The Battle of Galicia, also known as the Battle of Lemberg, was a major battle between Russia and Austria-Hungary during the early stages of World War I in 1914. In the course of the battle, the Austro-Hungarian armies were severely defeated and forced out of Galicia, while the Russians captured Lemberg and, for approximately nine months, ruled Eastern Galicia until their defeat at Gorlice and Tarnów.
When war came the Chief of the Austro-Hungarian General StaffFranz Conrad von Hötzendorf planned to launch an offensive into Russian Poland with his northern armies (the 1st and 4th). The Russians would far outnumber the Central Powers in the east (especially the Austro-Hungarian armies, which were Russia's primary target), Conrad believed that their best option was an early advance into southern Poland where the Russians would be concentrating their newly mobilized units.[1]
Conrad knew that his German allies were committed to an offensive in the West to defeat the French in the first ten weeks of the war. Only the German 8th army would be in the East, where they would stand on the defensive in East Prussia. However, their alliance with the French obliged the Russians to attack the Germans promptly, so substantial Russian forces would be sent to invade East Prussia. The 1st and 4th Austro-Hungarian Armies would advance into Poland without direct German support. By 23 August 1914 Conrad's 1st, 3rd, and 4th Armies were concentrated in Galicia along a front of 280 km (170 mi).
On 2 August Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, a second cousin of EmperorNicholas II who had made his career in the army, was made Commander-in-Chief. He had an excellent reputation for training troops, but had never commanded a field army and was staggered by his unexpected elevation. The Russian 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th Armies were assigned to Galicia. The Russian war plan called for Nikolai Ivanov, the Russian commander of the Southwest Front, to counter an anticipated Austro-Hungarian offensive thrusting eastward from Lemberg. The 3rd and 8th Armies would mount an offensive into eastern Galicia. The Russians could bring 260 trains a day to their front, compared to the Austro-Hungarian's 152.
The Austro-Hungarian 1st Army under Viktor Dankl was moving in the north towards Lublin. Dankl struck and drove back Baron Zaltsa's Russian Fourth Army in what would be known as the Battle of Kraśnik. Dankl's army was able to capture 6,000 prisoners.
To the right of Dankl the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army, aiming at Cholm, drove back the Russian Fifth Army under Pavel Plehve in the Battle of Komarów, capturing 20,000 prisoners and inflicting heavy casualties. However, a planned Austrian enveloping movement around the Russian army failed.
As the Russians were being driven back along the northern front, the Austrian 3rd Army and Army Group Kovess made a simultaneous advance against Ivanov's left wing. Along the southern front, Ivanov had the Russian Third Army under Nikolai Ruzsky and the Russian Eighth Army under Aleksei Brusilov. Brusilov and Ruzsky routed the Austro-Hungarians so thoroughly that even though poor roads necessitated that the Russians halt for two days, the Austrians could not regroup to halt the Russian drive. This attack became known as the Battle of Gnila Lipa.
With the entire 3rd Army and Kovess Group in full retreat, Conrad pulled forces away from the northern front which he believed had been sufficiently defeated. In fact, the Russians north of Lemberg were still a potential threat. Ivanov ordered Plehve's Fifth Army to attack and drove the Austrians back as they began to shift forces to the south in an engagement known as the Battle of Rava Ruska. The Austrian Second Army was quickly recalled from Serbia, but it was too late and the entire Austrian front collapsed in Galicia, and the Russians took control of Lemberg.
ResultsEdit
Destruction of an Austro-Hungarian trench following Russian bombardment.
Holger Herwig estimates Austro-Hungarian losses of 100,000 dead, 220,000 wounded and 100,000 captured.[2] According to Prit Buttar, the Austro-Hungarian army lost 324,000 men in Galicia, including 130,000 as prisoners, while the Russians lost 225,000 men, of which 40,000 were captured.[3] Other authors estimate 400,000 Austro-Hungarian losses,[4][5][6][7] or "one-third of the Austro-Hungarian Army's combat effectives",[7] and 250,000 for the Russians.[4][5]
The Russians had pushed the front 100 miles (160 kilometers) into the Carpathian Mountains, completely surrounded the Austrian fortress of Przemyśl and started a Siege of Przemyśl which lasted for over a hundred days. The battle severely damaged the Austro-Hungarian Army, killed a large portion of its trained officers, and crippled Austria-Hungary. Though the Russians had been utterly crushed at the Battle of Tannenberg, their victory at Lemberg prevented that defeat from fully taking its toll on Russian public opinion.
^ abDavid R. Stone. Military History of Russia: From Ivan the Terrible to the War in Chechnya. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006. P. 162
^ abTony Jaques. Dictionary of Battles and Sieges. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2007. P. 380
^John Ashley Soames Grenville. A History of the World from the 20th to the 21st Century. Psychology Press, 2005. P. 89
^ abJohn Richard Schindler. A hopeless struggle: the Austro-Hungarian army and total war, 1914-1918. McMaster University, 1995. P. 91
BibliographyEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Galicia.
