Between army rank increases, the General was elevated to the noble rank of Freiherr in August 1917. Finally, on 31 January 1918, he received the rank of Feldmarschall. It is unclear how he received this rank; generally, the rules stipulated that the "Field Marshal" rank could only be attained by either winning a majour battle or capturing an enemy fortress. During this period, he suffered both victory and defeat, but the war took a steady toll on the fighting quality of his troops.
In addition to the 2. Army, he coördinated several fighting forces in Army Group Böhm-Ermolli, which lasted from 15 September 1915 until 25 July 1916; after that, Army Group Böhm-Ermolli was subordinated to Prinz Leopold von Bayern's Front, which took its orders from the German High Command of the Eastern Front at Brest-Litovsk. He was replaced by General Alfred Krauss in May of 1918, and the 2. Army was renamed the Ost Armee. The following timeline summarizes Böhm-Ermolli's military career:
Sep 1875 Promoted to Leutnant
May 1880 Promoted to Oberleutnant
May 1884 Promoted to Hauptmann 1. Kl.
May 1891 Promoted to Major
May 1894 Promoted to Oberstleutnant
Apr 1897 Promoted to Oberst
May 1897 Commands Uhlan regiment 3 until Apr 1901
Apr 1901 Commands 16. Cavalry Brigade until Nov 1905
May 1903 Promoted to Generalmajor
Nov 1905 Commands 7. Cavalry Division until Apr 1909
Nov 1907 Promoted to Feldmarschalleutnant
Apr 1909 Commands 12. Infantry Division until Nov 1911
Nov 1911 Commands I. Corps until Jul 1914
May 1912 Promoted to General der Kavallerie
Jul 1914 Commands II. Army until May 1918
Sep 1915 Commands Heeresgruppe Böhm-Ermolli until Jun 1916
May 1916 Promoted to Generaloberst
Jun 1916 Commands Heeresgruppe Böhm-Ermolli until Jan 1918
Jan 1918 Promoted to Feldmarschall
Dec 1918 Pensioned
Following the end of the war, Böhm-Ermolli retired to Troppau, in the new Czechoslovak state. He lived a peaceful life and was not hindered by Prague in spite of his fame amidst the German populace of the former Austrian Silesia. In fact, he was an officer in the Czechoslovak Army, although he remained retired from active service. Following the annexation of the Sudetenland by Germany in 1938, Böhm-Ermolli received an honorary command in the German Wehrmacht and apparently was the only former K.u.K. officer to achieve this rank. Böhm-Ermolli was appointed colonel of the 28. Infantry Regiment in 1940.
General Eduard von Böhm-Ermolli died on 9 December 1941.
GWS, 11/00 [rev. 10/04]
Attention: Visit FEEFHS map room for a Map of the Banat and Vojvodina including Syrmia (between Danube and Sava rivers) and Belgrade. Also, visit FEEFHS map room for a Map of Galicia including some of the placenames mentioned here. Be sure to open in a separate window to toggle between this page and FEEFHS.
Assembling for the planned invasion of Serbia
2. Armee, General der Kavallerie Eduard Böhm-Ermolli
IV. Korps, Gen. d. Kav. Tersztyanszky von Nadas
21. inf. div., Feldmarschalleutnant Erzherzog Josef
32. inf. div., Feldmlt. Fail-Greißler
VII. Korps, Gen. d. Infanterie Meixner von Zweienstamm
17. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Henriquez
34. inf. div., Feldmlt. Krautwald
IX. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. von Hortstein
29. inf. div., Feldmlt. Graf Zedtwitz
Support, 23. Honved inf. div., Feldmlt. Dämpf
7. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Lütgendorf
10. kav. div., Feldmlt. Mayr
Böhm-Ermolli was dispatched first to the Vojvodina to comply with General Conrad's planned invasion of Serbia according to "Plan B." The IX. Corps actually invaded Serbia from Syrmia in the First Invasion beginning on August 11, 1914. It was sorely beaten by the Serbian II. Army under General Stefanovic, however, and retired across the Save River too early, thus exposing General Frank's V. Army to attack on its left flank. Meanwhile, the swift intervention of Russia in Eastern Galicia caused Böhm-Ermolli's force to be transferred to the exposed front, beginning around August 14.
