s attack.

***German infantry entrained***
*German Federal Archives*

General von Scholtz, commanding XX Corps, has in the meantime the unenviable task of holding the Russian 2nd Army as far east as possible to prevent the collapse of the defense of East Prussia. With poor transport his corps is essentially stationary, but has a significant reserve of artillery and machine guns. In addition, von Scholtz has been in command for two years, and has been drilling his men for this type of operation. Even though the odds are not in their favor, the men of XX Corps were prepared to hold their line with a grim determination.

On the other side of the line, General Samsonov issued new orders to the men of the 2nd Army, deploying his four corps in such a way as to hopefully destroy the Germans and open the door into the heart of Germany. With Russian I Corps and VI Corps ordered to hold in reserve at Soldau and Ortelsburg, respectively, XIII Corps is to move to the west and garrison the town of Jedwabno. As it does, XV Corps is to attack the Germans at Orlau and Frankenau. The danger posed by these movements of separating them too much from support from 1st Army was, at this time, acceptable to Samsonov and his staff, especially in light of the easier movement of supplies and men using the captured German railroads. The orders were finalized and issued at 1930.

The days’ battle began at Orlau, as troops of the Russian 8th Division attacked the German line. The Germans immediately countered with a bayonet charge, the men singing Deutschland Uber Alles at the top of their lungs as the ran, the Kaiser’s black, white and red tricolor flying above them. Brutal hand to hand combat ensues, with many attacks falling in the tall lupine flowers that covered the field, making it difficult for the medics to locate them. One German Jager (light infantry) officer even jumped into a Russian position and engaged an enemy officer in a diel with sabres, the surrounding men watching until the German slew his opponent, after which he was promptly shot.

At the headquarters of the Russian 29th Regiment a battle degenerated into literal hand to hand fighting as the men discarded their weapons in a vicious fight over the regimental colors. The regimental staff was eventually all killed or captured, but one Russian officer was able to crawl away with the flag, dying some distance away draped in the Tsar’s colors. Eventually, just after nightfall, the Germans pushed the last Russians away from Orlau. The town was secure, at least for the moment.

Nearby, at Lahna, the defenders were elite light infantry of the 1st East Prussian Jager Battalion, considered to be among the best marksmen in the German Army. They picked off the Russian officers as the attack began, and held the town almost to the last man. When the survivors finally abandoned the blazing village to the Russians, only thirty men remained. The Russians continued to mop of stragglers in the area, often engaging their own units in the darkness as the men operated in confusion without their officers.

The day’s events were encouraging to the Germans. General Scholtz of XX Corps proposed to 8th Army headquarters a counterattack at dawn on 24 August, but his reinforcements were delayed. Although I Corps had entrained at 1300, floods had prevented adequate trains from being able to arrive from Danzig, leaving an irritated Francois to report that his forces might not be ready to rejoin the battle until 26 August.

Sunday, August 23

The Germans Move South

Monday, August 24

Saturday, August 22

I Like to Hear Myself Talk History