376:: how should one regard the Kaunas fortress transferred to his subordination: whether to allow it to be completely surrounded by the Germans, whether to defend the northern forts, despite the loss of the fortifications of the forts of the First Department, or start evacuating the garrison, weapons and military supplies, as this must be done in a timely manner. On the morning of August 17, Alekseyev allowed the use of his reserve for the defense of Kaunas - the 4th Finnish Rifle and 65th Infantry Divisions. E. Radkevich ordered the 3rd Siberian Corps to immediately attack the Germans. In the night battle, the German units that penetrated the forts were driven out, but to the north of the fortress, the detachment of Major General N. Yanovsky was driven back by the German 4th Cavalry Division. From 11 o'clock K. Litzman began shelling the forts of the 1st Defense Department with 208 guns, including 80 heavy and 10 super-heavy howitzers and mortars; fire was corrected from airplanes and balloons. By 12 o'clock, almost all the artillery of the Kaunas forts was put out of action, and the infantry of the German 40th reserve corps went on the attack, broke through between forts II and III, and captured fort I by 14 o'clock. By 18 o'clock, all the forts of the 1st division were captured ; in the northern section, the central fence of the fortress was broken through. Bridges across the Neman River were occupied by hundreds of Cossacks and prepared for the explosion. 4,000 prisoners and 52 guns fell into the hands of the Germans (115th Infantry, 76th and 79th Reserve Divisions).
128:
96:
331:
361:
withstood several attempts to breach the defensive perimeter. Several days afterward, the bombardment of the fortress reached its peak; its defenders sustained heavy casualty rates of 50% to 75%. On August 14, over 1,000 defending troops were killed, but the
Germans were unable to completely overcome the fortress' defenses. However, on the next day, Gamma-Gerät shells destroyed the First Fort and the Germans transferred their attentions to the Second Fort. The fight was now within the confines of the greater fortress complex.
339:
140:
109:
424:(65th Infantry Division and militia) continued to defend Fort V. Radkevich still hoped to return Kaunas and ordered the corps of V. Tofimov and N. Lopushansky to push back the Germans beyond the Neman River, to organize the evacuation of the fortress. The task of recapturing the 3rd and 4th defense departments from the Germans and then defending them "to the last extreme" after midnight on August 18 was also confirmed by Alekseyev.
441:
Although most of their experience lay in the defense of the fortress' interior, they were dispatched to fight on open ground. When the combat moved outside the fortress, communication lines were disrupted by the German bombardment, and the fortress defense was unable to restore complete communication with the command center or with other forts. The absence of external support was a crucial factor in its fall.
440:
Researchers have identified factors contributing to the relatively rapid fall of the fortress. It had not been completely renovated; its defenders were inexperienced; the crew had been frequently rotated, and had not been able to familiarize themselves with the surrounding area and with the fortress.
379:
The bombardment from siege weapons affected the defenses of Kaunas. In the First
Department of the fortress, losses reached 75% of the composition (164 officers and 11,968 soldiers), batteries of heavy guns were broken, and anti-assault guns were suppressed. The problem of the defenders was the lack
360:
The German army concentrated its attack on the First, Second and Third Forts, which were the complex's oldest structures. The army did not surround the entire fortress, and its defense was able to regroup and resupply. On August 8, the
Germans intensified their bombardment, but the fortress garrison
436:
Grigoriev was arrested by
Russian authorities, tried, and sentenced to fifteen years in prison for failure to properly perform his duties. He also suffered the revocation of all his awards, military degrees, and honors. The Germans used materials from the fortress elsewhere during their war against
410:
The garrison abandoned Kaunas and is running in complete disarray. The commandant was found at about 7 o'clock in the morning near Rumšiškės... The remnants of the garrison are a disorderly crowd, and according to the commandant, their moral state excludes the possibility of not only going on the
427:
