On the 5th November 1854 a smaller British and (yes) French army beat off an assault by the Russians at Inkerman in the Crimea. It was known as “The Soldier’s Battle” as men fought small engagements due to poor visibility in dense fog.
The Russians had massed 32000 men on the Allied flank and headed for the 2700 man 2nd Division, commanded today by the aggressive Pennefather. Instead of falling back in the face of superior numbers, he advanced. The British had their rifles to thank this day as they took a terrible toll on the musket armed Russian Infantry, who were hemmed in by the valley’s bottle neck shape. The British 2nd Division pushed the Russians back onto their reinforcements and should have been routed by the Russians’ numbers, but the fog and the British Light Division saved them. Three successive Russian commanders were killed in this engagement.
The Russians other 15000 men approached and assailed the Sandbag Battery, but they were routed by 300 British defenders vaulting the wall, blunting the lead Battalions, who were then attacked in the flank. More Russian attacks ensured the Battery exchanged hands several times.
The British 4th Division was not as lucky. Arriving on the field, its flanking move was itself flanked and its commander, Cathcart, killed. This enabled the Russians to advance, but not for long. They were soon driven off by French units arriving from their camps and made no more headway.
The battle was lost and they had to withdraw.
This was the last time the Russians tried to defeat the Allied troops in the field. Despite this reverse, however, the Russian attack had seriously stalled the Allies from capturing Sevastopol. They had to instead, spend one harsh winter on the heights overlooking the city, before it fell in September of 1855.
The British suffered 2573 casualties, the French 1800 and the Russians 11959.
Battle of Tannenberg 100 years ago today
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Today a hundred years ago the legandary partnership between Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff was born. The rushed together German 8th Army destroyed the Russian 2nd army in East Prussia.
The Russian failed attack did take pressure off the Western Front when Moltke the Younger removed two corp to the East.
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Did not know that Tannenberg was today. Thanks Worsham.
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@wittmann:
Did not know that Tannenberg was today. Thanks Worsham.
It happened during the previous days, although there were no doubt still clashes between the German 8th Army and the remains of the Russian 2nd Army.
Had to get a mention of Tannenberg on this site.
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@ABWorsham:
@wittmann:
Did not know that Tannenberg was today. Thanks Worsham.
It happened during the previous days, although there were no doubt still clashes between the German 8th Army and the remains of the Russian 2nd Army.
I don’t understand the “previous days” part. The Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 26-30 August 1914, so its anniversary starts more than three weeks from now.
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He’s from a different Planet, so his calender is different.
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@Imperious:
He’s from a different Planet, so his calender is different.
I swear guys! I’m not drunk when I get on this site. My dates are getting really f#%& up.
Some one else needs to pick up the WWI discussion. Because I am clearly shooting in the dark.
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@Imperious:
He’s from a different Planet, so his calender is different.
The oxygen on my planet is clearly getting low.
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Don’t worry Worsham. You are very passionate about the subject and I am still learning.
Sorry I did not check and discreetly tell you by PM.
Hope you are having a good weekend. The 4th tomorrow…. -
@wittmann:
Don’t worry Worsham. You are very passionate about the subject and I am still learning.
Sorry I did not check and discreetly tell you by PM.
Hope you are having a good weekend. The 4th tomorrow….Thank you for the kind words.