Paul von Rennenkampf

Paul von Rennenkampf (or Pavel Rennenkampf) (1854-1918) was a Russian general who served in the Russian Army for over 40 years, including World War I.

Of Baltic German extraction, he joined the Russian Army at 19 and attended the Nikolaevsky Military Academy in St. Petersburg from 1879 to 1882. Enjoying a rapid ascent in the army, he was appointed to the General Staff in 1882 after graduation and reached the rank of Major-General by 1900.

Rennenkampf commanded a cavalry unit during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900-01, and was responsible for the capture of Tsitsihar and Kirin. He also participated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, but was criticised for his campaign in north-eastern Korea. After the Battle of Mukden in 1905, General Alexander Samsonov accused Rennenkampf of failing to assist him during the fighting and the two men came to blows.

After the Russo-Japanese War, Rennenkampf restored part of his reputation dealing with revolutionaries in Siberia. Afterwards he was appointed Chief-of-Staff of the Vilno Military District.

At the start of World War I, Rennenkampf was given command of the Russian First Army for the invasion of East Prussia, advancing from the North East. His behaviour during the Battle of Tannenberg, particularly his failure to coordinate with Samsonov's Second Army, resulted in much criticism from sector commander Yakov Zhilinski and attempts by some members of the military high command to have him removed from command.

After relative success at the Battle of Gumbinnen in mid-August, failure at the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes that same month, which forced a Russian withdrawal from East Prussia, and at the Battle of Lodz in November 1914 led to Rennenkampf's dismissal amid recriminations of incompetence and even treason (due to his heritage). Rennenkampf then retired to the Black Sea coast, and was approached by the Bolsheviks in 1918 to serve in the Red Army during the Russian Civil War. He was shot upon declining.