However, overnight in the Kaunas area, under the onslaught of the
Germans, the 40th and 54th Don Cossack regiments retreated, N. Lopushansky's detachment was also thrown back. In the evening, the Germans captured the last remaining Fort V and completely occupied Kaunas. The 40th reserve corps
415:
K. Litzman, in turn, ordered the bombardment of the center of Kaunas, the citadel and the station, the forts in the northern sector of defense, against which the 3rd reserve division and B. von Ezebek's brigade should be sent to attack. Until the evening, the
Germans captured the forts of the
384:
Large losses and fatigue of people force people to ask for help, requests for which the 10th Army is silent or is limited by
General Popov to incomprehensible polemics ... To replace the melted units, I need 12 whole battalions, at least for the time of putting the garrison units in
397:
was ordered to "take out everything that is possible, lingering on the remaining forts." At about one in the morning, the headquarters of the 10th Army, unable to contact
Grigoriev, transferred command of the garrison to the head of the 124th Infantry Division, Infantry General
416:
northern part of the fortress, crossing the 76th and 79th reserve divisions across the Neman River, the 115th
Infantry Division captured Fort IV. From 18.30, the Russian 10th Army began to withdraw. The garrison of Kaunas held Rumšiškės and
405:
At 4 o'clock on August 17, Grigoriev telegraphed to the army headquarters that the garrison had left the fortress and was demoralized. Radkevich reported this to the
Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the North-Western Front Alekseyev at 9
380:
of ammunition: they were armed with Japanese rifles, for which there were no cartridges in Kaunas. Grigoriev appealed in vain to the command of the 10th Army, and even on July 31 he decided to send a complaint to the front headquarters:
205:
392:
By the night of August 17, the garrison of the 1st division completely left the Neman, parts of the Second Defense Department left the fortifications under the threat of encirclement. The commandant of the fortress
198:
191:
402:, who defended the 4th department of the fortress. It turned out that fort V was still being defended, and fort IV was not occupied by anyone. Bridges across the Neman River were blown up.
848:
858:
853:
357:. The howitzer's shell weighed about 1 ton with a range of 14 km (8.7 mi). Several days into the siege more guns of various calibers were deployed.
824:
798:
766:
742:
716:
697:
878:
863:
753:
278:
369:
868:
47:
428:
captured up to 20,000 prisoners, 1,300 guns (of which 350 were heavy), 100 machine guns, 20,000 rifles, 810,000 shells.
421:
450:
295:
261:
28:
399:
843:
394:
365:
234:
251:
330:
883:
873:
229:
244:
215:
350:
To support this attack, the Germans constructed a railroad to transport their 42-centimetre (17 in)
572:
338:
303:
144:
291:
266:
256:
315:
820:
794:
762:
738:
712:
693:
389:
However, the front headquarters forwarded the complaint to the headquarters of the 10th Army.
373:
782:
726:
307:
417:
299:
239:
59:
812:
761:(in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija. p. 186.
351:
343:
113:
63:
178:
1,300 guns (of which 350 were heavy), 100 machine guns, 20,000 rifles, 810,000 shells.
837:
319:
132:
127:
101:
532:С.Г. Нелипович, Русский фронт Первой мировой войны. Потери сторон 1915, 2022, p. 512
481:С.Г. Нелипович, Русский фронт Первой мировой войны. Потери сторон 1915, 2022, p. 512
32:
67:
354:
314:), manned the fortress. To attack the fortress, the Germans brought four
183:
302:
in July 1915. At that time, 66,629 men with 1,370 guns, commanded by
337:
329:
298:
and advanced towards Lithuania and Kaunas. The Germans reached
187:
578:
737:]. Foreword by Nikolai Starikov. St.Petersburg: Piter.
346:
gun. German artillery played the key role in the offensive.
318:
to the operation, which were placed under the command of
791:
The Great Retreat and stabilization of the Eastern Front
577:(in Lithuanian), Gintaras Česonis, 2004, archived from
674:
20,000 prisoners,7,000-8,000 killed and 17,000 wounded
787:Великое отступление и стабилизация восточного фронта
711:(in Lithuanian). Kaunas: Arx Baltica. p. 160.
624:Der Weltkrieg 1914 bis 1918. Bd. VIII, p. 479-480
692:(in Lithuanian). Vol. II. Vilnius: Mintis.
21:
633:Der Weltkrieg 1914 bis 1918. Bd. VIII, p. 480
597:Der Weltkrieg 1914 bis 1918. Bd. VIII, p. 479
523:Der Weltkrieg 1914 bis 1918. Bd. VIII, p. 480
199:
8:
849:Battles of the Eastern Front (World War I)
206:
192:
184:
18:
511:
499:
411:offensive, but even holding any position.
