On August 17, 1914, the Russian army unexpectedly crossed the German border, surpassing the German military’s anticipated timeline. The Schliefen Plan, a German military strategy, envisioned the primary German force attacking France, followed by a decisive victory over the French. Consequently, only the Eighth Army was deployed. The Russian First Army led the initial assault, outnumbering the German forces.
The initial engagement occurred on August 20, with the Germans achieving a swift tactical victory. However, their troops were subsequently overextended and withdrew. The decisive battle took place between August 26 and 30. The Germans demonstrated superior maneuverability, while the Russians faced challenges in coordinating their troops. With enhanced intelligence and effective leadership, the Germans decisively defeated the Russians. The German forces captured 92,000 Russian troops and suffered a loss of 78,000. Additionally, the Russians lost 350 large guns. Consequently, the Russian army was compelled to retreat from a significant portion of Prussia. However, the German military, lacking sufficient reinforcements, was unable to capitalize on their initial victory.