2016 · Critical Hit, Inc.
GWASL IV Samsonov’s Army takes the action to the Great War’ Eastern Front and pits the soldiers of General Ludendorff against invading Russians under General Samsonov. The dark forests, forced-marches, and human waves of a low-morale, poorly led force ... face the crack troops of a still ascendant Germany. The horror of a two-front war is upon the Kaiser’s best leaders and there is only one way out: total victory.
Historians know the battle took place near Allenstein. However, General Erich Ludendorff named it after Tannenberg, some 30 klicks to the west, to avenge the defeat of the Teutonic Knights at the earlier battle of the same name that occurred in 1410.
The world was a far different place during the summer of 1914. Germany was on the offensive on the Western Front. Trench warfare had yet to set in. Crowds, out in the streets welcomed war with open arms, and cheers. A massive Russian Army headed for East Prussia, and eventually, the heart of Germany ... in an unprecedented invasion—ten Russian Armies in all could be mobilized. Hindenburg was called out of retirement to manage the German side along with Ludendorff. Despite overwhelming numerical advantages by the enemy, the battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army, and the suicide of its commanding general, Alexander Samsonov.
A series of follow-up battles (1st Masurian Lakes) destroyed most of the First Army as well, and kept the Russians off-balance until the spring of 1915. The Battle of Tannenberg set the stage for the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes a week later, where the reinforced German Eighth Army now faced only the Russian First Army and forced it back over the prewar border.
Russian forces would not again march on German soil until the end of World War II.
Ownership of GWASL I is required.
