The Year 1914

One Russian gunboat was sunk at Odessa, while the Russian minelayer Prut was scuttled off Sevastopol. The Goeben was hit three times off Odessa and had to withdraw. The Russians began laying defensive mine barriers in key areas, with over 4,400 mines being laid by the end of the year.

On 30 October, in the Gulf of Finland, British submarines E 1 and E 9 arrived at Lapvik, near Hango, and were put under the command of Russian Admiral fon Essen.

The Allied Ambassadors in Constantinople asked for their passports.

On 31 October, in the Baltic Sea, Russians began mine laying operations off Memel and in the southern areas of the Baltic.

On the Southwest Front, Russian forces re-occupied Czernowitz in Bukowina. During October, the Russian Army reported a strength of 38,000 officers and 2.711 million men. During late October, Russia had 82 infantry divisions at the front, with sixteen others defending the Baltic and Black Sea coasts.

During October, the Russian Army formed the 1st Armored Car Detachment, using Russo-Balt armored automobiles mounted with three Maxim machine guns. The unit was first assigned to the Southwest Front, and later saw fighting around Lodz against the Germans in 1915.

Units had two light cars, 21 lorries, 100 men and some support vehicles. Armored Car Companies had 12 light cars and three heavy cars attached to rifle divisions or corps, being used in close support of infantry.

During October, Stavka gave unenthusiastic permission to form a Polish Legion serving within the Russian Army. The unit was relegated to service in the reserve. Later, due to a serious manpower shortage the unit was formed into a rifle division. During the Kerenskiy offensive in July 1917 they were still being held in reserve, with some elements being used in attempts to control the retreat which was turning into a rout.

During October, Sweden restricted passage of arms and munitions through her territory into Russia, as a reprisal for a British blockade of Germany which interfered with Sweden's sea-borne trade.

On 1 November, the German retreat from Poland ended on the same line from which it began one month before. The Kaiser appointed von Hindenburg as commander-in-chief of all German forces in the East, with his Oberost HQ at Posen. General von Mackensen was appointed chief of the 9th Army. Planning began for new offensive blow between Thorn and Gnesen.