General Alexander Samsonov
Alexander Samsonov commanded the Russian Second Army destroyed at Tannenberg and killed himself in the forest. Born in 1859 into a noble family in what is now Ukraine, he was commissioned into the cavalry, served in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78, and graduated from the general staff academy. He commanded a Cossack division in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05, fighting at Liaoyang and Mukden, and formed a bitter personal enmity with Paul von Rennenkampf, who commanded a neighbouring formation; a story has the two coming to blows on a railway platform at Mukden. He served as ataman of the Don Cossacks and governor-general of Turkestan, and was in the Caucasus for his health when war broke out. In August 1914 Russia invaded East Prussia earlier than its own plans anticipated, to relieve pressure on France. Rennenkampf's First Army advanced from the east and Samsonov's Second from the south, separated by the Masurian Lakes, with orders to converge. The Second Army advanced through sandy country with inadequate supply, its men exhausted, and transmitted orders by uncoded wireless because it lacked ciphers — which the Germans read. Hindenburg and Ludendorff, with Max Hoffmann's staff work, moved almost all their strength by rail against Samsonov while screening Rennenkampf, who did not advance to help. Between 26 and 30 August the Second Army was enveloped and destroyed: around 50,000 casualties and 92,000 prisoners. Samsonov walked into the woods near Willenberg on the night of 29 August and shot himself. His widow later recovered his body through the Red Cross.
- Lived: 1859 CE – 1914 CE
- Nationality: Russian
- Roles: general
