Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast Episode 250 - The Battle of Tannenberg Part 1: Deadly German Swamp Ass
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Mar 6, 2023 In a humorous kickoff to a legendary WWI battle, the hosts dive into the sensory connections of smell and its quirky memories, including odd scents from the NYC subway. They tackle the often-overlooked narratives of the Eastern Front and the complex history between Germany and Russia. A lighthearted take on the bizarre pickle halberd adds comedy while contrasting military strategies and the geopolitical tensions leading to Tannenberg. The dysfunctional state of the Russian military before the battle offers a chaotic glimpse into what’s to come.
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Quantity Diluted Officer Quality
- Military expansions diluted officer quality as many sought reserve status for social prestige.
- Expanding manpower without improving training weakened effective leadership.
Bored Officers Degenerated In Frontier Posts
- Joe recounts officers stationed in remote posts were bored and reckless, leading to drunken duels and family betrayals.
- One officer published a book about the debauchery and was arrested for libel to avoid embarrassing the army.
Russia Had Size Without Cohesive Quality
- The Russian army was vast but poorly organized, relying on patronage and low-quality recruits.
- Reforms improved some conditions but left chronic shortages and dysfunctional command structures.