1. THE BATTLE OF TANNENBERG (August 17 – 31, 1914)
By Justin Lui, Alex Lam and Rhys Heal

2. Significant People
Who?

3. Russia General Paul von Rennenkampf General Alexander Samsonov
First army to the North of Eastern Prussia
Led the first army, had a hard time distracting German army
holding Northern Prussia
Failed to aid General Samsonov to the south
Largely responsible for Russia’s loss because he didn’t
coordinate his movements with Samsonov
General Alexander Samsonov
Led the second Russian army to the South of Eastern Prussia
Army was annihilated
Committed suicide after realizing that he lost the battle

4. Germany Colonel Max von Hoffman
Talented strategist
Very knowledgeable of Russian army
Created successful plan to concentrate Samsonov’s army to the south
Colonel General Paul von Hindenburg (68 years old)
Led Germany’s Eighth army
Major General Erich Ludenorff (Chief of staff)
Helped lead a German army

5. What happened?
German trains used to transport armies
August 17 – 31, 1914
Russia trying to distract Germany from invasion on France
Russia sent two armies into Prussia, first army attacked the north, second attacked the south east
Russia mobilized on August 17th but the first encounter was on August 26th
German troops facing Russia’s first army were outnumbered but had little trouble holding against them
Germans came up with risky plan to focus all troops on Russia’s second army to the south  led to German victory
Germans used complex train system: could permit 500 trains each day & transport large armies in short time

6. Germany victory (ended with 125 000 Russians captured on August 31st)
Russia’s second army was annihilated because of huge gap and lack of communication between armies
Germans beat Russia’s second army  drove out Russia’s first army and Russia never entered German territory again in World War I
Germany victory (ended with Russians captured on August 31st)
German casualties
Russia fell back  Great Retreat
Germans seized control of most of present-day
Poland, Lithuania, Belarus & Ukraine
German victory, Russian Casualties

7. Hoffman’s Attack Plan

8. Interesting Facts
Russian Radio Operator
General Samsonov (Russia) commited suicide in the forest
Radios were relatively new and Russia didn’t code their
messages so Germany knew all of their plans
Germany’s army was well-cared for while Russia’s army wasn’t
Russian army lacked discipline, competent Generals, weapons and ammunition
The two Russian generals leading both of Russia’s armies disliked each other, Germany knew

9. More Interesting Facts
The battle took place closer to city of Allenstein than Tannenberg
Germans called it Battle of Tannenberg for propoganda reasons.
Hindenburg & Erich Ludenorff were credited as heroes in German press, but Hoffman came up with plan that led them to success
The land where the battle took place part of present-day Poland, the city of Allenstein is now called Olsztyn

10. Wanted to Know
Berlin War Academy
Why did Samsonov and Rennenkampf dislike each other and how did Hoffman know about this?
During Russo-Japanese War, Samsonov accused Rennenkampf of failing to aid him in battle  created tension between the generals. Hoffman studied at Berlin War Academy and became expert on Russia and Japan which meant he knew about the tension between Samsonov and Rennenkampf.

11. Sources
Books:
Willmott, Hedley. World War 1. N/A: DK Adult, Print.
Gilbert, Adrian. World War I in photographs. New York, NY: Barnes & Noble, Print.
Cavendish, Marshall. History of World War 1: War and Responses N/A: Marshall Cavendish, Print.
Wren, Jack. The Great Battles of World War 1. Canada: Castle Books, Print.
Brocklehurst, Ruth, Henry Brook, and Jane Chisholm. The Usborne introduction to the First World War. London: Usborne, Print.
Pictures:
Title Page:
Russian Flag:
Count Berchtold: content/uploads/2015/01/Leopold_Graf_Berchtold.jpg
Map:
Old paper background: transparent.jpg
Title Label Header: content/uploads/2015/05/1aaasilverwinggfairy005.png
Russian casualties:
Berlin War Academy: en_Linden.jpg
Russian radio operator: ak0.pinimg.com/originals/bb/85/df/bb85dfbc9f8bc45452c3549ab461f16f.jpg
People Pictures:
Kaiser Wilhelm II: WILHELM_ b.jpg
Archduke Franz Fernandez: jpg
Alexander Samsonov:
Paul von Rennenkampf:
Erich Ludenorff:
Max von Hoffman:
Paul von Hidenburg: Hindenburg.jpg
Websites:
"World War I." Ducksters Educational Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.
"Paul von Rennenkampf." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Apr Web. 01 May 2017.