Clash of Steel
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Gumbinnen


Battle Name : Gumbinnen

Date(s) : 20 August 1914

Part of : First World War , The Eastern Front , East Prussian Invasion ,

Outcome : A victory for Russian 1st Army over German 8th Army

Type of battle : Land

Summary

Knowing that he had to defeat the Russian northern pincer quickly before moving to the southern on, Prittwitz ordered 3 corps of the 8th Army into line at Gumbinnen to make a frontal attack. The first into line under von Francois hit the Russian right who fought hard until they ran out of ammunition and broke. The other German corps were delayed, however, and when they attacked the Corps under Mackensen ran into forewarned artillery and were driven into retreat, von Below's corps who were even further behind, joined it in the retreat.