Augustov, Battle of

At the start of World War I, successful Russian counterattack after the disaster at Tannenberg in October 1914 to recapture Augustov, a town in western Poland about 60 km/38 mi north of Białystok, from the Germans. German losses were estimated at about 50,000, and the Russians were able to press their advantage to advance into East Prussia.

German forces under General Paul von Hindenburg defeated a Russian reserve army near Lyck (now Elk) in October 1914. The Russians fell back and formed a line at Augustov to fight a delaying rearguard action so that fresh Russian forces could concentrate in their rear. When these reinforcements had assembled, the Russians counterattacked and drove the German forces back, recapturing Augustov in a flanking movement 3 December.