German troops went to war with schoolboy enthusiasm, many of them eager for the adventure to come. I Corps commander Hermann von Francois informed his chief of staff that his troops were the best in the Imperial Army, and he saw no reason to obey pre-war plans or direct orders from Eighth Army headquarters. Instead of falling back to a shorter position, he pushed his divisions forward and deployed all his infantry in the front line. When three Russian divisions advanced against Richard von Conta's 1st Infantry Division, Francois had no reserves to bolster the leading regiments.

Russian infantry pressed their attacks and soon the German 43rd Infantry Regiment found itself in deep trouble, with enemy attacks coming from three sides. The arrival of the only remaining I Corps reserve helped stem the attack somewhat, but by noon Francois and Conta agreed that 1st Division had to withdraw. But to make their escape, somehow they would have to break contact with the Russians.