#28, Battle of Tannenberg: The Eastern Front Annihilation That Became Legend
The Battle of Tannenberg from August 26 to 30, 1914, destroyed the Russian Second Army almost completely, approximately 78,000 killed or wounded and 92,000 captured against just 12,000 German casualties. General Samsonov's army was encircled and annihilated in the forests of East Prussia in one of the most complete military disasters of the 20th century. Samsonov shot himself rather than face the Tsar with news of the catastrophe.
Hindenburg and Ludendorff, using intercepted Russian radio messages sent in clear text, concentrated their Eighth Army against Samsonov while Rennenkampf's First Army advanced from the northeast at a glacial pace. The Germans executed a classic double envelopment, with corps attacking both Russian flanks while the center held. Entire Russian divisions marched into the pocket without knowing they were surrounded until artillery fire came from every direction. Tannenberg created the myth of Hindenburg as a military genius, he was actually sleeping during the critical decisions, and launched the careers that would eventually make both men dictators of Germany. The battle's name was deliberately chosen to "avenge" a 1410 Teutonic defeat at the same location, a propaganda coup that energized the German home front.
