The Russian Campaign, April to August, 1915: Being the Second Volume of "Field Notes from the Russian Front"Washburn, Stanley
History
The Russian Campaign, April to August, 1915: Being the Second Volume of "Field Notes from the Russian Front"
Washburn, Stanley
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Eastern Front; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
In dealing with such extended operations at this time, it is
impossible to write accurately, because the Front has been so great
that nine-tenths of the information in regard to details is not yet
available. The writer was for the period from July 10 to August 5 in
daily contact with this Front, and in that period motored thousands of
versts, was in practically all of the armies involved in what may be
called the Warsaw movement, and at the positions in innumerable places.
Yet he hesitates to attempt to write anything of an authoritative
nature for the moment, although he believes the rough outline which
follows will prove approximately accurate when the history of the
movement is written from the broader perspective which time only can
bring.
It was the opinion of many observers early in May, including the
writer, that Warsaw was the main objective of the great Galician drive.
The Germans intended first to strengthen the _moral_ of the Austrians
by returning them Galicia, but probably the greatest value of the
capture of Galicia was the position which left the Germans on the
flank of Warsaw. Since last Autumn it has been clear that the Germans
regarded Warsaw as the most important strategic prize on this Front,
and those who have followed the war will recall the constant series of
attacks on the Polish capital. First came their direct advance which
frittered away the middle of December, and left them sticking in the
mud and snow on the Bzura line in Poland, still 50 versts from their
prize. Spasmodic fighting continued until January, when their great
Bolimov drive was undertaken. Beginning in the last days of January
it continued for six consecutive days. We are told that ten divisions
backed by 600 guns attacked practically without interruption for six
days and six nights. I cannot accurately state what the German losses
were, but I know the Russians estimated them to be 100,000.
It was clear that Warsaw was not to be taken from the front, and as
the last gun was being fired on the Bolimov position, the new Prussian
flanking movement was launched in East Prussia. This, though scoring
heavily in its early days, soon dissipated as the Russians adjusted
themselves to the shock. That was followed instantly by another series
of operations directed against Warsaw from the North. This too went
up in smoke, and for several weeks there was a lull, interrupted here
and there by preliminary punches in different parts of the line,
intended to discover weakness which did not appear. By April it was
clear that Warsaw was not vulnerable from the front or North. Then
followed the great Galician campaign which ended with the fall of
Lemberg, and by the end of June left the Germans in their new position
with the southern flank of the armies in Poland prepared for their
final drive for Warsaw on the South. From the light which I have on
this campaign I will try and give the sketch as it has appeared to me.
[Illustration: During the retreat from Warsaw.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account