2nd Army (Russian Empire)
2nd Army | |
---|---|
Active | July 1914 – beginning of 1918 |
Country | Russian Empire |
Branch | Imperial Russian Army |
Type | Army |
Field HQ | |
Engagements | World War I
|
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | General Alexander Samsonov |
The Russian 2nd Army (2-я армия, 2А) was an army-level command of the
Organization
- Field headquarters (2A staff)
- Headquarters of the 2A artillery inspector
- 2nd Army Aviation Detachment of the Imperial Russian Air Service
The field headquarters of the 2nd Army was formed from the staff of the Warsaw Military District in July 1914. Towards the end of 1917, the staff was based in Slutsk, Belarus. It was dissolved in early 1918.
In the beginning of World War I, the army included the 1st, VI, XIII, XV and XXIII army corps.
Near the end of 1917, the army included:
- Grenadier Corps
- IX Army Corps
- L Army Corps
- III Siberian Army Corps
History
Prior to the outbreak of war, in which Russia would likely have to face both Germany and Austria-Hungary, the 2nd Army had been intended to be a reserve formation, held back until either of the formations engaged against Germany and Austria-Hungary required reinforcements.
Following the outbreak of war it was mobilised in early August and placed under the command of
Eastern front
Between 7–9 August 1914 first the 1st and then the 2nd Army crossed the border into East Prussia, meeting little to no resistance. The 1st Army would engage the Germans at the battles of Stallupönen and Gumbinnen while the 2nd Army had remained unengaged, advancing to the south of the 1st Army.
Battle of Tannenberg
Following the failed German counterattack at the Battle of Gumbinnen and the subsequent German withdrawal, the 1st Army did not press on, allowing the 2nd Army to catch up but due to a breakdown in communication (partly due to the animosity of the two commanders) the 2nd Army was not made aware of this and so it continued to march on, a fatal move that would eventually expose the right flank of the 2nd Army. The 2nd Army was also experiencing severe supply shortages and along with the 1st Army a worsening communication situation as both armies had outrun their secure
The 2nd Army was to continue its advance south of the 1st Army and German 8th Army before swinging north towards its objective of
Unbeknown to Samsonov, the German command, who had been receiving intercepted Russian orders involving troop movements, had already shifted forces to the south to check his advance and when further orders were intercepted with news that he had changed his direction, German forces were able to adjust their positions and threaten the now exposed left and right flanks of the 2nd Army. With no communication between the two Russian armies, unsafe broadcasting of orders and the decision to change his direction of attack, the 2nd Army would find itself outflanked and cut off from mutual support from the 1st Army.
On 26 August the 1st Army approached
The order to retreat and the request for assistance came too late to rescue the 2nd Army. The German I Corps had proceeded to move due east after breaking through the 2nd Army's left flank and had met the German XVII Corps that had continued in a southwesterly direction after breaking through the 2nd Army's right flank, cutting off the 2nd Army's route of retreat and pocketing it around Tannenberg. Throughout the 29th German artillery pounded the Tannenberg pocket and at some point on the 29th Samsonov shot himself. The shattered remnants of the 2nd Army surrendered on 30 August with some 90,000 Russian POWs being captured and with them the Russian 2nd Army ceased to exist as an effective unit.
However, not all of its units were destroyed, and the army remained in the line, participating in the
Commanders
Appointed | Commander | Dismissed |
---|---|---|
19 June 1914 | Cavalry General Alexander Vasilyevich Samsonov |
30 August 1914 |
14 September 1914 | Cavalry General Sergei Mikhailovich Scheidemann |
12 December 1914 |
5 December 1914 | Infantry General Vladimir Vasilyevich Smirnov | 8 April 1917 |
8 April 1917 | Lieutenant General Anthony Andreyvich Veselovsky |
12 July 1917 |
12 July 1917 | Infantry General Nikolai Alexandrovich Danilov | 7 August 1917 |
6 August 1917 | Lieutenant General Pyotr Dmitryvich Telezhnikov | 22 August 1917 |
22 August 1917 | Infantry General Nikolai Alexandrovich Danilov | 20 November 1917 |
20 November 1917 | Lieutenant General Aleksei Konstantinovich Baiov | 24 December 1917 |
21 December 1917 | Officer A. Kiseylov | ??? |
References
- ^ Patrick Murphy (6 March 2006). "The Victories and Defeats of the Russian Army: 1914". MilitaryHistoryOnline.com. Retrieved 7 September 2012.