THE GERMAN SOLDIERS POSING FOR A PHOTOGRAPH IN A TRENCH WITH GAS-MASKS AND HAND GRENADES, CA.

 German soldiers posing for a photograph in a trench with gas-masks and hand-grenades, ca. 1915.


Colourised by @colorsofhistory.

Today 109 years ago, on January 31, 1915, the Battle of Bolimów (Battle of Humin in German) was fought between German and Russian forces on the Eastern Front.

Throughout December 1914 and January 1915, the Germans had repeatedly attempted to cross the Vistula River and capture the city of Warsaw, but always in vain.

A large scale offensive in the form of the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes and Battle of Przasnysz was planned for February 1915.

Before this offensive were to be launched, the Germans planned a small-scale attack to cross the Rawka river and divert Russian troops away from the north. They chose to attack at Bolimów, some 65 km west of Warsaw, which was near the important Łódź-Warsaw railway line.

The Germans had been experiencing with Methylbenzyl Bromide tear-gas and would put it to use here for the first time, marking the first large-scale deployment of poisonous gas in the First World War.

On January 31, 1915, the Germans launched an artillery bombardment of 600 guns on the Russian positions at Bolimów, including 18,000 shells of Bromide tear gas.

Due to the freezing temperatures (-21°C) the gas liquefied, causing few if any casualties. The German infantry then attacked the Russian positions, and did capture some positions, but failed to achieve a breakthrough. The freezing conditions and thick mist hindered the Germans, who called off the attack on February 2.

Upon seing the German failure, the Russians then conducted a heavy frontal counter-attack with 11 Divisions. The Russians were decimated by German artillery and rifle-fire, achieving little gains. Both sides decided to consolidate their positions, ending the battle.

In the Battle of Bolimów the Germans had suffered 20,000 casualties. They had failed to achieve a breakthrough, but did divert Russian troops from the north. The Russians had suffered 40,000 casualties in their counter-attacks; an all around awful waste of life.

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