Battle of Stalluponen

The battles of Stalluponen is the first German victory over the face of the east during the First World War.

Result of the aggressive tactics of the General Hermann von François to defend the Eastern Prussia, the battle was completely unexpected of the two belligerents.

Mid-August 1914, the Russian army starts to invade Prussia Orientale as of the declared hostilities. At the end is Germany, the Russian general Pavel Rennenkampf leads the First Army to the offensive with like ultimate goal the catch of the town of Koenigsberg.

As the Plan Schlieffen indicated it, the Germans began the war with a defensive face in the east, since the large one of the troops was affected with the Western face in order to overcome the France quickly. However, von Francois, ordering First Eighth German army corps, was convinced that its troops, better trained and equipped better were in perfect position to slow down, if not stop, the forces of Rennenkampf.

The August 17th, von François engages the Russians in spite of the instructions of the commander of the Eighth army, Maximilian von Prittwitz which had given the order to be withdrawn if the Russians pressed the face. When Prittwitz learned that von François had engaged the Russians, it dispatched an emissary in order to order to him to break engagement and to withdraw themselves towards other positions. At this time, the troops of von François were too much committed to be withdrawn without risk and in any event, it did not have any intention to respect this order. Its answer to the emissary will pass to the history: “The general von François will withdraw himself when it has demolishes the Russians! ”

With the always dubious result of the battle, von François launched an offensive of scale on all the line and inflicted heavy losses with the Russians: 5.000 died and 3.000 prisoners. Whereas the Russians withdraw themselves on the border to bandage their wounds, von François obeys finally Prittwitz and retirement of 20 kilometers towards the west, fascinating position around Gumbinnen.

References

Random links: