Hello and welcome to a History of Europe, Gie Battles podcast. My name is Carder Reilett, and today I'll be

continuing the story of the First World War. Last week we looked at the beginning of the war

in 1914 on the Western Front.

Today we turn our attention to the Eastern Front.

The Looking at the Eastern Front in 1914, political logic would have led the Austrians to concentrate their attack on Serbia, who they blamed for provoking the war, while the Russians would advance south

to rescue their Serb allies. However, the Russians were determined to strike hard against their

most powerful enemy, Germany, in support of France, and the Austrians were therefore obliged

to provide support for their German allies. A century previous, Poland was partitioned between Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary.

The division of territories which resulted from this might at first glance on the map look as if strategically on the battlefield they favoured Russia.

That is because Russian held Poland, which was centred on the city of Warsaw, was shaped like

a salient, that is a piece of land which projects into another.

In this case it was the land between the Carpathian Mountains in Austria to the south and east Prussia to the north, and it particularly appeared to threaten the German-controlled territory of Silesia.

On the other hand, this same salient might also be regarded as vulnerable for Russia, an exposed area flanked on both sides by enemies.

Ostro-Hungary had to plan for several different scenarios.

The Chief of Staff, Conrad von Hotsendorf, had detailed plans for conflict with Russia,

a separate one for the Borgans and another for war with Italy, as well as combinations of the above.

Although at least formally, Italy was an ally of Austria and Germany,

neither trusted the Italians to keep to their promise of help, as it turned out with

good justification. The Empire's armies were from a whole mix of nationalities, which

presented various challenges, including of language. Any new officer arriving at a regiment was given three years to learn its language.

This duty was taken seriously and all Habsburg professional officers were proficient in at least

two tongues. The army's biggest problem was that it was not large enough, only about half the size of the

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