Eastern Front

Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western... Europe. The term and widespread interest in the region itself came back into fashion by the end of the Cold War, which had divided Europe politically into East and West, splitting Central Europe in half. The concept of Central Europe, and that of a common identity, is somewhat elusive. However, scholars assert that a distinct "Central European culture, as controversial and debated the notion may be, exists." It is based on "similarities emanating from historical, social and cultural characteristics", and it is identified as having been "one of the world's richest sources of creative talent" between the 17th and 20th centuries. Cross Currents: A Yearbook of Central European Culture characterizes Central Europe "as an abandoned West or a place where East and West collide". Germany's Constant Committee for Geographical Names defines Central Europe both as a distinct cultural area and a political region. George Schöpflin and others argue that Central Europe is defined by being "a part of Western Christianity", while Samuel P.
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The Sventiany Offensive was a military operation mostly undertaken by the 10th German Army against the 10th Russian Army as part of the Eastern Front... during World War I. On September 9, 1915, four German cavalry divisions, enforced from September 13 by two others, filled the gap in the Russian front and deployed an attack to gain the rear of 10th Russian army. On September 9 the Germans broke the Russian defence and six cavalry divisions were thrown into breach. Later however the German onslaught, devoid of infantry and artillery support, weakened and on September 15–16 was finally stopped by the newly formed 2nd Russian army. On October 2 the Sventiany breach was eliminated.
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The Battle of Komarow was a battle on the Eastern Front during World War I. It would prove a victory for the Austro-Hungarian forces, but one they... would not be able to reproduce in the coming months of the war. The prewar planning for a joint Austro-German war with Russia entailed an immediate offensive. Helmuth von Moltke and Franz Graf Conrad von Hötzendorf had planned on striking into the bulge presented by the incorporation of Poland into the Russian lines by von Hötzendorf's forces advancing into Southern Poland while two German armies advanced on Warsaw from Silesia in the direction of Warsaw. However in Moltke's reworking of the Schlieffen Plan he poached the two armies designated for this attack in an effort to strengthen his defences in Alsace-Lorraine. In a huge gamble, Moltke pleaded with Hötzendorf to carry out the planned offensive despite the lack of German help. The numbers were not in Conrad's favor, but he had little choice, if he did not act the Russians would likely move into Silesia and the War would be lost.
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The Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes, also known as the Winter Battle of the Masurian Lakes, was the northern part of the Central Powers'... offensive on the Eastern Front in the winter of 1915. The offensive was intended to advance beyond the Vistula River and perhaps knock Russia out of the war. German Chief of Staff Erich von Falkenhayn strongly believed that the war was going to be won on the Western Front and was hesitant to lend support to Paul von Hindenburg, commander of the Eastern Front. However Falkenhayn did eventually sanction Hindenburg's planned offensive. Hindenburg would personally lead the northern offensive in the area of the Masurian Lakes . General Alexander von Linsingen would lead an attack against the Russians in the Carpathians aimed at Lemberg, and further south General Borojevic von Bojna would attempt to relieve the besieged fortress at Przemysl. Hindenburg had available for the northern offensive the German Eighth Army, commanded by Fritz von Below. A newly created force, the German Tenth Army, commanded by Colonel-General Hermann von Eichhorn was also being sent to the east.
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The Battle of Gumbinnen, initiated by forces of the German Empire on August 20, 1914, was the first major German offensive on the Eastern Front... during the First World War. Because of the hastiness of the German attack, however, the Russian army emerged victorious. At the outbreak of the war, Maximilian von Prittwitz's orders were very strict and clear: his German Eighth Army was to remain in its positions in East Prussia, without attempting any offensive action, as all German efforts were to be concentrated on the Western Front against France, according to the Schlieffen Plan. In addition, should the Russians increase their pressure, he was authorized to fall back as far as the Vistula River, abandoning eastern Prussia. The Eighth Army comprised four corps: I Corps , XVII Corps , I Reserve Corps , and XX Corps , plus 1st Cavalry Division, facing the Russian First Army and Second Army . The Russians enjoyed considerable numeric superiority, but were hampered by significant deficiencies in their services of supply and field communications.
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