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The Russians were unaware that they were entering into a trap until it was too late. The German artillery pounded the Russians and they smashed the advance, the divisions of the Tsar were soon in disarray. The commander of the 2nd army ordered his men to retreat but it was too late. The Germans had outflanked the Imperial Russian units and they had effectively trapped them. The Russian army disintegrated and suffered appalling casualties and it was every man for himself.<ref>Strachan, p. 113</ref> Many Russians escaped through the marshes and woods of East Prussia, but even more were killed or captured. Samsonov knew that his army was surrounded and that he was no longer in control, he resigned his command and went into a nearby forest and he shot himself. The Germans had secured a remarkable victory.

==Aftermath==