In early February 1915, deep snow and sub-zero temperatures blanketed East Prussia as German forces launched a sweeping winter attack against the Russian Army. Following earlier clashes in the region, the objective was clear: drive the Russians out of German territory once and for all.
Under the command of Hindenburg and Ludendorff, German troops advanced through forests, across frozen lakes, and into entrenched Russian positions. Despite the punishing weather, coordination and mobility proved decisive. The offensive aimed to encircle and destroy the Russian Tenth Army before it could regroup.
The result was devastating. Russian formations were forced into retreat, with entire units cut off during the fighting. Heavy casualties mounted on both sides, not only from rifle and artillery fire, but from frostbite, exhaustion, and the merciless winter itself.
This was not merely a tactical engagement. The Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes secured East Prussia and demonstrated the brutal realities of large-scale winter warfare on the Eastern Front. Victory came at a cost, and survival often depended as much on endurance as on strategy.
In-Game Event
From today until February 19, you can take part in the Masurian Winter Offensive Campaign in Tannenberg.
All casualties in Maneuver mode will count toward the campaign total.
Just as in history, this time it isn’t simply about taking ground, it’s about endurance in unforgiving conditions. The winning side will be the army that proves strongest over the course of the event.
Those who participate in the campaign will earn a special anniversary campaign medal, marking another year of Tannenberg and another hard-fought struggle on the Eastern Front.
Will the Central Powers repeat their winter success, or can the Russian forces change the outcome this time?
The snow is falling. The offensive begins now.
