The Eastern Front 1914 | Dr Peter Lieb

Looking at the German and Russian armies on the Eastern Front in 1914 and recorded as part of the WFA President's Conference series "A World at War 1914-18" - 1914: The BEF and the German Imperial Armies.

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[joeyj]

I have been fascinated by the early (and later) Eastern Front campaigns of the Great War. It seems more history works have been produced lately on the subject. This talk was very illuminating. Thanks!

[bastionblackperformance]

I mean except Schlieffen explicitly did not want a large circling offensive in the event of a Franco Russian alliance and it was von Moltke who came up with using Schlieffen's Aufmarsch I, designed for a Franco German war, in a 2 front war....

[teacherghadatorky]

Does Dr. Peter have a Twitter account or any social media?

[rhysnichols]

What a ridiculous conclusion “Tannenberg was not decisive” I don’t understand how one can come to that summary. YES the Russians were back in east Prussia within a few weeks, but by the second invasion the Germans had much more stable footing on the eastern front and appropriate forces to count them. The whole reason Tannenberg was so important is because at the start of the war the Russians had over a double numerical superiority and rapidly deployed catching them Germans somewhat off guard, had anything less than a decisive battle taken place it’s likely Russia could’ve dealt a serious blow to Germany in August and September 1914. The victory at Tannenberg swung momentum decisively away from the Russians, saved east Prussia from probably occupation AND effectively stopped the Russian war plans, whilst also ensuring significant resources didn’t need to be transferred to the east from the west, can you imagine if Tannenberg never happened? And the Russians used their numbers to occupy east Prussia and Konigsberg? Way more than 2 divisions would have to be diverted from the west. Tannenberg changed the direction of the war quite decisively, the destruction of an entire army certainly put a wrench in the plans of the entente. For sure the Russians made up the losses within a few weeks, but by this time the window of opportunity was much more narrow. Russia had its chance to overwhelm and surprised Germany in August 1914, and they had the real potential to fully take Prussia and threaten Berlin, anything less than a decisive victory wouldn’t have stopped this, at least without needing major reinforcements. By the time the Russians were back in east Prussia they had no where near the surprise, shock or numerical advantage they enjoyed in august. My point is august 1914 was Germany’s most precarious situation and Russias best situation in regards to an attack on Germany. Tannenberg halted this and by the time Russia was back it lost much of its advantages such as surprise, overwhelming numbers and moral was also massively dampened. While Tannenberg certainly wasn’t a war winning glorious Austerlitz V2, it certainly was decisive enough to change the course of the war, and one could argue fumbled russias best chance of an early victory. Of course it was decisive.

[davidluck]

lucid discussion of early events on the EF. Samsonov and von Rennenkampf, according to some sources, accidently met at a RR station sometime before the war. They had an animated discussion of outstanding issues, then a fistfight. Not....a good omen. In a play on his name, the Germans referred to von R. as "always running, never fighting".

[Ensign_Cthulhu]

The problem with Cannae and the concept of a Super-Cannae is that even that battle was not decisive in terms of the conflict between Rome and Carthage - it is, after all, the remaining buildings of Ancient Rome we visit today and the destruction and salting of Carthage which we read about.

It would be interesting to see that parallel universe in which Prittwitz doesn't drop his bundle and/or Moltke the Younger takes the Eastern Front reserves from his LEFT wing.

[rhysnichols]

Germany killed 6000 Belgiums in response to snipers, and the world goes crazy. Worse things happen under the Russians on the eastern front and no one bats an eye.
It’s almost like despite the facade of ‘impartiality’ the view of the war is very bias toward the victors narrative to this day.
And people always conveniently forget the British starvation blockade (which illegally continued until 1919) killed 723, 000 German civilians.
Both sides did terrible things, but one side is lavishly indulged in and the other granted immunity.

It is clear history is indeed written by the victors

[ИринаКим-ъч]

Anderson Michelle Gonzalez Sandra Anderson Jennifer

[Digmen]

Nothing new here, no new research or angles! Why would you have paid to go and see this?