The Story of the Great War, Volume 3: History of the European War from Official Sources
History
The Story of the Great War, Volume 3: History of the European War from Official Sources
World War, 1914-1918
General von Gallwitz's plan, however, was of more ambitious scope. It
was his intention, by encircling the Russians in the territory before
him from both wings, to sweep clear of enemies the entire stretch of
country in the Polish triangle between the Vistula and the Orczy
rivers. The right wing of his troops that had come down the bank of
the Vistula was to swing to the eastward in behind the Russians.
German troops which had arrived at Willenberg inside of the East
Prussian boundary, one of the German concentration points on the line
of railroad lying behind their front, on the other hand, received
orders to descend the valley of the Orczy and to come in behind the
Russian right flank from the east. These troops, making a wide detour,
swept past Przasnysz on the east, and swinging round to the south of
the city attacked the Russians holding the place from this direction.
The Germans had understood that only small Russian forces were in the
city. Anticipating the German movement, however, a Russian division,
as the Germans learned later, had hastened to Przasnysz. The Russians
also had collected large forces on the Narew, and were hurrying them
toward Przasnysz on roads covering a wide front. Two full Russian
corps from this line were flung upon the German left wing.
The forces of Von Gallwitz which had carried out the encircling
movement from the east and south of Przasnysz now found themselves
caught between two Russian armies. However, they were unwilling to
relinquish the booty which they had planned to seize. A part of the
German forces was disposed in a half circle as a defense against the
Russians coming up from the south, and a division of reserves,
February 24, stormed Przasnysz. The German Great Headquarters
announced that the Germans captured 10,000 prisoners, including 57
officers, and took 36 cannon, 14 machine guns, and much war material
of various sorts. However, the Russian troops were now pressing
forward from the south with irresistible force. The Germans, in
consequence, slowly fell back, fighting under great difficulties, and
moving northward toward their defensive lines, carrying with them
their prisoners and booty.
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