The white Russian bear, dyed red with Austro-Hungarian blood, triumphs over the Habsburg Eagle. Russian was victorious in Galicia in 1914 and early 1915. A postcard by Bianchi.
l'orso biancothe white bearReverse:Proprieta artistica riservata - N. 88Artistic ownership reserved - No. 88
On July 25, 1914 Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf, Chief of Staff of the Austro-Hungarian Army, put his plan to attack Serbia with three armies into effect. Austria-Hungary declared war on July 28.Germany mobilized on July 31, and declared war on Russia on August 1. Both Germany and Austria-Hungary assumed the cooperation of the other, but without securing it in advance. Executing its plan for a rapid defeat of France by seven of its eight armies, Germany had only one army in East Prussian facing two Russian armies, and asked Austria-Hungary to strike the Russians in the Polish salient as quickly as possible. Responding to Russia's mobilization and Germany's request for support, Conrad switched his plan from attacking Serbia to an offensive against Russia.With three armies in Galicia in northeastern Austria-Hungary, and a fourth being redeployed from Serbia, Conrad began his offensive on August 20, sending his armies fanning out from Galicia into Russia.In the Battles of Krasnik and Komarov from August 23 to September 1, two Austro-Hungarian armies attacking to the north and northeast separately defeated two Russian armies. But, attacking to the east at the same time, Austro-Hungarian forces were overwhelmed in the Battle of Gnila Lipa by two Russian armies which threatened to outflank them.The previously defeated Russian armies recovered sufficiently enough to rejoin the battle, and were joined by a third army coming from the north in the Battle of Rava Russka. The Austro-Hungarian army on the left wing was separated from the next army by a gap into which the Russians struck. Outflanked and in danger of being completely cut off, the four Austro-Hungarian armies retreated across the entire front, abandoning Galicia.In little more than a month Conrad lost 350,000 men, great stores of supplies and rail cars, and the fortress of Lemberg. The great fortress of Przemyśl was isolated, and under Russian siege.
Start Date: 1914-08-20
End Date: 1914-09-26
