The Winter Battle in Masuria
A few days later the masses of Russian troops surging in the Augustowo Forest and defending themselves desperately, surrendered. The battle was at an end.
IV
The tactical results of the winter campaign in ilasuria were important : 110,000 prisoners and many hundred guns. The Russian loth Army had been annihilated, and Russia's strength was once more perceptibly reduced.
The original plan of operations had comprised an attack on Osowiec with the help of the heaviest possible direct fire. Of that part of the attacking armies which had reached the upper Bobr south of Augustowo, during the fighting in the forest, the 38th and 4oth R.C,, the 2nd Inf. Div. and the 4th Cav. Div. \vere to have crossed the river. Before they could do so, however, they had become partly involved in that tremendous fight in the forest which preceded the destruction of the roth Russian Army.
I had awaited the end of this fighting with increasing suspense. The section of the 8th Army which had been employed here— the Litzmann group—joined the loth Army. The 8th Arm}7 received instructions to effect the attack on Osowiec from Grajewo and take over the defence of East Prussia against Russian attacks from that point to the Orshitz.
Our troops did not succeed in getting through the marshes of the upper Bobr in spite of repeated and obstinate attempts. We wanted frost, but heavy rain continued to fall without ceasing. It was hardly possible to remain in the forest and ' marsh district. The upper Bobr could only be crossed by the existing causeways. The bridges had been destroyed. The 3rd Siberian Corps which had escaped at Lyck offered a brave resistance, and the desperate stand of the Russians in the Augustowo Forest had given them time to strengthen the defences of the Grodno-Osowiec sector.
Our troops were worn out by the bad weather and the strain
127