GWS, 12/00
That part of the II. Army assembled in Galicia; rest of II. Army in transit
2. Armee, Gen. Böhm-Ermolli (Army Group Kövess)
XII. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Kövess von Kövesshaza
16. inf. div., Feldmlt. Paukert
35. inf. div., Generalmajor Hauninger
38. Honved inf. div., Feldmlt. Karg von Bebenburg
III. Korps, Gen. der Inf. Colerus von Geldern
6. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Siegensstern
28. inf. div., Feldmlt. Kralicek
22. Schützen div., Feldmlt. Krauss-Elislago
Support: 11. inf. div., Feldmlt. Pokorny
43. Schützen inf. div., Feldmlt. Schmidt von Georgenegg
20. Honved inf. div., Feldmlt. von Csanady
1. kav. div., Feldmlt. Peteani von Steinberg
5. Honved kav. div., Feldmlt. von Froreich
8. kav. div., Feldmlt. von Lehmann
The XII. Corps under General Kövess was already in position on the Eastern Front. By the time Böhm-Ermolli was able to assemble his army, the Russian 3. Army under General Russky already smashed through the thin Austrian defensive line around Brody and Tarnopol. By August 29, Böhm-Ermolli dispatched his VII. Corps to stiffen elements of the 3. Army as they fell back, but were severely defeated at the Gnila Lipa on August 30. Lemberg was evacuated and a defensive position was laid on the line of Wereszyca and the Grodek lakes.
GWS 11/00 [rev. 10/04]
During the Battles for the Carpathians
K.uK. 2. Armee, Gen. d. Kav. von Böhm-Ermolli (part of Army Group Woyrsch)
Gallwitz Korps, Preußisch General der Artillery von Gallwitz
35. inf. div. Feldmlt. Fox
27. inf. div. Feldmlt. Kosak
K.u.K. IV. Korps, Gen. d. Kav. Tersztyanszky von Nadas
31. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Lütgendorf
32. inf. div., Feldmlt. Goiginger
K.u.K. XII. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Kövess von Kövesshaza
16. inf. div., Feldmlt. Schariczer
Deutsch XXXV. res. div., Generalleutnant von Schmettau
3. kav. div., Feldmlt. von Brudermann
7. kav. div., Feldmlt. von Korda
9. kav. div., Feldmlt. von Hauer
Böhm-Ermolli was situated in Poland as part of Army Group Woyrsch opposing the Russian 4. Army. After playing defense on the right wing of the German campaign in Poland in November and December, Conrad transferred the 2. Army to the Carpathians so as to make a final push to relieve General Kusmanek in the besieged fortress of Przemysl.
General Linsingen's German South Army (Südarmee), consisting of two Austrian divisions and four German divisions, was holding the Uzsok and Wyszkow Passes. Böhm's sector stretched from the Lupkow Pass to the Uzsok Pass, and, considering the harshness of the terrain, effectively split the sector's defense into the two narrow passes plus a few snowy heights.
While the 3. Army under General Boroevic attacked Brussilov from January 23, Linsingen prepared to invade Galicia from the Uzsok and Wyszkow Passes. He managed to secure additional reserves from Boroevic once it became apparent that the 3. Army was stalled at the San. Linsingen pushed as far as Turka but had to withdraw from mid-Febraury thanks to the general counterattack by the Russians. Linsingen thereafter was ordered to defend Böhm-Ermolli's right flank.
At the end of February, Conrad gave Böhm-Ermolli the green light for the offensive. The 2. Army launched from the passes in the midst of a snow squall and drove toward Baligrod, which lay due south from Przemysl. During this period, the Austrians can be considered to have been in their worst predicament; tremendous losses all along the slopes and peaks of the Carpathians drained the K.u.K. Armies of their noncommissioned officers and most talented soldiers.
