Attack of the Dead Men (Strange Stories)

TL;DR

The Russian fortress of AUSA withstood intense German attacks during World War I, including a brutal assault with poison gas.

Transcript

attack of the dead men 1915 World War one the AUSA fortress was constructed in the 19th century by the Russian Empire and what is now northeastern Poland to defend its borders against Germany in the First World War the fortress would be heavily contested between German attackers and Russian defenders the Germans have made their first assault onto t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧘 The AUSA fortress was a crucial defensive position for the Russian Empire during World War I.
• ❣️ The fortress endured multiple German attacks using heavy artillery bombardment.
• 🫢 The use of poison gas by the Germans in their final assault created a terrifying and shocking scene.
• 💀 The remaining Russian soldiers, known as the "dead men," launched a courageous counter-attack despite their injuries.
• 🍂 The German troops panicked and retreated, trampling over each other and falling onto their own barbed wire.
• ❓ The Russian survivors eventually evacuated the fortress.
• 💀 The battle became known as the "attack of the dead men" and gained significant attention in the newspapers.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the Germans initially try to capture the AUSA fortress?

The Germans used large-caliber artillery guns to bombard the fortress for six days in their first assault.

Q: Why did the Russian command order the fortress to be held for just 48 hours?

Despite the heavy damage and casualties, the Russian command believed the fortress could only hold out for a short time due to the intense German attacks.

Q: What tactic did the Germans use in their final assault on the fortress?

The Germans used poison gas, as they knew the Russian defenders did not have gas masks, along with heavy artillery bombardment.

Q: How did the remaining Russian soldiers counter-attack despite the effects of the poison gas?

The soldiers of the Russian 8th and 13th companies, showing signs of chemical burns and other horrific injuries, attacked the Germans with bayonets and managed to force them to retreat.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The AUSA fortress was built by the Russian Empire to defend its borders against Germany in World War I.

• The Germans made multiple unsuccessful attempts to capture the fortress, using heavy artillery bombardments and poison gas.

• The Russian defenders, despite heavy casualties and damage to the fortress, managed to hold off the Germans for months.