On this day in 1917, a combined German and Austro-Hungarian force scores one of the most crushing victories of World War I, decimating the Italian line along the northern stretch of the Isonzo River in the Battle of Caporetto, also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, or the Battle of Karfreit (to the Germans). Fighting continued, with heavy losses on both sides, until November 22, when the arrival of winter weather forced the battle to a halt. On October 19, a protracted period of fierce combat began, as the Germans opened their Flanders offensive and the Allies steadfastly resisted, while seeking their own chances to go on the attack wherever possible. ![]() The race ended in mid-October at Ypres, the ancient Flemish city with its fortifications guarding the ports of the English Channel and access to the North Sea beyond. After the German advance through Belgium and eastern France was curtailed by a decisive Allied victory in the Battle of the Marne in late September 1914, the so-called "Race to the Sea" began, as each army attempted to outflank the other on their way northwards, hastily constructing trench fortifications as they went. Hamden, CT: Archon.Near the Belgian city of Ypres, Allied and German forces begin the first of what would be three battles to control the city and its advantageous positions on the north coast of Belgium during the First World War. Leavenworth, KS: The Command and General Staff School Press. ![]() But while the losses in men and material were replaced, the blow Tannenberg inflicted on Russian national morale was never restored throughout the war. Their failure was primarily a consequence of attempting a campaign of maneuver arguably beyond the capacity of any army under the tactical conditions of 1914. The Russians came closer to victory in East Prussia than is generally realized. Samsonov committed suicide and the Germans turned on Rennenkampf, driving the First Army back over the frontier between September 7 and 14, in the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. That gave a new German command team of Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff time to develop plans already outlined by staff officers on the ground - to concentrate their entire force against the Second Army.Īfter five days of hard fighting, between August 26 and August 30, there were 50,000 Russian casualties, and 90,000 prisoners. Poor logistics and intelligence further slowed the advance, particularly in the Second Army's sector. The Russian commanders, however, failed to coordinate their movements and to press their advantage. Both initially achieved local successes against indecisive opposition. The First Army, under General Pavel Rennenkampf, advanced west across the Niemen River the Second Army, under General Alexander Samsonov, moved northwest from Russian Poland. Russia's war plan against Germany involved sending two armies against the exposed province of East Prussia, defended by what seemed little more than a token force. ![]() The principal question was whether the attack should concentrate on Germany or Austria, and the Russian army seemed to have ample strength to pursue both options. That in turn justified taking strategic risks. On the grand strategic level, the tsarist empire's major problem involved making sure its major continental ally, France, was not forced out of the war before Russia could bring its full strength to bear. The Battle of Tannenberg, in August 1914, was the consequence of Russia's commitment to an immediate offensive during World War I.
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