1914_0827_01s: The Battle of Tannenberg - FWWC 02 East Prussia '14

Near the town of Tannenberg, East Prussia, 27th August 1914: Following the initial fighting with Rennenkampf's 1st Army at Gumbinnen on the 20th, the 8.Armee withdrew at the news that Samsonov's 2nd Army had crossed the frontier in the south. Shortly thereafter, Hindenburg and Ludendorff replaced von Prittwitz as commander of 8.Armee. With Rennenkampf licking his wounds, Hindenburg and Ludendorff left blocking forces in his path and with the aid of a relatively new weapon in warfare: the steam locomotive, quickly redeployed 8.Armee south to concentrate against Samsonov. In just six short days the Germans intended to administer a crushing defeat on Samsonov's forces while the two Russian armies were still divided by the Masurian Lakes. The speedy destruction of the Russian 2nd Army would allow the Germans to concentrate on Rennenkampf in turn. The stage was set for a rapid swirling battle that would be named after a tiny town in East Prussia: vengeance for the humiliating defeat of the Teutonic Knights at the hands of the Slavs and Lithuanians in 1410. [Size: large] *See the notes document for information on scenario design decisions and historical notes.