Donato Colangelo’s Reviews > Russia's Last Gasp: The Eastern Front 1916–17 > Status Update

It’s a shame that because of Kuropatkin and Evert insecurities the Russian offensive planned by Brusilov brought a fraction of the results it could have brought. A famous statement from Steve Jobs flicks in my mind now: A player should play with A players and not with B players. He was so right.

Part of Brusilov’s stunning success in the first phase of his offensive is due to the careful study of the dynamics of trench warfare engagements, in addition to the great improvements in shelling tactics and infantry coordination. I’m honestly surprised. Germans too, albeit they never acknowledged Brusilov’s merit in all this story.

Finally my man Brusilov comes to the rescue of the Russian Army. After a period of forced rest in the East Front - a rest due to the total disaster of the previous campaigns from the Russian Army and by the need of Germany to amass troops on the Western Front for the attack on Verdun - Brusilov is promoted Commander of Southwest Front and revolutionize Russian tactics. One capable man among many inept commanders.

The battle at lake Naroch showed again that Russian commanders were uncapable of seeing beyond their own nose. Even being capable of battering in a serious way the German positions, Russians troops died by the (tens of) thousand without any significant advance. And again personal rivalries seems to be a deciding factor here, along with the ever present nepotism and corruption.