Tannenberg's Cauldron: The Annihilation of an Army

In the opening month of the First World War, the seemingly unstoppable Russian army launched a massive invasion of Germany. On the Eastern Front, the Russian Second Army plunged deep into East Prussia, confident in its overwhelming numbers. But what followed was not a Russian triumph, but one of the most stunning and complete victories in the history of warfare.
In "Tannenberg's Cauldron," author Jerome Ellis provides a gripping, blow-by-blow account of the legendary battle that resulted in the annihilation of an entire army. Ellis details the series of fatal Russian blunders—from arrogant commanders to unencrypted radio messages—that delivered their plans directly into German hands. He then masterfully reconstructs the audacious German counter-stroke, orchestrated by the recalled veterans Hindenburg and Ludendorff, who used Germany's railway system to shuttle troops with lightning speed, setting a trap of classic design.
The book throws the reader into the heart of the "cauldron," the brutal pocket where the surrounded and disoriented Russian forces were systematically crushed. "Tannenberg's Cauldron" is more than a military history; it is a timeless study in strategy, leadership, and the catastrophic consequences of hubris in the face of a determined and brilliant foe.