to attack eastward, the direction the Russians would least expect. He took the Russians by surprise and broke through, he began his march north. The Russians failed to reestablish the encirclement. Fifteen miles from German lines Scheffer would inflict a decisive defeat on a Russian division. On 26 November Scheffer's corps took up positions in the German frontline once again. Scheffer's forces had lost ~4.300 men but inflicted at least three times as much on the four times larger Russian forces, he made it out with ~16.000 prisoners and 64 captured guns. T. Dupuy called it one of the greatest feats in military history, describing it as almost unbelievable. For this action Scheffer-Boyadel received the Pour le Mérite on December 2, 1914. Later life and death He died on 8 November 1925 in Boyadel. References 1851 births 1925 deaths German Army generals of World War I Generals of Infantry (Prussia) Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class) Military personnel from Hesse People from Hanau