Böhm-Ermolli's offensive was supposed to relieve the strain on the nerves of the Central Powers as well as relieve Przemysl. After less than three weeks, Böhm-Ermolli gave the signal to stop the offensive, as the 2. Army was exhausted from the terrific strain. Some 50 percent of the 2. Army was lost to both winter weather and Russian foe; Przemysl was left to its doom.
On March 20, the Russian 3. and 8. Armies launched a massive counteroffensive to drive the 2. and 3. Armies into Hungary. Przemysl itself fell on March 22 after General Kusmanek used the interim period to destroy whatever could be used by the Russians. The 2. Army was rolled over the crest of the Carpathians, and Böhm-Ermolli was forced to fight on the Hungarian side of the slopes.
However, after a month of this severe fighting, the Russians ceased the offensive for lack of supplies and manpower. During this time, Linsingen's Südarmee held the Uzsok Pass, repelling Brussilov's efforts to seize it over and over.
GWS, 12/00 [rev. 10/04]
Immediately preceding the Dunajec offensive
2. Armee, Gen. d. Kav. Eduard von Böhm-Ermolli
Chief of Staff, Genmj. Dr. Bardolff
IV. Korps, Gen. d. Kav. v. Tersztyánszky (located in the Balkans)
Chief of Staff, Obstlt. Frh. v. Salis-Samaden
13. Schützen div., Feldmlt. Edl. v. Kreysa
25. Schützen brig., Oberst Richter
26. Schützen brig., Genmj. Riml
13. field art. brig., Genmj. Tunk
32. inf. div., Genmj. Ritt. v. Willerding
63. inf. brig., Genmj. Edl. v. Obauer
64. inf. brig., Genmj. Grallert
32. field art. brig., Genmj. Kreycy
31. inf. div., Feldmlt. Frh. v. Lütgendorf
61. IBrig. Genmj. v. Felix
31. field art. brig., Oberst Schirza
43. Schützen div., Feldmlt. Schmidt v. Georgenegg
59. inf. brig., Genmj. Kroupa
86. Schützen brig., Oberst Ritt. v. Zygadlowicz
54. inf. brig., Oberst v. Watterich
43. field art. brig., Oberst Michalek
V. Korps., FZM v. Puhallo
Chief of Staff, Oberst Sallagar
37. Honvéd inf. div., Genmj. Tabajdi
73. Honvéd inf. brig., Oberst v. Pogany
74. Honvéd inf. brig., Genmj. Hunke
37. field art. brig., Oberst Wondre
33. inf. div., Feldmlt. Goglia
65. inf. brig., Genmj. Frh. v. Dürfeld
66. inf. brig., Genmj. Lieb
33. field art. brig., Oberst Kaufmann
27. inf. div., Feldmlt. Kosak (troops dispersed amongst IV. and XVIII. Korps)
VIII. Korps, Feldzeugsmeister v. Scheuchenstüel
Chief of Staff, Oberst Sündermann
51. Honvéd inf. div., Feldmlt. v. Kornhaber
200. Honvéd inf. brig., Genmj. Tanarky
201. Honvéd inf. brig., Oberst Szotak
14. inf. div., Feldmlt. Csicserics
27. inf. brig., Genmj. Horvath
28. inf. brig., Oberst v. Zeidler
14. field art. brig., Oberst v. Ripper
41. Honvéd inf. div., Feldmlt. Schay
40. Honvéd inf. brig., Oberst Schnetzer
82. Honvéd inf. brig., Genmj. Schamschula
41. field art. brig., Oberst Czapp
XVIII. Korps, Gen. d. Kav. Ritt. v. Ziegler
Chief of Staff, Oberst Edl. v. Lunzer
44. Schützen div., Feldmlt. Ludwig Goiginger
17. inf. brig., Oberst Edl. v. Dietrich
122. inf. brig., Oberst Ritt. v. Wasserthal
44. field art. brig., Oberst Edl. v. Ellenberger
9. inf. div., Genmj. Schön
18. inf. brig., Oberst Edl. v. Dokonal
53. inf. brig., Genmj. Urbarz
9. field art. brig., Oberst Putsek
XIX. Korps, Feldmlt. Trollmann
Chief of Staff, Oberst Günste
29. inf. div., Feldmlt. Zanantoni
57. inf. brig., Oberst Wöllner
58. inf. brig., Genmj. Poleschensky
7. field art. brig., Genmj. Soppe
34. inf. div., Genmj. Ritt. v. Birkenhain
67. inf. brig., Oberst Trojan
34. field art. brig., Obstlt. Köchert
Following the victory of the 11. German Army and 4. Austrian Army over Radko Dmitriev's III. Army on the Dunajec River, Brussilov's 8. Army was forced to take new positions on the north side of the Carpathians, lest the 2. Army should break through the passes and approach from the left while Boroevic's 3. Army attacked from the right.
