DSCF5547

My War Memories, 1914-1918

The zoth Anny Corps was to carry out the attack wblch had been fiTwi for the 27th, and morę especially to push forward the 4ist Infantry Diyision. Von der GoItz’s Łandwehr Division was to

mJO

laniem

o

1-800000

r i f % v .*    *

I kn. = | mile.

Fig, 3. TaaMDbcig, Pondem 00 Augusl 29tb, 1914.

i

attack Hohenstein. The ist RX. and the i7th A.C. were moved up west, covered against attack from Ortelsburg, to positions on a linę rnnning from AUenstein to Passenheim.

M

Tannenberg

Early on the 28 th, we went to Frogenan and took np statkm in the open at the eastern end of the vilłage. General von Scholtz was not far o£L A very ineffective field-telephone connected us with the ist AC., bot no conmranication at all was possible with the other forces.

Our first impressions were by no means favcmrable. Neiden-borg had certainly been taken, bot the 4ist Infantry Division had attacked Waplitz in a fog and been driven back. This division, which had snfiered heavy casnalties, was now holding positions west of Waplitz and anticipatmg a bostfle connter-attack with the greatest anjdety. I sent an officer there by car to give me a report on the condition of the diyisk/n, and his acconnt was not enconraging. The Landwehr near Mhhlen were not making progress. If the enemy attacked the r%ht wing of the 20th AC. in great force, a grave crisis might resolt. At the best, the battle would be prolonged,

Fmahy, Rennenkampf might march. Bnt the enemy madę no attack on the 4ist Infantry Division and the Niemen Army did not march.

Captain Bartenwerffer, of the Staff of the I7th AC., flew over the enemy lines, and brought good reports of the progress of his Corps in the enemy's rear.    ,

During the aftemoon the sitnation changed to onr advantage. The yd Reserye Division, and later the 37th Infantry Division, gained ground west of Hohenstein; von der GolŁz’s Landwehr Division entered Hohenstein itself. The enemy front appeared to be wavering. General von Hindenburg wauted to drive on to Muhlen. We ran right into a temporaiy panie, created by Russian prisoners who were being taken to the rear in large numbers. This incident created an unfavonrable impression, as the disorder spread far to the rear.

In the evening we went to Osterode. Owing to an nnfortu-nate mobilization order the civil authorities had alieady left the town. This most have considerably inereased the anaiety of the civil population.

We were not at all elear as to how things stood with the indi-viduai units; bnt there was no donbt that the battle was won.

55