In September 1914 the Germans first attack the 19th century Fortress in north-east Poland, several German attack were attempted at the Fortress yet the Germans could not get through the Russian Fortress. Until in early June 1915 field marshal, Von Hindenburg took command of the siege, in August 6th Hindenburg ordered a gas-attack (chlorine and bromine gas) upon the fortress knowing that the Russian defenders had not gas-masks. Several minutes passed after the gas-attack, 4 German battalions marched forth upon the Fortress, but when they got in clear view point of the Fortress the Germans were terrified to find surviving Russian defenders, but what terrified them was that they could still walk and shoot, blood and pieces of their lungs spat out upon white rags and most brutal chemical burns across their faces. The surviving Russian defenders made a bayonet charge towards the Germans while they retreated then half way returned fire from rifles and artillery, after the counter attack the surviving defenders then later evacuated the Fortress. The press later took hold of the Story and called the event "The Attack of The Dead Men".