Untitled Document
It is high time that you start building
your ATS Great War collection as YOU HAVE NEVER GAMED THE EASTERN
FRONT LIKE THIS! Ownership of GWATS 1: Tankschreken! is
a pre-requisite and of course, the ATS Rulebook 2014.
GWASL IV SAMSONOV’S ARMY takes the
action to the Great War’ Eastern Front and pits the soldiers
of General Ludendorff against invading Russians under General
Samsonov. The dark forests, forced-marches, and human waves of
a low-morale, poorly led force ... face the crack troops of a
still ascendant Germany. The horror of a two-front war is upon
the Kaiser’s best leaders and there is only one way out:
total victory.
Historians know the battle took place near
Allenstein. However, General Erich Ludendorff named it after Tannenberg,
some 30 klicks to the west, to avenge the defeat of the Teutonic
Knights at the earlier battle of the same name that occurred in
1410.
The world was a far different place during the summer of 1914.
Germany was on the offensive on the Western Front. Trench warfare
had yet to set in. Crowds, out in the streets welcomed war with
open arms, and cheers. A massive Russian Army headed for East
Prussia, and eventually, the heart of Germany ... in an unprecedented
invasion—ten Russian Armies in all could be mobilized. Hindenburg
was called out of retirement to manage the German side along with
Ludendorff. Despite overwhelming numerical advantages by the enemy,
the battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the
Russian Second Army, and the suicide of its commanding general,
Alexander Samsonov.
A series of follow-up battles (1st Masurian
Lakes) destroyed most of the First Army as well, and kept the
Russians off-balance until the spring of 1915. The Battle of Tannenberg
set the stage for the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes a week
later, where the reinforced German Eighth Army now faced only
the Russian First Army and forced it back over the prewar border.
Russian forces would not again march on German soil until the
end of World War II.
