The Battle of Stalluponen
As a matter of fact we know that most of the initial battles fought at the Eastern Front were fought wuthout a high degree of mass artillery support. Germany was at a great advantage because of its many years developing its armies. On the other side of things, Russian soldiers usually starved, were poorly equipped and trained to fight with scarce weapons. Most soldiers in this battle fought by hand and swords.
THE OUTBREAK OF WAR. GENERAL HEADQUARTERS AND THE SOUTH-WEST FRONT IN AUGUST, 1914
Return from leave through Germany at the end of July The mobilisation General Laguiche Forecast of the enemy's probable distribution of strength Departure from Petrograd in the Grand Duke Nikolas's train The Grand Duke's Staff The journey to Baranovichi Con- versation with the Grand Duke General Jilinski, Commander-in- Chief of the North- West Front Boredom of life at Baranovichi The Russian plan of campaign and strategical deployment Composition of the front-line armies Visit to the South- West Front Dinner with General Ivanov The 3rd Army on the eve of crossing the frontier Visit to the 33rd Division Russian patience and good temper De- parture from Baranovichi . . . . . . . . . . 37
Czar Nicholas´s gatherings and process of mobilization before the start of the war show how much thought must be applied in order to suceed in any campaing.
THE DISASTER TO THE 2ND ARMY, AUGUST, 1914
General situation on the North- West Front Interview with GeneralJilinski on the evening of August 23rd Lunch with General Samsonovat Ostrolenka on August 24th Situation of the 2nd Army Chief ofStaff's pessimism Arrival at Neidenburg Visits to General Martosof the XVth Corps and to General Torklus of the 6th DivisionBattle of Orlau-Frankenau Lack of businesslike method Positionof the Russian forces on the evening of the 25th Arrival of GeneralSamsonov at Neidenburg on August 26th German attack on the istCorps Situation on the night of the 26th Position on the morningof August 2 yth Russian estimate of German strength Signs ofnerves Conversation with General Samsonov on the morning of the28th Drive to Ostrolenka Situation in Warsaw The battle in thesouth undecided Back to Ostrolenka The disaster to the 2nd Armyfrom accounts of eye-witnesses Relation of the Russian Staff.
“As long as you have life and breath, believe. Believe for those who cannot. Believe even if you have stopped believing. Believe for the sake of the dead, for love, to keep your heart beating, believe. Never give up, never despair, let no mystery confound you into the conclusion that mystery cannot be yours.”
― Mark Helprin, A Soldier of the Great War
Despite how this quote comes from Helprin´s novel inspired by a Italian soldier during World War I it still illustrates what most soldiers of the time thought before entering battle. That sense of urge to help one´s country and develop patriotism.
THE DISASTER TO THE 2ND ARMY, AUGUST, 1914
General situation on the North- West Front Interview with GeneralJilinski on the evening of August 23rd Lunch with General Samsonov at Ostrolenka on August 24th Situation of the 2nd Army Chief of
Staff's pessimism Arrival at Neidenburg Visits to General Martos of the XVth Corps and to General Torklus of the 6th Division Battle of Orlau-Frankenau Lack of businesslike method Position of the Russian forces on the evening of the 25th Arrival of General
Samsonov at Neidenburg on August 26th German attack on the ist Corps Situation on the night of the 26th Position on the morning of August 2 yth Russian estimate of German strength Signs of nerves Conversation with General Samsonov on the morning of the 28th Drive to Ostrolenka Situation in Warsaw The battle in the south undecided Back to Ostrolenka The disaster to the 2nd Army from accounts of eye-witnesses Relation of the Russian Staff.
CLEMENCEAU, Georges. Newspaper owner/French Prime Minister.
Message to all citizens to expand the sense of patriotism, that urge to make people get involved in the war.
1914: War is too important to be left to the Generals.
Such was the Germans Confidence that the war with the other nations was going to last a matter of weeks before it was over due to the trust in their armies, that Germany´s Kaiser Wilhelm II announced this phrase in his speech to his soldiers who were sent to Russia to FIght.
WILHELM II, Kaiser (King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany).
August 1914: You will be home before the leaves have fallen from the trees. [Addressing the German troops engaged in implementing the German Schlieffen Plan].
Notice how Propaganda has a huge role into the politics about war. Take into account how the French Prime Minister encourages citizens to take action during the war by inviting common people as well, "War,.. important... Generals". Here war is important, and it involves even more than just generals, or the government.
On the other side, notice the Kaiser´s confidence in his troops, a crutial mistake, but shows his development of patriotism and confidence into his soldiers. His words inspired the soldiers and really drove them to believe and trust his words. To believe that the war was not going to last as much as it did. People back then thought that whatever the Kaiser or high-ranked official said was the absolute truth. In a sense the human mind has evolved a lot from that time and on.