Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Tannenberg (1)
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"Everyone, please take your seats."
August 7, 1913.
At the words of Ludendorff, Chief of Staff of the German Eighth Army, the staff officers sat down in their chairs with tense expressions.
Ludendorff soon turned his gaze to Crown Prince Wilhelm, who was seated at the head of the table, and the Crown Prince silently nodded, signaling the start of the meeting.
"By now, everyone has heard the news that the Russian forces brazenly crossed the German Empire's border into East Prussia just a few hours ago."
Ludendorff tapped the unit markers on the map with his pointer as he spoke.
"According to reports, the Russian army advancing into East Prussia is the Russian First Army under Pavel von Rennenkampf. Judging by their marching speed, they'll likely arrive at StallUPÖNEN (today's Nesterov) the day after tomorrow, on the 9th."
And the Eighth Army's first battle would take place there.
"However, the Russian Second Army under Alexander Samsonov, tasked with the East Prussia offensive alongside the First Army, is still not moving from Russian territory. Intelligence suggests they won't begin their advance until after the 12th."
"Pardon? Then what's the point of having the First and Second Armies move together?"
A young staff officer asked in a puzzled tone.
And rightly so, as it was standard practice for pincer attacks to launch simultaneously.
"Could the Russians have some other scheme?"
"No, it's not that. It's just that the Russian First and Second Armies aren't coordinating well. On top of that, I've heard the Second Army is struggling with supply issues due to the early mobilization."
"......"
The Eighth Army staff felt foolish for being so tense about the Russian offensive.
Some intelligence reports even claimed that certain Russian soldiers were carrying clubs instead of rifles—something German officers could scarcely believe.
"Ahem, still, don't let your guard down. It's true the Russians are inferior to us Germans in many ways, but their numbers alone can't be ignored. Losing to them out of complacency would be the ultimate disgrace."
"Yes, Your Highness."
At Crown Prince Wilhelm's throat-clearing reminder, the staff officers bowed their heads in acknowledgment.
Though the Crown Prince had become field army commander solely due to his position at a young age, he had received elite military training from the German army since childhood.
His military acumen was genuinely impressive, and he was cautious enough not to underestimate an apparently weak enemy.
Of course, that alone made him far more capable than the enemy commanders Rennenkampf and Samsonov.
"In any case, the Eighth Army's objective is to annihilate the advancing Russian First and Second Armies and completely eliminate the threat to East Prussia."
Of course, it wouldn't be easy.
The Russians had a combined force of 400,000 from their First and Second Armies, while the Eighth Army defending East Prussia numbered less than half that, at 160,000.
"It would have been easier if Commander Hindenburg's Seventh Army were here."
"No choice. If the Austro-Hungarian army bungles things in Galicia like they did in Serbia, we'll be the ones in trouble."
The German staff's concerns were valid.
In the original history, the Russians hadn't completely collapsed despite their defeat because of their victory in the Battle of Galicia.
"Our Eighth Army's responsibility is heavier than ever. No, it's no exaggeration to say the fate of the German Empire rests with us."
Yet Crown Prince Wilhelm and Ludendorff were confident, and a plan to meet the Russians was already in place.
"Major Hoffmann, explain your plan."
"Yes, Chief of Staff Ludendorff."
At Ludendorff's command, a man sitting among the staff stood up.
Max Hoffmann.
A general staff officer of the Eighth Army, he was the key figure who, in the original history, led Germany to victory in the Battle of Tannenberg.
Hoffmann's mind shone as brilliantly as ever this time too. As neighbors, Ludendorff had known him for years and adopted Hoffmann's operational plan without hesitation upon review.
"First, facing the Russian First and Second Armies simultaneously would be extremely difficult, as you all know. Therefore, I propose defeating them individually."
"Defeat in detail...?"
"Ah, you mean annihilate the First Army before the Second arrives?"
"No."
Major Hoffmann shook his head at the suggestion.
Doing so would just make Samsonov and the Second Army hunker down in fear.
To Ludendorff and Hoffmann, who aimed to destroy both armies at once for future plans and fully remove the East Prussia threat, crippling just one wing would be an incomplete victory.
"We will lure the Russian First and Second Armies deep into East Prussia."
Hoffmann said with a sly smile.
"And then hunt the weary Russians one by one."
His eyes were fixed on Tannenberg, site of the ancient battle between the Teutonic Knights and the Poles and Lithuanians.
August 9, 1913.
The first clash between the German Eighth Army under Crown Prince Wilhelm and the Russian First Army under Rennenkampf occurred at StallUPÖNEN, just as Ludendorff had predicted.
"Your Highness, reports say the Russians are beginning to withdraw."
"Mm. Then we'll retreat to Gumbinnen (today's Gusev) as well."
The Germans successfully repelled the Russians at StallUPÖNEN.
But immediately after, they withdrew to Gumbinnen in the rear as if exhausted and unable to fight on.
"Commander Rennenkampf. The Germans are abandoning StallUPÖNEN and retreating to Gumbinnen."
"What? Ha ha, well, with their manpower shortages forcing them to spread thin, they couldn't hold out long. Good, occupy StallUPÖNEN and pursue the Germans to Gumbinnen."