Buttar, P. (2014). Collision of Empires: The War on the Eastern Front in 1914. Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1472813183.
Herwig, H. (2014). The First World War: Germany and Austria-Hungary 1914-1918 (2nd ed.). London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN978-1-4725-1250-5.
Schindler, John R. (2015). Fall of the Double Eagle: the Battle for Galicia and the demise of Austria-Hungary. Herndon, Virginia: Potomac Books. ISBN978-1-61234-765-3.
battle, galicia, also, known, battle, lemberg, major, battle, between, russia, austria, hungary, during, early, stages, world, 1914, course, battle, austro, hungarian, armies, were, severely, defeated, forced, galicia, while, russians, captured, lemberg, appro. The Battle of Galicia also known as the Battle of Lemberg was a major battle between Russia and Austria Hungary during the early stages of World War I in 1914 In the course of the battle the Austro Hungarian armies were severely defeated and forced out of Galicia while the Russians captured Lemberg and for approximately nine months ruled Eastern Galicia until their defeat at Gorlice and Tarnow Battle of GaliciaPart of the Eastern Front during World War IEastern Front September 1914 Date23 August 11 September 1914LocationLemberg Galicia modern day Lviv Ukraine ResultRussian victory Russian occupation of Eastern Galicia and Northern BukovinaBelligerentsRussian Empire Austria HungaryCommanders and leadersNikolai Ivanov A Y von Saltza Aleksei Evert Pavel Plehve Nikolai Ruzsky Aleksei BrusilovArchduke FriedrichConrad von Hotzendorf V K von Krasnik Moritz von AuffenbergRudolf von Brudermann E von Bohm Ermolli H K von Kovesshaza Heinrich von KummerUnits involvedSouthwestern Front3rd Army 4th Army 5th Army 8th Army1st Army 3rd Army 4th Army Army group Kovess Army group KummerStrength1 200 000950 000Casualties and losses200 000 300 000 40 000 captured324 000 420 000 100 000 dead 220 000 wounded 100 000 130 000 captured Contents 1 Background 2 Battles 3 Results 4 Order of battle 4 1 Russian forces 4 2 Austro Hungarian forces 5 References 6 BibliographyBackground EditWhen war came the Chief of the Austro Hungarian General Staff Franz Conrad von Hotzendorf planned to launch an offensive into Russian Poland with his northern armies the 1st and 4th The Russians would far outnumber the Central Powers in the east especially the Austro Hungarian armies which were Russia s primary target Conrad believed that their best option was an early advance into southern Poland where the Russians would be concentrating their newly mobilized units 1 Conrad knew that his German allies were committed to an offensive in the West to defeat the French in the first ten weeks of the war Only the German 8th army would be in the East where they would stand on the defensive in East Prussia However their alliance with the French obliged the Russians to attack the Germans promptly so substantial Russian forces would be sent to invade East Prussia The 1st and 4th Austro Hungarian Armies would advance into Poland without direct German support By 23 August 1914 Conrad s 1st 3rd and 4th Armies were concentrated in Galicia along a front of 280 km 170 mi On 2 August Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich a second cousin of Emperor Nicholas II who had made his career in the army was made Commander in Chief He had an excellent reputation for training troops but had never commanded a field army and was staggered by his unexpected elevation The Russian 3rd 4th 5th and 8th Armies were assigned to Galicia The Russian war plan called for Nikolai Ivanov the Russian commander of the Southwest Front to counter an anticipated Austro Hungarian offensive thrusting eastward from Lemberg The 3rd and 8th Armies would mount an offensive into eastern Galicia The Russians could bring 260 trains a day to their front compared to the Austro Hungarian s 152 Battles EditMain article Battle of Krasnik The Austro Hungarian 1st Army under Viktor Dankl was moving in the north towards Lublin Dankl struck and drove back Baron Zaltsa s Russian Fourth Army in what would be known as the Battle of Krasnik Dankl s army was able to capture 6 000 prisoners Main article Battle of Komarow 1914 To the right of Dankl the Austro Hungarian 4th Army aiming at Cholm drove back the Russian Fifth Army under Pavel Plehve in the Battle of Komarow capturing 20 000 prisoners and inflicting heavy casualties However a planned Austrian enveloping movement around the Russian army failed Main article Battle of Gnila Lipa As the Russians were being driven back along the northern front the Austrian 3rd Army and Army Group Kovess made a simultaneous advance against Ivanov s left wing Along the southern front Ivanov had the Russian Third Army under Nikolai Ruzsky and the Russian Eighth Army under Aleksei Brusilov Brusilov and Ruzsky routed the Austro Hungarians so thoroughly that even though poor roads necessitated that the Russians halt for two days the Austrians could