<P> The Battle of Tannenberg was fought between Russia and Germany between the 26th and 30th of August 1914 , the first month of World War I . 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 ( First Masurian Lakes ) destroyed most of the First Army as well and kept the Russians off balance until the spring of 1915 . The battle is particularly notable for fast rail movements by the Germans , enabling them to concentrate against each of the two Russian armies in turn , and also for the failure of the Russians to encode their radio messages . It brought considerable prestige to Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg and his rising staff - officer Erich Ludendorff . </P>
<P> The Battle of Tannenberg was fought between Russia and Germany between the 26th and 30th of August 1914 , the first month of World War I . 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 ( First Masurian Lakes ) destroyed most of the First Army as well and kept the Russians off balance until the spring of 1915 . The battle is particularly notable for fast rail movements by the Germans , enabling them to concentrate against each of the two Russian armies in turn , and also for the failure of the Russians to encode their radio messages . It brought considerable prestige to Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg and his rising staff - officer Erich Ludendorff . </P>
who fought at the battles of tannenburg and masurian lakes
who fought at the battles of tannenburg and masurian lakes
Russia Germany
Russia Germany