Böhm-Ermolli fought over familiar terrain as he directed his forces toward Baligrod and ultimately Przemysl. Brussilov made an effort to hold the Lupkow and Uzsok Passes, but with the retreat of the 3. Army underway, he could no longer risk being overextended, and Brussilov backed his army behind Przemysl, confident it would withstand for the Russians as good as it had for the Austrians. However, the German 11. Army was stocked with heavy artillery the likes of which the Russians couldn't match during the nine-month siege, and after a few days, the fortress was cracked open.
On June 3, with support from the 2. Army, Mackensen entered Przemysl, and initiated the second part of his offensive. Böhm-Ermolli and his 2. Army was subordinated to Army Group Mackensen for the conquest of Lemberg. While the 11. and 4. Armies struck Brussilov's frontlines head on, Böhm-Ermolli skirted south of Lemberg, threatening to approach the fortified lines of the Russian 8. Army from behind. Because of this, Brussilov abandoned his defense lines in front of Lemberg and allowed Mackensen to take the city on June 22.
Following this, the Austrian 2. Army was combined with the German Süd Armee as Army Group Böhm-Ermolli. With little respite, Böhm-Ermolli was given the same task as in 1914: guard the Volhynian frontier against a Russian attack while the main thrust drove into eastern Poland. This time, Böhm-Ermolli was much more successful, as the Russians had been bled white and their morale was as bad as it had ever been.
Nevertheless, the fight against Brussilov became harder and more strenuous once the Galician capital had fallen; Brussilov spent the rest of the summer using the many rivers and marshy terrain of Eastern Galicia for defense, including the Gnila Lipa and Zlota Lipa, where the initial Russian successes were heralded the previous summer. The 2. Army's advance slowed to a crawl as the Russians closed on their own frontier.
By the end of September, the 2. Army stopped in front of Tarnopol (still in Russian hands), exhausted from battling over a devastated land.