859:Battles of World War I involving Germany
651:
647:
645:
643:
641:
639:
334:The Second Fort after German bombardment
854:Battles of World War I involving Russia
817:The First World War: A complete History
667:
544:
469:
462:
420:, the detachment of Lieutenant General
567:
565:
556:
46:12 August – 18 August [
7:
540:
538:
173:10,000 killed, wounded and captured
755:Kauno tvirtovės gynyba 1915 metais
14:
138:
126:
107:
94:
50:28 Jule-8 August] 1915
372:, at noon on August 16, asked
1:
606:С.Г. Нелипович, 2022, p. 667
364:The commander of the Russian
615:С.Г. Нелипович, 2022, p. 667
490:С.Г. Нелипович, 2022, p. 512
900:
879:Military history of Kaunas
864:1915 in the Russian Empire
752:Pociūnas, Arvydas (2008).
688:Kviklys, Bronius (1991).
311:
225:
167:
150:
119:
87:
38:
26:
786:
735:Russia-Shield of Entente
730:
709:Kauno tvirtovės istorija
707:Orlov, Vladimir (2007).
574:Kauno tvirtovės istorija
451:Riga–Schaulen offensive
296:Riga–Schaulen offensive
413:
387:
347:
335:
217:Great Retreat (Russia)
120:Commanders and leaders
793:]. Moscow: Вече.
408:
382:
341:
333:
168:Casualties and losses
869:February 1915 events
819:. Moscow: Квадрига.
292:Imperial German Army
279:Dniestr–Zolota Lypa
731:Россия-щит Антанты
547:, pp. 242–243
348:
336:
312:Владимир Григорьев
304:Vladimir Grigoriev
145:Vladimir Grigoriev
16:World War I battle
844:Conflicts in 1915
826:978-5-389-08465-0
800:978-5-4484-4482-1
783:Oleynikov, Alexei
768:978-9955-423-64-5
744:978-5-496-01795-4
727:Oleynikov, Alexei
718:978-9955-638-97-1
699:978-9955-638-97-1
374:Mikhail Alekseyev
287:
286:
182:
181:
83:
82:
891:
830:
804:
778:
776:
775:
760:
748:
722:
703:
675:
672:
655:
649:
634:
631:
625:
622:
616:
613:
607:
604:
598:
595:
589:
588:
587:
586:
569:
560:
554:
548:
542:
533:
530:
524:
521:
515:
509:
503:
497:
491:
488:
482:
479:
473:
467:
313:
220:
218:
208:
201:
194:
185:
143:
142:
141:
131:
130:
112:
111:
110:
100:
98:
97:
40:
39:
19:
899:
898:
894:
893:
892:
890:
889:
888:
884:Kaunas Fortress
874:1915 in Germany
834:
833:
827:
813:Gilbert, Martin
811:
801:
788:
781:
773:
771:
769:
758:
751:
745:
732:
725:
719:
706:
700:
687:
684:
679:
678:
673:
669:
664:
659:
658:
650:
637:
632:
628:
623:
619:
614:
610:
605:
601:
596:
592:
584:
582:
571:
570:
563:
555:
551:
543:
536:
531:
527:
522:
518:
510:
506:
498:
494:
489:
485:
480:
476:
468:
464:
459:
447:
434:
328:
288:
283:
221:
216:
214:
212:
177:
162:
157:
139:
137:
125:
108:
106:
95:
93:
71:
22:Siege of Kaunas
17:
12:
11:
5:
897:
895:
887:
886:
881:
876:
871:
866:
861:
856:
851:
846:
836:
835:
832:
831:
825:
806:
805:
799:
779:
767:
749:
743:
723:
717:
704:
698:
683:
680:
677:
676:
666:
665:
663:
660:
657:
656:
635:
626:
617:
608:
599:
590:
561:
549:
534:
525:
516:
514:, p. 302.
512:Oleynikov 2024
504:
502:, p. 257.
500:Oleynikov 2016
492:
483:
474:
472:, p. 257.
