An account of the battles fought on the Eastern Front during World War I reveals how delays in adapting to a modern war and inadequacies in supply and support arrangements brought about the downfall of all three warring empires.

Includes maps of: Northeast Europe, 1914; Battle of Stalluponen, 17 August 1914; Battle of Gumbinnen, 20 August 1914; Tannenberg Battlefield; Combat North of Neidenburg, 23 August 1914; Combat on the Southwest Flank; Combat near Bischofsburg; Galicia - Southern Poland, August 1914; Battle of Krasnik, 22-24 August 1914; Battle of Komarow, 26-30 August 1914; Masurian Lakes, September 1914; Battles of Zlota Lipa and Gnila Lipa, August 1914; Przemysl, 1914-1915; Serbian Theatre - Potiorek's First Offensive, August 1914; October Campaign; German Advance on Lodz, November 1914; Limanowa-Lapanow, December 1914.

The German war machine -- The Russian steamroller -- Austria-Hungary: the other sick man of Europe -- Over the brink -- The first battles: Stallupönen and Gumbinnen -- Crisis of command -- Tannenberg -- The illusion of victory: Galicia, August 1914 -- The battle for the Masurian Lakes -- The reality of defeat: Galicia, September 1914 -- A bloody sideshow: the Siberian front -- Mud and blood: Autumn in Poland -- Łódź -- The first Christmas -- Disappointments and illusions.