Rennenkampf, who had been berating his subordinates for the failed attack on StallUPÖNEN, gleefully ordered the pursuit upon hearing of the German retreat.
And three days later, on August 12, 1913.
The Germans and Russians clashed again at Gumbinnen, as if by appointment.
The German I Corps under the aggressive Hermann von François fought bravely against the advancing Russians.
Too bravely—the Russians fled in disarray.
Boom! Kaboom!
"Fire! Keep firing! Drive the Russians out!"
"General, aren't we supposed to fight just enough? At this rate, Rennenkampf will tuck tail and run!"
"Hm? Oh, right. Cease fire! Cease fire!"
At François's order, the German guns halted, still smoking hot.
As the Germans stopped their assault, the Russians escaped the battlefield unscathed.
Blissfully unaware they'd been spared on purpose.
"Now, order the troops to withdraw, adjutant."
"Yes, General."
The adjutant saluted crisply and exited the tent to relay the command.
But François's expression, watching his adjutant's back, was far from bright.
It was deeply troubled, in fact.
"Even if it's for the plan, handing German soil to those Russian bastards leaves a bad taste."
François muttered with a sigh.
This wasn't just his sentiment.
In real history, German generals had always been reluctant to yield territory, even for operational necessity.
However, François's attitude was remarkably restrained compared to others.
He hailed from Luxembourg, on the opposite side of East Prussia.
But the Prussian Junkers based in East Prussia felt differently.
Their reactions were heated.
In a certain sense.
"Is it really okay to let the Russians rampage through East Prussia like it's their backyard?"
"Abandoning Gumbinnen puts Königsberg at risk!"
"What about pulling troops from the Western Front? The whole line is stalled anyway..."
'This is maddening.'
Falkenhayn scowled deeply at the Junkers whining like children the moment they heard the Russians had entered East Prussia.
He'd explained countless times it was necessary for the plan, yet these East Prussian Junkers couldn't tolerate even temporarily ceding parts of their homeland.
"Maybe we should reconsider Ludendorff and Hoffmann's plan now..."
"The Eighth Army's plan has been thoroughly reviewed, and both I and General Staff HQ deem it sound. If you want me to reconsider, bring more logical counterarguments."
"But with our troop shortages, can such a bold plan really work...?"
Despite Falkenhayn's sarcasm, the Junkers stood firm, faces set in stubborn refusal.
'Damn these pigheaded fools.'
Dealing with these tiresome lords seemed worse than wrestling John French.
"Heh, since when did Prussian Junkers become such cowards?"
As Falkenhayn inwardly mulled words he scarcely believed himself, a familiar voice echoed through the operations room.
"Sch-SChief of Staff Schlieffen?!"
The voice belonged to none other than Schlieffen.
Falkenhayn, startled by the surprise appearance, spotted Foreign Minister Hans von Choi winking at him from the doorway.
As always, the young man showed up at just the right moment.
At this point, adding "fixer" to his many nicknames wouldn't be amiss.
"What brings you here, sir?"
"I heard you lot were about to ruin my plan."
"P-Pardon?! What do you...?"
"What's the difference between sabotaging a crucial Eastern Front operation over a few villages and wrecking my Schlieffen Plan? In my day, you'd all be out on your necks!"
"Urk..."
The Junkers shrank back at Schlieffen's booming, elder-statesman scolding.
Loud as they were, none dared challenge the living legend and senior statesman of the German army.
"Chief of Staff, a report from the Eastern Front."
As Falkenhayn subtly bowed thanks to Schlieffen, his adjutant hurriedly handed over a report.
Falkenhayn's lips twitched upward upon reading it.
"The Germans seem less secure than expected."
"They are short on troops compared to us, after all."
Once the Germans withdrew from Gumbinnen, Rennenkampf happily occupied it.
"We'll fortify defenses here and reorganize for now."
"Understood, Commander."
And stayed put.
Gumbinnen was a strategic hub from which one could easily strike Königsberg and the rest of East Prussia.
The Germans knew this too and wouldn't yield it lightly.
'They'll surely try to retake Gumbinnen.'
Thus, Rennenkampf let his weary troops rest in Gumbinnen while preparing for a German counterattack.
Of course, a counterattack might not come.
But seizing Königsberg, the First Army's main goal and East Prussia's largest city, required ample infantry and heavy artillery—preparations that took time.
So Rennenkampf's decision to hunker down wasn't wrong, per se.
Even correct choices aren't always the right ones.
"Now, order the whole army to advance. We're marching into East Prussia."
"We're quite late compared to the original plan. Will the First Army be alright?"
"Rennenkampf will manage. Let's focus on our task."
Meanwhile, on the 13th—the day after Rennenkampf seized Gumbinnen—the Russian Second Army under Samsonov finally crossed the border, heaving its ponderous bulk.
The Second Army promptly occupied border villages like Ortelsburg (today's Szczytno), then pushed deep into East Prussia by the 23rd, driving off the German XX Corps and seizing Lahna (today's Wyna).
But Samsonov didn't know.
That he and his men had wandered into the tiger's jaws.