History

• Similarities 1.

  • Importance of communication: 

  (September 9-10, 1914) Marne: successful communication and cooperation led to allied victory

  (August 30, 1914) Tannenberg: bad communication led to russian loss - germans reassembled 8th army but poor communication meant russian armies could not support each other. 
• Similarities 2.

  • Initial German Involvement: 

  (September 5-6, 1914) Marne: German forces moved quickly wanting to break through and capture Paris.

  (August 23, 1914) Tanneberg: eliminating Russian threat in East Prussia, Hindenburg and Ludendorff arrive in East Prussia, signaling their efforts to turn the tide against the Russians. 
• Similarities 3.

  • Role of Mobility:

  (September 7, 1914) Marne: “Miracle of the Marne” rapid counterattack against the exposed flank of the German First Army.

  (August 24-25, 1914) Tannenberg: The German 8th army was able to move 100 miles and outmaneuver the Russian 2nd army.
• similarities 4.

  (Late August 1914) Timing: Both battles took place in the early stages of the war
• Differences 1.

  • Course of Fighting

  (September 6, 1914) Marne: french retreated so they could prevent encirclement and then counterattack

  (August 25, 1914) Tannenberg: beginning of the encirclement of Russian 2nd Army
• Differences 2.

  • Supply line challenges

  (September 6-10, 1914) Marne: extended front lines, large difficulties transporting so far

  (August 25-30, 1914) Tannenberg: German supply lines were well-established and efficient
• Differences 3.

  • Public perception

  Marne: boosted allied morale and busted myth or german invincibility

  Tannenberg: boosted german morale, lowered Russian military prestige
• Differences 4

  • Geography:

  Marne: open countryside of paris

  Tannenberg: forests and lake regions
• differences 5

  • Outcome:

  Marne: Allied victory

  Tannenberg: german victory, destroyed Russian 2nd Army