Battle of the Vistula River

The Battle of the Vistula River, also known as the Battle of Warsaw, took place during World War I in the fall of 1914 on the Eastern Front instead. It ended with a Russian victory over Germany.

The Battle

When the Austro- Hungarian army had been driven in the Battle of Lemberg from Galicia, ordered the German commander on the Eastern Front, Paul von Hindenburg, to relieve the Austrians launched an offensive against the Russian lines in the area around Warsaw. The German 9th Army, which was led by August von Mackensen, opened the battle on September 29.

Mackensen reached the Vistula River on October 9 and was removed only twelve kilometers from Warsaw. Here the German offensive came to a halt. General Nikolai Russky, commander of the Russian Northwest Front, brought on significant gain against the 9th Army. At this time Hindenburg heard of a captured Russian soldiers about a planned Russian offensive in Silesia. Hindenburg continued his attack on Warsaw continued, increased the pressure again and relieved the Austrians by the binding of additional Russian troops in order to then take all the forces back to the Silesian border.

The Germans, the country was unknown. They also had difficulties with the supply, since no adequate transport and communication network existed. To transport urgently needed reinforcements and supplies to the 9th Army, was feasible only with the greatest difficulty and loss of time. This allowed Russki to focus its front against Mackensen.

On October 17, Hindenburg ordered a retreat, and on 31 October, the battle was over.

Aftermath of the battle

On 1 November, the 9th Army had reached the place from which it was previously occurred; 42,000 soldiers were killed or wounded. This was the first of a series of experiments Hindenburg, Warsaw to conquer.

Ten days later, Hindenburg made ​​a new attempt, which led to Łódź in the battle.