Tannenberg 1914

Destruction of the Russian Second Army

Tannenberg 1914 cover

Description

Explore the Eastern Front battle that resulted in one of the greatest defeats of World War I, in which an entire Russian army was annihilated by German arms.

Tannenberg is a major battle that deserves a fully illustrated treatment all of its own, and for the first time this book brings the epic Eastern Front clash to life in visual detail. No other book on this topic walks you through the action like this one, using detailed maps to provide unit locations and movements and help explain key command decisions, while period photographs and colour battlescenes put soldiering back at the core of the events by revealing the military material culture of the opposing sides.

Michael McNally guides you through the initial border engagements and the battles of Gumbinnen and Stallupönen, before moving on to explore the massive, often confused running battle of Tannenberg in easy to follow and concise detail. This work helps you understand how the Germans managed to maul Samsonov's Second Army and all but destroyed the Russians as a fighting force. The Russian war plan of using overwhelming numbers to gain a quick victory before conducting further operations would soon lie in pieces on the ground. It also assesses the contribution modern technology – such as railways, aerial reconnaissance, radio and telegraphy – made to the emphatic German victory.

Table of Contents

ORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN
Alliance and misalliances
Girding for war
Stavka plans

CHRONOLOGY

OPPOSING COMMANDERS
Russian
German

OPPOSING FORCES
Russian
German
Orders of battle

OPPOSING PLANS
Russian
German

THE CAMPAIGN
Der Russeneinfall –the Russian invasion
Invasion
Stallupönen: 17 August
Gumbinnen: 20 August
A change of strategy
Man of the moment
Samsonov's progress
Der Alte Hase – the old hand
Lahna and Orlau: 23–24 August
See the elephant: Usdau and Bischofsburg, 25–26 August
The sound of the guns: Usdau, 27 August
Turning the flank: 27 August
Interlude at Osterode
A day of decision: 28 August
The beginnings of collapse: 28–29 August
Days of decision: 29–30 August

AFTERMATH

GAZETTEER OF PLACE NAMES
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

Product details

Published Dec 20 2022
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472850225
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Colour illustrations throughout, including battlescene artworks, maps, 3D diagrams and photographs.
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Campaign
Short code CAM 386
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Michael McNally

Michael McNally was born in London in 1964. An exp…

Illustrator

Seán Ó’Brógáin

Seán Ó’Brógáin lives and works in Donegal, I…

Resources

Book Vote

Tell us what titles you would like to see published by Osprey, then vote for your favourites in our monthly book vote!

Related Titles

Sign up for Osprey membership for access to thousands of plane profiles, maps, battle scenes and more. Plus up to 30% off website purchases