The Year 1914

On 8 December, on the Northwest Front, the German 8th Army was in heavy fighting near Augustovo. The commander of the Northwest Front, General N.V. Ruzskiy, reported to Stavka that his command did not have any supplies left.

In Petrograd, French Ambassador Paleologue began receiving reports from many quarters that the Russian Army was running short of ammunition and rifles. He also recognized signs of depression in drawing rooms, clubs, public offices, shops and among people in the streets.

At Stavka, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich was compelled to issue an order describing the growing disorder on the railroads and holding the supply chiefs personally responsible for straightening out the mess within fifteen days.

Russian railheads and junctions were jammed with both full and empty boxcars delaying the movement of top priority trains. The deadline passed and the situation continued to deteriorate.

On 9 December, the Germans continued their drive on Warsaw. There was heavy fighting at Mlava in north Poland, and in the Petrokov area south of Lodz.

On 10 December, on the Southwest Front, the Austro-Hungarians were defeated near Krakau, with the loss of 4,000 prisoners.

In the Black Sea, Turkish warships convoyed a large troop transport which had to be dis-embarked on the Anatolian coast at Rize, since the port at Trabizond had been blocked by Russian mines. Russian warships were very active along the Anatolian coast.

Russian General M.V. Shidlovskiy was promoted to command Upravlenie Eskadra Vozdushnykh Korablei (Command Flying Ship Squadron) (UEVK), with giant four engine Il'ya Muromets heavy bombers. The UEVK reported directly to Stavka. The separation of heavy and light aviation would later cause a great deal of friction between Grand Duke Aleksandr Mikhailovich and Shidlovskiy.

On 11 December, in Poland, German 9th Army attacks were repelled north of Lovich.

In the Black Sea, the German cruiser Goeben bombarded the port of Batum.

From 11-15 December, in the Baltic Sea, Russian warships, screened by British submarines E.1 and E.9, began mining operations, attempting to foul entrances to the Bay of Danzig.