Gorlice–Tarnów offensive

The Gorlice–Tarnów offensive during World War I was initially conceived as a minor German offensive to relieve Russian pressure on the Austro-Hungarians to their south on the Eastern Front, but resulted in the Central Powers' chief offensive effort of 1915, causing the total collapse of the Russian lines and their retreat far into Russia. The continued series of actions lasted the majority of the campaigning season for 1915, starting in early May and only ending due to bad weather in October.

Gorlice–Tarnów offensive
Part of the Eastern Front of World War I

Gorlice–Tarnów breakthrough
and Russian withdrawal
Date2 May – 13 July 1915
Location
Gorlice and Tarnów area, south-east of Kraków, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (present-day Poland)
Result

Central Powers' victory

Belligerents
 German Empire
 Austria-Hungary		 Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Erich von Falkenhayn
August von Mackensen
Hans von Seeckt
E. von Böhm-Ermolli
Svetozar Boroević
Paul von Brlog
Archduke Joseph Ferdinand		 Grand Duke Nicholas
Nikolay Ivanov
Radko Dimitriev
Units involved
XI Army
South Army
II Army
III Army
IV Army
VII Army		 III Army
IV Army
VIII Army
XI Army
IX Army
Strength
On 1 May 1915
Total: 1,248,319 men
1,440 machine guns
2,911 guns
On 15 May 1915:
Total: 1,502,844 men
1,636 machine guns
3,111 guns
On 31 May 1915:
Total: 1,613,360 men
1,884 machine guns
3,259 guns
 On 1 May 1915
Total: 1,059,576 men
1,459 machine guns
1,756 guns
On 15 May 1915
Total: 1,211,060 men
1,712 machine guns
2,369 guns
On 31 May 1915
Total: 1,424,158 men
1,768 machine guns
2,383 guns
Casualties and losses
2 May – 13 July 1915
Total 487,821 men
German Empire:
24,063 KIA
66,540 WIA
8,050 MIA
Total 98,653
Austria-Hungary:
44,191 KIA
180,385 WIA
164,592 MIA
Total: 389,168 men		 2 May – 13 July 1915
Total 1,019,953 men
118,112 KIA
402,346 WIA
499,495 MIA

Mackensen viewed securing a breakthrough as the first phase of an operation, which would then lead to a Russian retreat from the Dukla Pass, and their positions north of the Vistula.: 201 

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