August 1914.
The Austro-Hungarian Chief-of-Staff, Count Conrad von Hotzendorff, had devised a plan for Austria-Hungary's war against Serbia and Russia. The Austrian Army was divided into three parts: A-Group (deployed facing the Russians), Minimal Group Balkans (deployed opposite the Serbians) and B-Group (mostly 2nd Army) in reserve. The plan called for B-Group to be sent to aid A-Group should war with Russia break out. However, Conrad altered the plan at the last moment and, in hopes of a quick victory over Serbia, sent B-Group to the Balkans instead. A-Group moved into the Galician Province at the same time to confront the Russians.
Unfortunately for Austria-Hungary's war effort, Conrad was an indecisive man. After B-Group had embarked for Serbia, he changed his mind and ordered the reserve back to Galicia. The limitations of the Austro-Hungarian rail net meant that B-Group would have to go all the way to Serbia before turning around and heading back to Galicia.
The Serbs turned out to be made of much sterner stuff than Conrad had imagined. The Serbian commander, Voivode Putnik, waged a brilliant campaign despite being paralyzed and conducting the entire war from maps in his HQ. The fighting around Belgrade and in the Serbian mountains would last for over a month. But in the end Serbia was victorious.
Meanwhile in Galicia, the Austro-Hungarian forces had blindly advanced into the Russian forces --- all 5 armies of them. The Russian forces under Ivanov were also moving forward without benefit of reconassaince and a confused meeting engagement raged along the entire front. In the end, Russian numbers and morale won out as Austro-Hungarian formations broke and fled back to the safety of the Carpathian Mountains. Only the Austro-Hungarian fortress at Przemysl survived the Russian onslaught, holding out for many months to come.
In little more than a month Conrad had managed to loose over half his forces. He had attacked in both Serbia and Galicia with too few men to win either battle and by indecision had prevented his own reserves from fighting effectively on either front. The incredible losses in Serbia and Galicia more than outweighed the Central Powers victory at Tannenberg. The Austro-Hungarian forces were demoralized and would never really recover. After the losses of 1914, Germany would be the driving force behind all future Central Powers victories.