not regroup to halt the Russian drive This attack became known as the Battle of Gnila Lipa Main article Battle of Rawa With the entire 3rd Army and Kovess Group in full retreat Conrad pulled forces away from the northern front which he believed had been sufficiently defeated In fact the Russians north of Lemberg were still a potential threat Ivanov ordered Plehve s Fifth Army to attack and drove the Austrians back as they began to shift forces to the south in an engagement known as the Battle of Rava Ruska The Austrian Second Army was quickly recalled from Serbia but it was too late and the entire Austrian front collapsed in Galicia and the Russians took control of Lemberg Results Edit nbsp Destruction of an Austro Hungarian trench following Russian bombardment Holger Herwig estimates Austro Hungarian losses of 100 000 dead 220 000 wounded and 100 000 captured 2 According to Prit Buttar the Austro Hungarian army lost 324 000 men in Galicia including 130 000 as prisoners while the Russians lost 225 000 men of which 40 000 were captured 3 Other authors estimate 400 000 Austro Hungarian losses 4 5 6 7 or one third of the Austro Hungarian Army s combat effectives 7 and 250 000 for the Russians 4 5 The Russians had pushed the front 100 miles 160 kilometers into the Carpathian Mountains completely surrounded the Austrian fortress of Przemysl and started a Siege of Przemysl which lasted for over a hundred days The battle severely damaged the Austro Hungarian Army killed a large portion of its trained officers and crippled Austria Hungary Though the Russians had been utterly crushed at the Battle of Tannenberg their victory at Lemberg prevented that defeat from fully taking its toll on Russian public opinion Order of battle EditRussian forces Edit Russian South Western front Commander in chief Nikolai Ivanov Chief of Staff Mikhail Alekseyev 4th Army Commander Anton von Saltza replaced by Aleksei Evert after the battle of Krasnik Grenadiers Corps XIV Corps XVI Corps 5th Army Commander Pavel Plehve V Corps XVII Corps XIX Corps XXV Corps 3rd Army Commander Nikolai Ruzsky Staff officers Vladimir Dragomirov Nikolay Dukhonin Mikhail Bonch Bruyevich IX Corps X Corps XI Corps XXI Corps 8th Army Commander Aleksei Brusilov Staff officers Anton Denikin Quartermaster VII Corps VIII Corps XII Corps XXIV CorpsAustro Hungarian forces Edit Army group Kummer 7 Cavalry Division Landsturm forces 1st Army Commander Viktor Dankl I Corps Cracow 5 and 46 Infantry Divisions V Corps Pressburg Bratislava 14 33 and 37 Infantry Divisions X Corps Przemysl 2 24 and 45 Infantry Divisions 12 Infantry Division 3 Cavalry Division 9 Cavalry Division 4th Army Commander Moritz von Auffenberg II Corps Wien 4 13 and 25 Infantry Divisions VI Corps Kaschau 15 27 and 39 Infantry Divisions IX Corps Leitmeritz 10 and 26 Infantry Divisions XVII Corps formed on outbreak of war 19 Infantry Division 6 Cavalry Division 10 Cavalry Division 3rd Army Commander Rudolf Brudermann XI Corps Lemberg 30 Infantry Division XIV Corps Innsbruck 3 8 and 44 Infantry Division 23 Infantry Division 41 Infantry Division 2 Cavalry Division 4 Cavalry Division Army group Kovess later part of the 2nd Army III Corps Graz 6 28 and 22 Infantry Divisions XII Corps Hermannstadt 16 35 and 38 Infantry Divisions 11 Infantry Division 43 Infantry Division 20 Infantry Division 1 Cavalry Division 5 Cavalry Division 8 Cavalry DivisionReferences Edit Strachan Hew 2001 The first World War Volume I to war Oxford pp 281 357 ISBN 0 19 820877 4 Herwig 2014 p 95 Buttar 2014 p 278 a b David R Stone Military History of Russia From Ivan the Terrible to the War in Chechnya Greenwood Publishing Group 2006 P 162 a b Tony Jaques Dictionary of Battles and Sieges Greenwood Publishing Group 2007 P 380 John Ashley Soames Grenville A History of the World from the 20th to the 21st Century Psychology Press 2005 P 89 a b John Richard Schindler A hopeless struggle the Austro Hungarian army and total war 1914 1918 McMaster University 1995 P 91Bibliography Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Galicia Buttar P 2014 Collision of Empires The War on the Eastern Front in 1914 Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1472813183 Herwig H 2014 The First World War Germany and Austria Hungary 1914 1918 2nd ed London Bloomsbury Academic ISBN 978 1 4725 1250 5 Schindler John R 2015 Fall of the Double Eagle the Battle for Galicia and the demise of Austria Hungary Herndon Virginia Potomac Books ISBN 978 1 61234 765 3 Stone David 2015 The Russian Army in the Great War The Eastern Front 1914 1917 Lawrence University Press of Kansas ISBN 9780700620951 Tuchman Barbara The Guns of August 1962 Tucker Spencer The Great War 1914 18 1998 Nikolai Golovin Great battle for Galicia Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine 49 51 00 N 24 01 00 E 49 8500 N 24 0167 E 49 8500 24 0167 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Galicia amp oldid 1172527481, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