GWS, 12/00 [rev. 10/04]
Following the successful Dunajec offensive in the spring
II. Armee, Gen. d. Kav. von Böhm-Ermolli
VIII. Korps, Feldmlt. Czibulka
XXXI. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Lütgendorf
XXXII. inf. div., Genmj. von Willerding
I. kav. div., Genmj. de Ruiz
IV. Korps, Feldmlt. Schmidt von Georgenegg
XXVII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Kosak
LI. Honved inf. div., Feldmlt. von Kornhaber
XIX. Korps, Feldmlt. Trollmann
XXIX. inf. div., Genmj. Kroupa
V. Korps, Feldmlt. Goglia
XXXIII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Hordt
XXXIV. inf div., Genmj. von Birkenhain
XIV. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Csicserics
XLIII. Schützen div., Genmj. von Jordan-Rozwadowski
Immediately preceding the Lutsk offensive carried out by General Brussilov
Böhm-Ermolli Group, Generaloberst von Böhm-Ermolli
(part of the Deutsch Südwest Armee under General Bothmer)
IV. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Schmidt von Georgenegg
XIV. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Csicserics
XXXIII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Hordt
V. Korps, Feldmlt. Goglia
XXXI. inf. div., Genmj. Lieb
Kosak Group, Feldmlt. Kosak
XVII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Kosak
IV. kav. div., Feldmlt. Ostermuth
XXIX. inf. div., Feldmlt. Schön
I. Armee, Generaloberst von Puhallo
XVIII. Korps, Feldmlt. Czibulka
I. Landsturm brigade, Feldmarschal Bandian
VII. kav. div., Feldmlt. von Micewski
XLVI. Schützen div., Genmj. von Urbanski
XXV. res. inf. div., Genmj. von Boog
Immediately following the Lutsk offensive carried out by General Brussilov
K.u.K. II. Armee, Generaloberst von Böhm-Ermolli
(part of the Deutsch Südwest Armee under General Bothmer)
IV. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Schmidt von Georgenegg
XIV. inf. div., Feldmlt. Horvath
XXXIII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Hordt
V. Korps, Feldmlt. Goglia
XXXI. inf. div., Genmj. Lieb
Kosak Group, Feldmlt. Kosak
XVII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Kosak
Immediately following Roumania's declaration of war on the Empire
K.u.K. II. Armee, Generaloberst von Böhm-Ermolli
(part of the Deutsch Südwest Armee under General Bothmer)
IV. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Schmidt von Georgenegg
XIV. inf. div., Genmj. Horvath
V. Korps, Feldmlt. Goglia
XXXI. inf. div., Genmj. Lieb
Kosak Group, Feldmlt. Kosak
CVI. Landsturm inf. div., Genmj. Kratky
XVIII. Korps, Feldmlt. Czibulka
XXV. inf. div., Genmj. von Boog
Immediately following Roumania's defeat by the Quadruple Alliance
Böhm-Ermolli Army Group, Generaloberst von Böhm-Ermolli
(part of the Southern Front under Prinz Leopold von Bayern)
K.u.K. III. Armee, Generaloberst von Kirchbach
VIII. Korps, Feldz. von Benigni
V. inf. div., Genmj. von Felix
II. kav. div., Genmj. von Abele
XIII. Korps, Feldmlt. von Csicserics
XLII. Honved inf. div., Feldmlt. Snjaric
XXXVI. inf. div., Genmj. Nöhring
Hadfy Group, Feldmlt. von Hadfy
XXI. Schützen div., Genmj. von Podhajsky
XLVII. Deutsch res. div., Genlt. von Oppeln-Bronikowski
Deutsch Südwest Armee, Gen. d. Inf. von Bothmer
X. Deutsch Korps, Gen. d. Inf. von Eberhardt
CXIX. Deutsch inf. div., Genmj. von Grönert
LXXV. Deutsch res. inf. div., Genmj. Eisenhart-Rothe
CIC. Deutsch inf. div., Genlt. von Puttkammer
XXIV. Deutsch res. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. von Gerok
III. Deutsch Guards inf. div., Genmj. Lindequist
