Battle of Gumbinnen in East Prussia
- Category:
- Military operations
- Front:
- Eastern Front
- Date:
- 20 August 1914
- Author:
- Łukasz Skowroń
- Battle:
- Battle of Gumbinnen
- Tags:
- East Prussia, Russia, Germany, Paul von Rennenkampf
On 20 August 1914 in East Prussia, near the town of Gumbinnen, in Polish Gąbin, the first major battle on the Eastern Front took place. The chronicles of the time give the dates 19 and 20 August, because the first clashes preceded the main battle. General Paul von Rennenkampf’s Russian First Army repulsed an attack by the German Eighth Army.
Russia keeps its word
Russia had promised France that it would strike at Germany as soon as possible, even before mobilisation was complete. In mid-August its armies entered East Prussia. The Germans, concentrating on the offensive against France, defended the province with only one army. Its commander, General Maximilian von Prittwitz, decided to crush Rennenkampf before the second Russian army, under General Samsonov, arrived from the south.
A failed attack
On the morning of 20 August the Germans attacked. On the northern flank they were successful, but in the centre the attack by General August von Mackensen’s corps collapsed under Russian artillery fire. Both sides suffered heavy losses. The battlefield remained in Russian hands, and Prittwitz, alarmed by the news of Samsonov’s army approaching, considered withdrawing as far as the Vistula.
New commanders
The German Supreme Army Command refused to give up East Prussia. On 22 August Prittwitz was dismissed, and in his place came General Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff. A few days later they destroyed Samsonov’s army at the Battle of Tannenberg.
For Polish readers it is worth recalling that the fighting in East Prussia took place in areas closely bound up with Polish history: in Masuria and near the border of the Kingdom of Poland. Poles also fought in the armies of both sides.
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A voice from the front
“Yesterday was probably the hardest day of my military life: retreat before the Russians. Strong forces are marching from the Narew against our rear and threaten to cut us off from the Vistula. We had to break off a battle that had begun well, and fall back. It is shameful, poor East Prussia! I did not want it, but I could not carry my point.”
Translated · Original (de)
Gestern war wohl der schwerste Tag meines militärischen Lebens, — Rückzug vor den Russen. Starke Kräfte marschieren vom Narew her gegen unseren Rücken und drohen uns von der Weichsel abzuschneiden. Wir mußten die günstig begonnene Schlacht abbrechen und zurück. Es ist schmachvoll, das arme Ostpreußen! Ich wollte nicht, drang aber nicht durch.
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Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
- 20 August 1914 · Western FrontEnd of the battles of Morhange and SarrebourgOn 20 August 1914 a German counter-attack in Lorraine shattered the French offensive. The French armies fell back towards Nancy with heavy losses.
- 20 August 1914 · Western FrontThe Germans occupy BrusselsOn 20 August 1914 German troops entered Brussels, which had been declared an open city. An occupation began that lasted until November 1918.
- 20 August 1914 · SocietyBritain modifies the Declaration of LondonOn 20 August 1914 Britain announced it would apply the Declaration of London on naval warfare, but with changes that tightened control of trade.
- 21 August 1914 · Western FrontBattle of Charleroi beginsOn 21 August 1914 the French 5th Army and the German 2nd Army clashed on the Sambre. The Germans seized the river crossings before the French could occupy them.
Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 31 August 1914 · Eastern FrontBattle of Tannenberg endsOn 31 August 1914 Hindenburg reported to the Kaiser the destruction of the Russian 2nd Army. Over 90,000 Russians were captured and Samsonov was dead.
- 5 September 1914 · Eastern FrontBattle of the Masurian Lakes beginsAt the beginning of September 1914 Hindenburg's German Eighth Army moved against Rennenkampf's Russian First Army. The Battle of the Masurian Lakes began.
- 15 September 1914 · Eastern FrontEnd of the Battle of the Masurian LakesOn 15 September 1914 the Battle of the Masurian Lakes ended. Rennenkampf's Russian 1st Army, beaten but not encircled, withdrew from East Prussia.
- 23 August 1914 · Eastern FrontHindenburg takes command of the Eighth ArmyOn 23 August 1914 General Paul von Hindenburg, recalled from retirement, took command of the Eighth Army in East Prussia, with Ludendorff as chief of staff.