A German soldier relaxes with his pipe as old Russian generals flounder in the Masurian Lakes. By JB (?)
Freibad masurische Seen.Masurian Lakes swimming pool.Reverse:Krieges-KarteNr. 54Verlag: Neufeld & Henius, Berlin SW, Großbeerenstr. 94
"By 13th September [1914], the Russian I Army had once more crossed the border, to safety. . . . [German General] François could have done little more: he suffered from supply-problems, fatigue, increasing Russian resistance as reserves came in, all problems that tactically successful troops often encountered. These problems came up still more after 13th September, as the Germans moved into Russian territory."
After the German victory in the Battle of Tannenberg and the destruction of the Russian Second Army, German commanders von Hindenburg and Ludendorff hoped to destroy the Russian First Army under von Rennenkampf. In the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes, the Russians managed to save themselves, and make their way back to Russia, although with heavy losses, as many as 125,000 men.
The Eastern Front, 1914-1917 by Norman Stone, page 68, copyright © 1975 Norman Stone, publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons, publication date: 1975
First Battle of the Masurian Lakes, Battle of the Masurian Lakes, Masurian Lakes, 1914, September, 1914-09-13