XLIX. Deutsch res. div., Genmj. Zöllner
XXXVI. Deutsch res. div., Genlt. Kruge
XV. Türkisch Korps, Genmj. Sevki Pasha
XIX. Türkisch Korps, inf. div., Lt. Col. Sedad Bey
XX. Türkisch inf. div., Lt. Col. Jasin Hilm Bey
Hoffman K.u.K. Korps, Feldmlt. von Unschuld
LV. inf. div., Genmj. von Unschuld
LIV. inf. div., Genmj. von Severus
XXXVIII. Honved inf. div., Genmj. von Molnar
II. K.u.K. Armee, Generaloberst von Böhm-Ermolli
Eben Group, Gen. d. Inf. von Eben
IX. K.u.K. Korps, Feldmlt. von Kletter
XIX. inf. div., Feldmlt. Böltz
XXXII. inf. div., Genmj. von Willerding
IV. K.u.K. Korps, Feldmlt. von Hordt
XXXIII. K.u.K. inf. div., Genmj. Iwanski
V. K.u.K. Korps, Feldmlt. von Goglia
XXXI. inf. div., Genmj. Lieb
XXVII. inf. div., Genmj. Kosak
IV. kav. div., Genmj. Berndt
XVIII. K.u.K. Korps, Feldmlt. Czibulka
II. Deutsch kav. div., Genmj. von Etzel
I. Landsturm inf. div., Genmj. von Soretic
CVI. Landsturm inf. div., Genmj. Kratky
XXV. inf. div., Genmj. von Boog
Immediately preceding Brussilov's second offensive (Kerensky Offensive)
Böhm-Ermolli Army Group, Generaloberst von Böhm-Ermolli
(part of Prinz Leopold von Bayern Front, Generalfeldmarschal Prinz Leopold)
III. K.u.K. Armee, Generaloberst Tersztyanszky von Nadas
V. inf. div., Genmj. von Felix
XIII. Korps, Feldmlt. von Schenk
XLII. honved inf. div., Genmj. Mihaljevic
XXXVI. inf. div., Genmj. Nöhring
XXVI. Korps, Feldmarschal von Hadfy
XV. inf. div., Genmj. von Aust
II. kav. div., Genmj. von Abele
reserve: XVI. inf. div., Genmj. von Kaltenborn
LXXXIII. Deutsch inf. div., Genmj. von Stumpf
Assigned in July: VIII. Bayerisch res. div., Genmj. Jehlin
XVI. Deutsch res. inf. div., Genlt. Sieger
XX. Deutsch inf. div., Genlt. Wellmann
Bayerisch kav. div., Genmj. von Egloffstein
Deutsch Süd Armee, Gen. d. Inf. von Bothmer
XXVII. Deutsch res. Korps, Gen. d. Kav. Krug von Nidda
XXXVIII. Honved inf. div., Genmj. von Than
LIII. Sächsisch res. div., Genlt. Leuthold
LXXV. Deutsch res. div., Genmj. von Eisenhart-Rothe
XV. Türkisch Korps, Genmj. Javid Pasha
XX. Türkisch inf. div., col. Jasin Hilmi Bey
XXXV. Deutsch res. Korps, Genlt. von Heineccius
XV. Deutsch res. div., Genlt. Limbourg
XXIV. Sächsisch res. div., ?
XXV. K.u.K. Korps, Feldmlt. Hofmann
LV. inf. div., Genmj. von Unschuld
LIV. inf. div., Genmj. von Severus
reserves: CCIV. Sächsisch inf. div., Genmj. Fortmüller
IV. Deutsch ersatz div., Gen. d. Kav. von Werder
II. Armee, Generaloberst von Böhm-Ermolli
Zloczow Group, Gen. d. Inf. on Winckler
IX. K.u.K. Korps, Feldmlt. Kletter
XIX. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Böltz
XXXII. inf. div., Genmj. von Willerding
CXCVII. Deutsch inf. div., Genlt. Wilhelmi
XXXIII. inf. div., Genmj. von Iwanski
Zloczow reserves: CCXXIII. Deutsch inf. div., Genmj. Hävernick
XCVI. Sächsisch inf. div., Genmj. von der Decken
Anrollen Group, Genmj. von Jacobi
CCXXXVII. Deutsch inf. div., Genmj. von Jacobi
V. K.u.K. Korps, Feldz. von Goglia
XII. Deutsch Landswehr div., Genmj. Drabich-Wächter
XVII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Kosak
IV. kav. div., Genmj. Berndt
XVIII. Korps, Feldmlt. Czibulka
XV. Deutsch Landwehr div., Genlt. Sack
XXV. K.u.K. inf. div., Genmj. von Boog
Alexander Kerensky ordered his commander-in-Chief General Kornilov to draw up plans for a summer offensive. His reasoning was less for Russia's sake than for the Entente's. Kerensky intended to prove to his allies that Russia was still participating with the aim of securing the promises of the secret Treaty of London in 1915.
