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==Introduction==

This article will discuss the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914, that was fought between Imperial Germany and Russia. The battle fought between Imperial Germany and the Russian Empire, it is often recognized as a great victory for the latter. This article will discuss the reasons for the German victory at the Battle, including poor Russian coordination and the superior German artillery. The article will also argue that the Battle secured eastern Germany from further Russian incursions.

Helmuth von Moltke, had ordered the 8th army to go on the offensive before the two Russian armies could meet up and was furious with its withdrawal. Von Moltke fired the commander of the 8th army and he never served in the army again. His best generals were all engaged in the west. He then made an eccentric but inspired choice. He named General Paul von Hindenburg, a 67-year-old retired general as commander of the 8th army. To assist him Moltke named Erich Ludendorff, as his chief of staff, he had become a national hero when he seized the fortresses at Liege. The younger man was supposed to help the older man in the defence of eastern Germany. They formed a unique partnership and one that was to prove very effective<ref> Stone, David. The Russian Army in the Great War: The Eastern Front, 1914-1917. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. 2015), p. 116 </ref>. The German High Command decided to divert divisions from the west to the east. They were quickly transported by rail and they only took a week to travel from Belgium to East Prussia. Hindenburg and Ludendorff immediately began to reorganise the demoralised 8th army. The old general was able to restore the morale of the army. Ludendorff was a brilliant organiser and he was able to restore some order to the army, but this was very challenging as the roads were thronged with frightened Prussian refugees fleeing the advancing Russians <ref> Stone, p. 89</ref>.

The Germans knew that the two Russian armies could not be allowed to join up. If the two armies met they would outnumber the Germans by approximately three to one. Von Hindenburg decided to attack the Russian 2nd army under General Samsunov. This was deemed to be the most dangerous by the Germans, for if it was not stopped it could capture the capital of Prussia. The German High Command hoped that after the Russian 1st army was stopped that the German 8th army could go on to defeat the 2nd army <ref> Stone, p. 117</ref>.

==The Battle==