In June 1915, Russia’s position in the Great War was dire. Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, had ordered a complete withdrawal from Galicia. The German Army had successfully destabilised Russian forces across the Eastern Front and it was looking increasingly likely, despite the Grand Duke’s determination, that Russian Poland would be captured.
In a series of offensives Eric von Falkenhayn, Chief of the Imperial German General Staff, ordered a huge force to surround Poland’s frontiers, intent on capturing Warsaw. Civilians were evacuated as his forces raged through Poland and the Grand Duke realised that any attempt to retain the capital would surely end in disaster. He had little choice but to fall back and Warsaw was surrendered to the Germans on August 5, 1915.
Of course, Falkenhayn had no intention of stopping there. Eight Russian forts were stormed and captured between August 5-15. Ivangorod had already been abandoned in early August and Novogeorgievsk, one of Russia’s greatest strongholds, had been completely surrounded. After suffering heavy casualties and a ten day bombardment, Novogeorgievsk fell to the Germans on August 20, and 90,000 soldiers were captured.
However, possibly Germany’s greatest prize during their summer campaign was the fortified town of Kovno. Its defensive network allowed the Russians to hold the German siege back for a while, but the German artillery eventually broke down the town’s fortifications and it was seized on August 18, 1915. Dismay spread through Russia – Kovno was a historic town and a symbol of national pride. Furthermore, the great quantities of war resources behind Kovno’s walls were also captured when it fell.
The fall of Kovno destroyed the last remnants of Grand Duke Nicholas’s former popularity and Russia’s ruler, Tsar Nicholas II, decided he would personally take command of the Russian Army. The Times called the move “a grandiose plan” and published French President Poíncaré’s letter to the Tsar with his reaction: “I know that in taking command yourself of your valiant Armies, your majesty means to energetically pursue, until final victory, the war which has been imposed on the Allied nations. In the name of France I send you my warmest wishes.”
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Despite the move being heralded as a feat of bravery in the Allied press, the Tsar’s decision to assume command of the Russian Army went against his cabinet’s advice. They feared that any military setbacks Russia suffered would reflect directly upon the Tsar – fears that would come to fruition less than two years later.
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Patrick Wingrove is a historical researcher at the Illustrated London News
Twitter: @ilnTweet
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