20th August 1914
The battle at Gumbinnen has come to an end. The German army has captured Brussels as the Belgium army retreated to Antwerp. German General Von Bulow has executed 211 Belgians.
The battle of Gumbinnen began on the 17th August. Against official orders Hermann Von Francois launched an attack against the Russian First Army, resulting in a victory for Germany (The Battle of Stalluponen). On the 19th August the Russian Cavalry came into contact with the German infantry. The Russians dismounted and brought up their artillery to fight, leaving the Germans to retreat.
On the 20th August, German troops attacked Russian troops ,driving them back 8km by the early afternoon. Russian reinforcements arrived and the battle turned to stalemate. Unfortunately, due in the original unofficial attack three days earlier, German reinforcements were unable to arrive for several hours, enabling the Russian soldiers to move up their heavy artillery. Although at first the German's advanced well, they soon had to retreat when they came under Russian artillery fire.
The losses were high as with many battle's throughout the war. The Russian's endured 18,839 soldiers wounded, killed or worse - missing.
The German's lost 1,250 men killed, 6414 more were wounded and 6,943 men were taken prisoner.
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