461:
460:
458:
455:
454:
453:
446:
443:
433:
430:
400:N. Lopushansky
327:
324:
285:
284:
282:
281:
276:
275:
274:
269:
259:
254:
249:
248:
247:
245:Novogeorgievsk
242:
237:
226:
223:
222:
213:
211:
210:
203:
196:
188:
180:
179:
174:
170:
169:
165:
164:
159:
153:
152:
148:
147:
135:
122:
121:
117:
116:
114:Russian Empire
104:
90:
89:
85:
84:
81:
80:
79:German victory
77:
73:
72:
64:Russian Empire
58:
56:
52:
51:
44:
36:
35:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
896:
885:
882:
880:
877:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
862:
860:
857:
855:
852:
850:
847:
845:
842:
841:
839:
828:
822:
818:
814:
810:
809:
808:
802:
796:
792:
784:
780:
770:
764:
757:
756:
750:
746:
740:
736:
728:
724:
720:
714:
710:
705:
701:
695:
691:
686:
685:
681:
671:
668:
661:
654:, p. 121
653:
652:Pociūnas 2008
648:
646:
644:
642:
640:
636:
630:
627:
621:
618:
612:
609:
603:
600:
594:
591:
581:on 2011-05-10
580:
576:
575:
568:
566:
562:
559:, p. 138
558:
553:
550:
546:
541:
539:
535:
529:
526:
520:
517:
513:
508:
505:
501:
496:
493:
487:
484:
478:
475:
471:
466:
463:
456:
452:
449:
448:
444:
442:
438:
431:
429:
425:
423:
419:
412:
407:
403:
401:
396:
390:
386:
381:
377:
375:
371:
367:
362:
358:
356:
353:
345:
340:
332:
325:
323:
321:
320:Karl Litzmann
317:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
290:Summer 1915,
280:
277:
273:
270:
268:
265:
264:
263:
262:Riga-Schaulen
260:
258:
255:
253:
250:
246:
243:
241:
238:
236:
235:2nd Przasnysz
233:
232:
231:
228:
227:
224:
219:
209:
204:
202:
197:
195:
190:
189:
186:
176:~45,000 total
175:
172:
171:
166:
160:
155:
154:
149:
146:
136:
134:
133:Karl Litzmann
129:
124:
123:
118:
115:
105:
103:
102:German Empire
92:
91:
86:
78:
75:
74:
69:
65:
61:
57:
54:
53:
49:
45:
42:
41:
37:
34:
30:
29:Eastern Front
25:
20:
816:
807:
790:
772:. Retrieved
754:
734:
708:
690:Mūsų Lietuva
689:
682:Bibliography
670:
629:
620:
611:
602:
593:
583:, retrieved
579:the original
573:
552:
545:Kviklys 1991
528:
519:
507:
495:
486:
477:
470:Gilbert 2023
465:
439:
435:
426:
414:
409:
404:
395:V. Grigoriev
391:
388:
383:
378:
370:E. Radkevich
363:
359:
349:
289:
271:
88:Belligerents
27:Part of the
352:Gamma-Gerät
344:Gamma-Gerät
342:The German
252:Vistula-Bug
33:World War I
838:Categories
774:2009-05-03
585:2008-06-12
557:Orlov 2007
457:References
418:Žiežmariai
294:began the
267:First Riga
163:1,370 guns
158:1,360 guns
785:(2024).
729:(2016).
422:V. Alftan
366:10th Army
316:divisions
230:Bug-Narew
68:Lithuania
815:(2023).
445:See also
437:Russia.
406:o'clock:
355:howitzer
151:Strength
66:(now in
55:Location
432:Outcome
308:Russian
257:Jastków
161:66,000
156:unknown
31:during
823:
797:
765:
741:
715:
696:
385:order.
326:Battle
300:Kaunas
99:
76:Result
789:[
759:(PDF)
733:[
662:Notes
272:Kovno
240:Narew
60:Kovno
821:ISBN
795:ISBN
763:ISBN
739:ISBN
713:ISBN
694:ISBN
48:O.S.
43:Date
840::
638:^
564:^
537:^
368:,
322:.
310::
62:,
829:.
803:.
777:.
747:.
721:.
702:.
306:(
207:e
200:t
193:v
70:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
