Battle of the Vistula River

Battle of the Vistula River
Part of the Eastern Front during World War I

Eastern Front, September 1914.
Date29 September-31 October 1914
LocationWarsaw, present-day Poland
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
 Russian Empire  German Empire
 Austria-Hungary
Commanders and leaders
Russian Empire Nikolai Ruzsky
Russian Empire Nikolai Ivanov
Russian Empire Alexei Evert
Russian Empire Pavel Plehve

German Empire Paul von Hindenburg
Austria-Hungary Viktor Dankl
German Empire August von Mackensen

German Empire Remus von Woyrsch
German Empire Max von Gallwitz
Units involved
Russian Empire Second Army
Russian Empire Fourth Army
Russian Empire Fifth Army
Russian Empire Ninth Army		 German Empire German Ninth Army
Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian First Army
Strength
II, IV,V Army - 400 000. IX - unknown[1] IX (German Empire) - 141 000
I (Austria-Hungary)- unknown.[1]
Casualties and losses
Total 145,309 KIA, MIA, WIA[2] German Army 19,029 KIA, MIA, WIA;
Austria-Hungary Army - 50,145 KIA, MIA, WIA[3]
Total 69,174

The Battle of the Vistula River, also known as the Battle of Warsaw, was a Russian victory against the German Empire and Austria-Hungary on the Eastern Front during the First World War.

Background

When the Austro-Hungarian Army was being driven from Galicia in the Battle of Galicia, the German industrial area of Upper Silesia, left undefended by German troops, was threatened with a Russian offensive into the heart of Germany. In order to counter the Russian preparations, as well as to support the shattered Austro-Hungarian Armies, Erich von Falkenhayn, the German commander in chief, ordered the bulk of the German 8th Army from Eastern Prussia to be transferred into the area of Cracow for an offensive against the Russian centre around Warsaw.

The newly formed German 9th Army, commanded by Paul von Hindenburg, consisted of the XVII, XX, XI, Guard Reserve and Landwehr Corps, as well as a mixed Landwehr Division from Silesia and the Saxon 8th Cavalry Division. In early October, the Army was reinforced by the 35th Reserve Division from East Prussia. Thus, Hindenburg had at his disposal 12 Infantry and one Cavalry Divisions. The battle opened on 28 September by the Ninth Army and was joined by 30 September by the Austro-Hungarian First Army.

Engagement of Opatów-Klimontów

To guard the northward crossing of their 4th and 9th Armies over the Vistula, the Russian command deployed the 75. Reserve Division (IV. Army) at Radom, as well as the group General Delsalle, consisting of the Guard Rifle Brigade, 2nd Rifle Brigade and 80. Reserve Division, at Opatów-Klimontów. Both groups were screened by the Cavalry divisions of the Corps Nowikow.

As Hindenburg suspected two to three corps in the area, he concentrated the German XI., Guard and Austro-Hungarian I. Corps against Delsalle's group. On 3 October, the 3rd and 7th Austrian Cavalry Divisions engaged the Russian Guard cavalry Brigade, supported by Infantry from the 80. Reserve Division at Klimontów, and drove them back. Thus, Hindenburg had no idea of how weak the forces opposing him were in reality.

In response to the Austro-German threat, the Russians were ordered to retreat on their own. While Nowikow's cavalry obeyed the order, General Delsalle believed that he would be able to hold his position. The next day, his group was destroyed by the much superior enemy. The Central Powers captured 7,000 prisoners, only a few Russians managed to escape. The German troops lost 571 men - Austrian casualties are not known.

Battle

Russian soldiers crossing the Vistula River in 1914.

Hindenburg reached the Vistula River by 9 October and was only 19 km (12 mi) away from Warsaw. Here, the German offensive began to falter. General Nikolai Ruzsky, commander of the Russian Northwest Front, brought up significant reinforcement against the Ninth Army.

At this time, Hindenburg learned of a planned Russian offensive into Silesia from a captured Russian soldier. However, Hindenburg continued to push the offensive against Warsaw. The Germans were unfamiliar with the land and unable to bring sufficient reinforcements to the Ninth Army, therefore allowing Ruzsky to concentrate his front against Hindenburg. On 17 October, Hindenburg ordered a retreat, and by the 31st the battle was over.

Outcome

On 1 November, the German Ninth Army was back where it had begun. This was the first of a series of attempts by the Germans to capture Warsaw.

After the battle, Colonel General Hindenburg was appointed commander of the whole Eastern front. The IX. Army was taken over by General August von Mackensen, former commander of the XVII. Corps. Ten days later, Hindenburg made another attempt at Warsaw culminating in the Battle of Łódź. Superior numbers on the Eastern Front had given the Russian army the advantage in the fall of 1914.

Order of battle on 1st October 1914

Russian forces

Russian North-Western Front. Commander-in-chief – Nikolai Ruzsky

Central Powers Forces

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 C. Г. Нелипович, Варшавское сражение, октябрь 1914.(2006), p. 9-10
  2. ↑ Нелипович С.Г., Кровавый октябрь 1914 года, (2013), p. 276-292
  3. ↑ Нелипович С.Г., 2013, p. 276-292