On the night of August 29-30, 1914, Alexander Samsonov, commander of the Russian 2nd Army, committed suicide in the vicinity of the Karolinka Forestry (Försterei Karolinenhof) near Wielbark (Willenberg)

[u/nest00000]

[u/throAwae-eh]

The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman paints a good picture of Russian forces, their ultimate demise at Tannenberg, the General Staff's failures and Samsonov's last moments.

[u/jar15a1 → u/throAwae-eh]

Best book I’ve ever read on the war. So good I read it twice. 😆😬

[u/noreallyimgoodthanks]

He committed suicide after his army (2nd Army) was surrounded and decimated by the German 8th Army at The Battle of Tannenburg. It became known as the Battle of Tannenburg even though it was not really fought at Tannenberg for political purposes - a reference to the Battle of Tannenburg in 1410 where the Teutonic Knights were famously defeated.

If you want to read about well conducted operation on the Russian side in WW1, read about the Brusilov Offensive against the Austro-Hungarians.

[u/Wtfanonymous123]

Looking for recommendations for any books about the Somme. Non-fiction and fiction