Page "Siege" Paragraph 99

At the second Siege of Przemysl, the Austro-Hungarian garrison showed an excellent knowledge of siege warfare, not only waiting for relief, but sending sorties into Russian lines and employing an active defense that resulted in the capture of the Russian General Lavr Kornilov.

Despite its excellent performance, the garrison's food supply had been requisitioned for earlier offensives, a relief expedition was stalled by the weather, ethnic rivalries flared up between the defending soldiers and a breakout attempt failed.

When the commander of the garrison Hermann Kusmanek finally surrendered, his troops were eating their horses and the first attempt of large-scale air supply had failed.

It was one of the few great victories obtained by either side during the war ; 110, 000 Austro-Hungarian prisoners were marched back to Russia.

Use of aircraft for siege running, bringing supplies to areas under siege, would nevertheless prove useful in many sieges to come.