With a tactical victory in mind, Kornilov gave the leadership to General Brussilov, obviously the best commander in the Russian army and one of the best in the whole war. Brussilov scraped together whatever divisions that were still battleworthy. He decided to launch the offensive along the sectors controlled by the 11. Army under General Erdelli and the 7. Army under General Belkovich. Along with them was the 8. Army under General Kornilov.
The Austrian 2. Army was facing the Russian 11. Army and also the 12. Army of Klembousky, which was inactive during this period. On Böhm-Ermolli's right flank was the German Süd Armee under General von Bothmer. Among the forces that composed the Süd Armee was the Turkish XV. Corps, led by Generalmajor Javid Pasha, dispatched to Galicia by Enver Pasha to prove to the Germans the fighting qualities of the Ottoman Empire.
Bothmer took extra precautions to defend his sector from an attack; indeed, there was open discussion of an impending Russian offensive as early as May 1917. Kerensky was not one to keep surprises.
The Russians attacked on 1 July 1917, with the aim of breaking through to Lemberg. The Russians gained some successes at the outset. At least 20 miles were gained by the 11. Army on the first day, with Böhm-Ermolli frantic to maintain an orderly retreat before the advancing Russians. He counted on the defense of Brzezany by the Süd Armee, which sat at the junction of the two armies: it's fall would mean disaster for the 2. Army's right flank.
The preparations by von Bothmer meant that the Russians suffered enormous losses during their assault in the first week of July and their offensive stopped after a few days because of it. By 19 July, the Germans launched a counteroffensive that broke the new Russian frontlines. Brussilov sanctioned a fighting retreat after he learned of his soldiers simply abandoning their lines without a fight.
There was little fighting in the Russians' retreat, and the 2. Army advanced parallel to the Süd Armee over the next two weeks. Tarnopol, occupied by the Russians since September 1914, was recaptured by Böhm-Ermolli's troops on 26 July 1917. The offensive was halted close to the pre-war Austrian-Russian frontier, where Brussilov had determined to make a stand. It tended to be the lack of supplies on the Quadruple Alliance's side that halted the offensive, rather than resistance by the Russians.
GWS, 12/00 [rev. 10/04]
Data from the Battle of Zborow - 2 Jul 1917, by Martin Pytr, 10/00
Czechoslovaks were unsufficiently armored and trained, therefore Russian colonel V. I. Troyanov-commander of Czechoslovak brigade sent them by Zborow, [as] this part of front seemed to be quiet. Czechoslovak brigade was situated between 6th and 4th Finnish divisions. But what happened at Zborow was [any]thing but quiet. On the Austro-Hungarian side were 19th Infantry Division [Commanded by General Bölitz, part of the II. Army under General Böhm-Ermolli]: 35th Inf. Reg., 75th Inf. Reg, 86th Inf. Reg. (Note: 82% of 75th Inf. Reg and 61% of 35th Inf. Reg. were Czech soldiers.)
Czechoslovak brigade on the Russian side:
1st Regiment - 2nd Col. Pavlovskiy
1st Bat. - Lt. S. Cecek
2nd Bat. - Lt. O. Husák
3rd Bat. - Lt. Z. Fierlinger
2nd Regiment - 2nd Col. Zembalevski
1st Bat. - Cpt. R. Gajda
2nd Bat. - didn't fight at Zborow
3rd Regiment - Col. Mamontov
1st Bat. - R. Vobrátílek
Brigade consists from ca. 3 500 soldiers
Note: Pavlovskiy was ill and Zembalevskiy heavy drunked therefore Czechoslovak forces were under command of Czech officers Cecek and Gajda. Lt. Cecek and Husák came with new tactic: not to fight in line but in small groups. Austrians described this tactic as "katzenartig". Czechoslovaks captured 62 A-H officers, ca. 3 150 soldiers, 15 canons and a lot of machine guns. They lost ca. 185 men and around 800 of them were wounded. The Austrians managed to suppress all communiques concerning the action within the Empire, but the Germans printed it in their papers, thus severely undermining Austrian control over the Czechs.
wearing a uniform of the Wehrmacht in 1940
