THE GERMAN SOLDIERS POSING FOR A PHOTOGRAPH WITH BONES AND SKULLS FROM AN OSSUARY...

 German soldiers posing for a photograph with bones and skulls from an ossuary, ca. 1916.

This is an eery yet fascinating photograph which I thought I'd share today. My guess is that it was taken during the burial of said ossuary somewhere on the Western Front before the remains were stored away, hence why the bones lie out in the open.

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Fallen Russian soldier whose face was eaten by rats in the Carpathians, ca. 1915.

Colourised by @colorsofhistory.

Today 109 years ago, on January 23, 1915, the Carpathian Winter Battle began, as the Austro-Hungarians launched their first offensive in the Carpathians against the Russians.

Following the Battle of Galicia in August - September 1914, the Austro-Hungarians had fallen back 100 miles to the Carpathian Mountains, the last obstacle stopping the Russians from advancing into Hungary.

This withdrawal had also left the fortress of Przemyśl surrounded by Russian forces, trapping a military garrison of 127,000 Austro-Hungarians. The Russians soon lay siege to the Przemyśl fortress.

Due to the Russian threat in the Carpathians, and to halt the Siege of Przemyśl, the Austro-Hungarian Chief-of-Staff Conrad von Hötzendorf planned an offensive in the Carpathians.

On December 1, 1914, the Austro-Hungarians launched the Battle of Limanowa and pushed the Russians back. However, on December 28 the Russians counter-attacked and managed to capture the important Ushok Pass. An offensive in the Carpathian mountains was planned.

The Austro-Hungarian offensive into the Carpathians was launched on January 23 by 175,000 troops, reinforced by 23,000 German soldiers.

The attack was a complete disaster due to the freezing and mountainous terrain, with difficulty transporting resources, artillery and troops, who didn't have proper clothing, training nor experience in fighting in such extreme conditions. By February 1915, the Austro-Hungarians had suffered 94,000 casualties.

Though the troops trapped at Przemyśl were still considered crucial, and the Austro-Hungarians launched a second offensive into the Carpathians on February 27. The attack made small gains, but Russian counter-attacks soon erased the progress. Losses were again severe.

With Przemyśl being on the brink of collapse, the Austro-Hungarians launched a third and last offensive in the Carpathians on March 20, which also failed horribly. The troops in Przemyśl surrendered to the Russians on March 22. 

The Austro-Hungarians had suffered at least 320,000 casualties in the Carpathian Winter Battle, the majority of whom were to the cold. Others estimate up to 800,000 casualties. The Austro-Hungarians had effectively accomplished nothing, and they would feel its consequences in the years to come.

The Russians had suffered some 250,000 casualties, which were suffered from the cold, incessant Austro-Hungarian assaults and Russian counter-attacks.

The Austro-Hungarian defeat in the Carpathians and Przemyśl, as well as in Serbia, would have far-reaching consequences, as it all persuaded Italy to enter the war on the side of the Allies in May 1915.

Thanks for reading, leave your thought in the comment section below. 

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