masurian

the second battle of the Masurian lakes

After little progress by both the alliad nations and the central powers in the western front, German commanders turn their attention to the eastern fornt where they hope to end Russias envolvment in the war. Paul von hindenberg assmebled the tenth and eighth german army. On the russian side the twelfth russin is waiting. On the 7th of February the battle begins, while a snowstorm is in progress the eighth army launches an unexpected attack on the russian forces in Sievers, and after a seccusfull fight, they advance a total of 70 miles. The russian retreat is equally unsuccessful and many soldiers are take prisoner. The tenth army moves into the Augustow forest and surrounds the 20th army corps on February 21st. although the 20th army corps is defeated, their last stand is remembered by the surviving russian forces, and the twelfth army regroups and ends the german advancemnt on the 22nd, the following day. By the 23rd the german forces advances are halted by a counter attack from the newly regrouped russian forces. The austrian and german forces are stopped there and the battle of the Masurian lakes comes to an end. the battle leaves a total 56,000 soldiers killed, wounded or missing. The german high command never allows anymore independent attacks by their forces on the eastern front.